The Hansford Firm

The Hansford Firm The Hansford Firm is a boutique trusts and estates law firm serving clients in the greater Chicagoland area. A boutique trusts and estates law firm

Business compliance is not something you handle once and never revisit.As your business grows, things change: ownership,...
09/25/2026

Business compliance is not something you handle once and never revisit.

As your business grows, things change: ownership, contracts, registrations, internal records, and legal requirements. If those documents are outdated or inconsistent, they can create unnecessary risk down the road.

A periodic legal review can help make sure your business records still reflect how the company actually operates today.

For Illinois business owners, this is a good reminder to review:

ownership and governing documents
contracts and agreements
registrations and filings
internal business records
ongoing compliance requirements

Good planning is not just about starting the business correctly. It is also about keeping it in good standing as it evolves.

The Hansford Firm helps business owners review the legal foundation of their companies and address issues before they become bigger problems.

If something happened to you tomorrow and you were unable to act, would your business know what to do next?Succession pl...
09/23/2026

If something happened to you tomorrow and you were unable to act, would your business know what to do next?

Succession planning is not only about what happens after death. It should also address incapacity. Who can step in to make decisions, access key accounts, sign contracts, and keep operations moving?

Without a clear plan, even a strong business can face unnecessary delays and confusion at a critical time.

A well-prepared business succession plan helps protect continuity, leadership, and the people who depend on your business.

If you are a business owner, now is a good time to make sure your plan covers more than one kind of “what if.”

Schedule a consultation with The Hansford Firm to discuss your business succession and estate planning needs.

Your business assets are not only physical.They also include the digital tools and accounts that keep your business runn...
09/21/2026

Your business assets are not only physical.
They also include the digital tools and accounts that keep your business running every day: your website, domains, email, cloud files, payment systems, social media, accounting software, and intellectual property.

If you don't identify and include those assets in your plan, your family or team may face confusion, delays, or loss of access when it matters most.

Digital assets should be part of both your business planning and estate planning.

If you are a business owner and want to make sure your plan covers what matters, The Hansford Firm can help.

One day, the boardroom may look very different, and you may not be there to guide the conversation.Business succession p...
09/18/2026

One day, the boardroom may look very different, and you may not be there to guide the conversation.

Business succession planning is about more than deciding who inherits the company. It’s also about preparing the next generation to lead, make decisions, communicate through disagreements, and move forward together.

The conversations you start today can shape how your family handles the business tomorrow.

If you own a family business and haven’t started planning for the next generation, now is a good time to begin.

Schedule a consultation with The Hansford Firm to discuss your business succession and estate plan.

Blended families and family businesses can make estate planning more complex.A plan may need to balance the needs of a s...
09/16/2026

Blended families and family businesses can make estate planning more complex.

A plan may need to balance the needs of a spouse, children from different relationships, heirs involved in the business, and heirs who are not. Those interests do not always align on their own.

Clear planning can help reduce confusion, protect the business, and provide for the people you love in a more thoughtful way.

09/14/2026

If you own a business in Illinois, your estate plan and your business plan should not live in two separate worlds.

Your ownership interest is part of your estate. That means your plan should address what happens to the business if you die, become incapacitated, or can no longer manage it.

Who owns your interest? Who has authority to make decisions? What happens to employees, partners, or family members who depend on the business?

These are not just business questions. They are estate planning questions too.

The goal is to make sure your documents work together, so your family is not left trying to sort everything out during an already difficult time.

Succession planning should begin long before the transition happens.The best time to prepare the next generation is whil...
09/11/2026

Succession planning should begin long before the transition happens.

The best time to prepare the next generation is while you are still there to guide, teach, and set clear expectations.

A strong plan gives future leaders more than ownership; it gives them direction, responsibility, and time to grow into the role.

Start the conversation early.

09/09/2026

When your child works in the family business, their role should be clear from the beginning.

Are they an employee? An owner? A future successor? Or simply a family member helping in the business?

Those roles can overlap, but they are not the same. When expectations are unclear, it can lead to tension around authority, compensation, ownership, and succession.

A good plan defines responsibilities early, puts key decisions in writing, and separates family relationships from business roles as much as possible.

Clarity now can prevent conflict later.

09/07/2026

A family business needs more than good intentions—it needs a place for important conversations.

A Family Council gives family members a structured forum to discuss ownership, succession, expectations, and potential conflict before problems grow.

It can help improve communication, prepare the next generation, and create greater clarity around the family’s role in the business.

A Family Council does not replace legal documents or business management. It works alongside strong governance and succession planning.

At The Hansford Firm, we help family businesses build structures that protect both the business and the legacy behind it.

A strong legacy is not built by documents alone.The next generation also needs time, guidance, and preparation to unders...
09/04/2026

A strong legacy is not built by documents alone.

The next generation also needs time, guidance, and preparation to understand the responsibility that comes with what they may one day inherit or lead.

Succession planning is not only about transferring ownership. It is about preparing people to carry the vision forward with wisdom and confidence.

Address

30 N Lasalle Street
Chicago, IL
60602

Opening Hours

Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+13124486565

Website

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