Kaplan Estate Law LLC

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Kaplan Estate Law LLC

Estate Planning law firm with a focus on planning for young families.

06/01/2026

You probably know who you'd want to raise your kids if something happened to you.

But have you actually put it in writing?

Many parents are surprised to learn that verbal agreements, family assumptions, and even godparent designations don't give someone legal authority to care for your children.

This week's blog breaks down:
✔️ What happens if no guardian is named
✔️ Why the first 72 hours matter
✔️ Common guardian planning mistakes
✔️ Questions to ask before choosing a guardian

Because the decision about who raises your children is too important to leave to chance.

Read more at the link in my bio.

05/26/2026

Putting your child on your house deed may seem like an easy estate planning shortcut — but it can create much bigger problems later.

In this week’s blog, I’m covering:
• Medicaid risks
• Capital gains tax issues
• Creditor/divorce exposure
• Loss of control over your home

There are usually much better ways to protect your home and your family. Read more at the link in bio.

05/18/2026

Tax season just ended. You reviewed your finances, accounts, investments, and beneficiaries more closely than you probably will all year. That makes it a great time to make sure your estate plan still matches your life.

This week’s blog covers:
• beneficiary designation mistakes
• guardianship planning
• outdated documents
• why estate plans should be reviewed regularly

Read more at the link in bio!

04/18/2026

Excited to sponsor the Peewee Rockies this season! ⚾️ Can’t wait to cheer them on all season long!

04/13/2026

Most estate planning problems I see come down to this:

👉 No plan at all
👉 Thinking a will is enough
👉 Or having a trust… but not actually setting it up the right way

And each of these leads to very different outcomes for your family.

Without a plan = the court decides
A will alone = probate
An unfunded trust = doesn’t work the way you think it will

In this week’s blog, I’m breaking down these common scenarios and what they really mean behind the scenes.

If you’ve been meaning to get this done—or wondering if what you have is actually enough—this is a good one to read.

🔗 Link in bio

03/30/2026

DIY wills and trusts seem like an easy win… until they’re not.

I’ve seen families end up in court, deal with unintended outcomes, and face years of stress—all because something small in a DIY document went wrong.

In my newest blog, I share a real story of how one decision to “do it yourself” led to a completely different outcome than intended (and not in a good way).

Estate planning isn’t just about checking a box—it’s about making sure everything actually works when your family needs it most 🤍

If this has been on your to-do list, this is your sign to take a closer look.

🔗 Link in bio

03/20/2026

This week marks 3 years of Kaplan Estate Law!!

When I started, I didn’t just want to “draft documents.”
I wanted to create a space where families felt comfortable asking questions, supported in making hard decisions, and confident knowing their kids would be protected no matter what.

Three years in, I’m just… really grateful.
For the families who have trusted me, for every referral, message, and conversation, and for this amazing Chicago community.

And also grateful that I get to do work that actually matters — helping parents protect their kids and plan for the future in a meaningful way.

Thank you for being here ♡

If you’ve been thinking about getting your estate plan in place (or updating it), I invite you to join next week's webinar on Estate Planning Made Simple.

Learn more and register here: www.kaplanestatelaw.com/webinar

Check out this week's newsetter: https://kaplanestatelaw.com/so/faPq7aZfr?languageTag=en&cid=9d0218e2-3438-4d6a-8797-e63d9631cc24

03/16/2026

You may have heard that “a trust helps your family avoid probate.”

But here’s something most people don’t realize…

You can create a trust inside your will — and that type of trust still requires probate court.

In this week’s blog, I explain the difference between:

✨ A trust created in your will (called a testamentary trust)
✨ A living trust you create while you’re alive

Both can control how your kids or beneficiaries receive their inheritance.

But a testamentary trust only gets created after probate is finished, which means your family may still face:

• Months (or years) in probate court
• Frozen accounts while everything gets sorted out
• Court costs and legal fees
• A completely public process

There’s also another issue people don’t realize: a will does nothing if you become incapacitated while you’re alive.

This is Part 1 of a two-part series where I break down how these trusts actually work and how to choose the right planning strategy for your family.

🔗 Link to the blog in bio

02/24/2026

Quick question🙋‍♀️

Who would raise your kids if you couldn’t?

If you’re not 100% sure-or you haven’t legally documented it – this workshop is for you.

Estate Planning Made Simple: A Straightforward, Judgment-free webinar for young families.

Register here: www.kaplanestatelaw.com/webinar

01/12/2026

New year, new faces here—so let me re-introduce myself 👋

I’m Lauren, an estate planning attorney and mom of three helping families protect their kids, their homes, and their peace of mind.

Estate planning isn’t about death—it’s about making life easier for the people you love.

If 2026 is the year you stop putting this off, you’re in the right place 💙

Address

4631 N. Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, IL
60625

Telephone

+13128332199

Website

http://www.kaplanestatelaw.com/

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