Trust Planning in Will County, Illinois
Most Illinois parent’s goals are to take care of their kids, their spouse, protect their assets and home.
As a trust and estate planning attorney in Frankfort, Illinois, we help families use revocable living trusts to avoid public probate court, protect what they’ve built, and create a plan that actually works when it matters most.
A properly designed trust can protect your family, preserve privacy, protect your assets, minimize Illinois estate taxes, prevent court involvement, and make life easier for the people you love, if it’s done correctly and fully integrated into your overall estate plan.
That’s where we come in.
At Marketti Law Firm, we help families and business owners throughout Will County use trusts strategically, not as a one-size-fits-all solution, but as part of a thoughtful, customized plan built around your life, your assets, and your goals.
What is a Trust and Why Does it Matter for Illinois Families?
A trust is a legal structure that holds and controls assets according to your instructions, both during your lifetime and after your death.
Unlike a will, a trust can take effect immediately, operate privately, protect assets, avoid public probate court, provide ongoing protection for your beneficiaries and allow for smooth transitions during incapacity.
But here’s the truth that most don’t say:
Do You Actually Need a Revocable Living Trust in Illinois?
Honestly, not everyone needs a trust — but many people benefit from one without realizing it.
You may be a strong candidate for a trust if you want to:
• Avoid public probate and court involvement
• Keep your family’s affairs private
• Protect assets for children or beneficiaries
• Own real estate, a family business, retirement accounts, or investment accounts
• Control how and when your assets are distributed
• Reduce stress, expense, delays, and confusion for your family
A trust isn’t about complexity. It’s about control, clarity, and protection. To learn more Click Here to Learn More About Illinois Trusts.
Revocable Living Trusts in Illinois
A revocable living trust is the foundation of most modern estate plans in 2026.
With this type of trust:
• You remain in control during your lifetime
• You can change or revoke it at any time
• Your successor trustee steps in seamlessly if you’re incapacitated
• Your assets transfer privately at death.
For most Will County families, this creates, easier administration, fewer legal costs, less stress for loved ones, more certainty when it matters most.
And yes, all of these work hand-in-hand with your will, powers of attorney, your home, retirement accounts and beneficiary designations. Click Here to Learn More About Wills and Trusts in Illinois.
Advanced Trust Planning & Illinois Estate Taxes
If your estate may approach or exceed the Illinois’ estate tax threshold ($4 Million), the right planning can make a meaningful difference for your family. Click Here to Learn What the Wealthy do For Estate Planning in Illinois.
Most families don’t realize that Illinois does not allow portability of a deceased spouse’s unused exemption. Without proper planning, that can mean paying unnecessary estate taxes, simply because the plan wasn’t structured the right way.
For some families, an AB Trust is one strategy used to help preserve exemptions, protect assets, and create a more efficient transfer of wealth.
Here is a simple break down of how Illinois estate tax and AB Trust planning may work: Click Here to Learn About Advanced Illinois Trust Planning.
Want to know if this applies to you?
We’ll walk through your numbers, your assets and your goals, and give you a clear recommendation on whether a will-based plan, revocable trust or more advanced strategy makes sense for your family.
The majority of our clients:
• Are parents of minor or adult children
• Are retired seniors looking to update their will and trust
• Are owners of closely held businesses
• Widows and women who don’t want to leave a mess behind for their kids
• First responders and teachers
• Value privacy and efficiency
• Want their plan to be easy for loved ones to follow
Why Clients Choose Marketti Law Firm
Estate planning is deeply personal work. Clients tell us they work with us because they want:
Confidentiality and privacy, clear, prompt explanations, up to date legal advice, an attorney with a clear understanding of Illinois estate tax law, a calm, caring, confident process, big firm knowledge with small town care, a plan that protects their loved ones.
Estate planning is deeply personal.
Your attorney should treat it that way. Click Here to Learn More About Illinois Estate Planning for Business Owners.