Estate Planning · Wheaton, Illinois
Wills, trusts, and the planning that keeps your family in control and out of court, from the same DuPage County firm since 1990.
Wheaton is the seat of DuPage County, which gives its residents an unusual front-row view of what happens when estate planning is not done: the probate court where unplanned estates are settled sits right here in town. Good estate planning is largely about keeping your family out of that courthouse — passing your home, savings, and wishes to the people you choose privately and without delay. We help Wheaton families at every stage, from a young family’s first will to comprehensive trust and tax planning.
Because Wheaton is in DuPage County, probate is handled at the DuPage County Judicial Center right here in the city when no plan is in place to avoid it. You work directly with the attorney building your estate plan, with the will, trust, powers of attorney, and any tax strategy coordinated under one roof. We explain each decision in plain terms so your plan reflects what you actually want, not boilerplate.
Full estate planning practice, every service handled by one experienced team.
Decades of estate planning work for Wheaton families, and three decades of practice in the DuPage courthouse just up County Farm Road.
Thirty plus years in the DuPage County courts here in Wheaton, plus the recorder, title companies, and assessor offices a Wheaton estate runs through.
Chris or John handles your file personally. No handoffs to paralegals or junior attorneys.
Flat-fee pricing where possible. Hourly only when scope justifies it. Quoted upfront.
Beyond estate planning, the firm also handles real estate, probate, criminal defense, and civil litigation.
Initial consultation is free. No obligation to engage afterward.
There is a certain irony to estate planning in Wheaton: the DuPage County probate court, where estates without proper planning end up, is in your own city. That process is public, court-supervised, and typically takes most of a year — and it is largely avoidable. For Wheaton families with a home that has appreciated, retirement savings, and other assets, a funded living trust passes everything to your heirs privately and without probate, which is why it anchors so many plans here.
Wheaton also has a number of households whose estates are large enough to trigger the Illinois estate tax, whose exemption is far lower than the federal one and does not carry over between spouses. Without planning, that can mean a sizable, avoidable tax bill. We calculate where you stand and, where it matters, structure trusts and gifting to reduce or eliminate the exposure. For higher-net-worth Wheaton families, coordinating the trust, the tax plan, and any business interests is where the real value lies.
From our Villa Park office, we serve Wheaton residents and businesses across DuPage and Cook County.
Yes, and Wheaton is a natural fit. The DuPage County probate court is in Wheaton, so the wills, trusts, and powers of attorney we prepare for Wheaton families are built for the exact court that would handle them. We have served Wheaton clients since 1990.
Standard plans (will, trust, POAs, advance directives) are flat-fee. We quote exact pricing at your free consultation based on complexity and family situation.
Depends on your situation. Most families with real estate, minor children, or assets above $200K benefit from trust-based planning. Will-only plans work for simpler situations. We tell you honestly at consultation.
Typical timeline: initial consultation (Day 1), drafts ready in 1-2 weeks, signing ceremony shortly after. Most plans complete within a month.
Most consultations happen by phone or video. Signing requires either in-office or remote notary process. We accommodate however works best.
Yes. The DuPage County Judicial Center, where probate estates for county residents are administered, is located in Wheaton. For local families that makes the value of planning especially concrete — a funded living trust can keep your estate out of that very courthouse, passing your assets to your family privately instead of through a public, months-long court process. When probate is necessary, we handle it right here.
It depends on your goals and assets. A will is essential, but on its own it still sends your estate through probate at the Wheaton courthouse. A funded living trust avoids probate and is often worthwhile for Wheaton families who own a home and want a private, efficient transfer — and it becomes especially important where Illinois estate tax is in play. We walk you through whether a trust fits your situation rather than pushing one on everyone.
Whether you’re planning ahead or in the middle of an active matter, the first conversation is free.