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Law Offices of Lauren E. Jackson

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Saint Charles, IL
Law Offices of Lauren E. Jackson

Family run law practice in the City of St. Charles and the City of Elgin who limits our practice to

Family run law practice in the City of Elgin who limits our practice to real estate transactions, estate planning, and probate related issues.

03/08/2026

5 Reasons a Home May Not Appraise for the Purchase Price

What Happens When a Home Doesn’t Appraise?
If you are in the process of buying a home, you probably have a lot of unanswered questions. One common concern buyers and sellers share is whether the home will appraise at the contract price.

Everyone involved in the transaction hopes the appraisal will match the agreed-upon purchase price. But sometimes it doesn’t. When a home appraises for less than the contract price, it can create challenges for both the buyer and seller.

The good news is that there are often ways to address a low appraisal—but understanding why the appraisal came in low is the first step. Below are five common reasons a home may not appraise for the expected value.

https://laurenjacksonlaw.com/reasons-real-estate-appraisal-come-low/

01/24/2026

If You Are Divorced, Update Your Estate Plan—Immediately

In the aftermath of a divorce, updating your estate plan is rarely a top priority. Many people are emotionally drained, overwhelmed, and focused on simply getting through the next day. Unfortunately, failing to update your estate plan after a divorce can lead to consequences that are both unintended and avoidable.

One of the most common—and most troubling—outcomes we see occurs when a recently divorced individual passes away unexpectedly without updating their estate planning documents. In those situations, assets may still pass to an ex-spouse under an outdated will, trust, or beneficiary designation—precisely the result most people are trying to avoid.

The first and most important step after a divorce is to revoke your existing will or trust and create new documents that reflect your current wishes. Most estate plans created during a marriage leave the bulk of assets to a surviving spouse. Once a divorce is finalized—or even while it is pending—that structure is often no longer appropriate.

While Illinois law may revoke certain provisions benefiting an ex-spouse, relying on statutory defaults is risky and rarely comprehensive. The only way to ensure your intentions are honored is to proactively update your estate plan as soon as possible.

https://laurenjacksonlaw.com/divorced-update-estate-plan-today/

10/19/2025

An often overlooked but increasingly important part of an individual’s estate in today’s world is their digital assets. A digital estate plan outlines how your online accounts and electronic records should be managed or distributed after your death.

What exactly is included in a digital estate plan?

A digital estate plan addresses your online presence and electronic assets. The first step to figure out if you need a digital estate plan is to create a complete inventory of these digital assets. Make a list of all your:

Email accounts
Social media accounts (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, X/Twitter)
Online banking and investment accounts
Cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud)
Subscription services (Netflix, Amazon, Spotify)
Digital currencies or NFTs
Domain names or blogs
Online businesses (e.g., Etsy, eBay, Shopify)

Read more at https://laurenjacksonlaw.com/dont-overlook-your-digital-assets-why-you-need-a-digital-estate-plan/

08/28/2025

Why Do People Put Rental Properties in an LLC?

As a real estate and estate planning attorney, one question I hear all the time is:
“Should I put my rental property in an LLC?”

It’s a great question—and the answer depends on what you’re trying to accomplish. It could be used for asset protection, liability management, or long-term planning. Let’s break it down a little further.

Owning rental property can be an excellent source of income, but as with anything, it’s not without risks. Tenants, contractors, and even visitors on the property can file lawsuits over accidents, injuries, or disputes. If your rental property is owned in your personal name and a lawsuit exceeds your insurance coverage, your personal assets—such as your home, savings, and investments—could be exposed.

https://laurenjacksonlaw.com/why-do-people-put-rental-properties-in-an-llc/

07/10/2025

"I had an excellent experience working with attorney Lauren Jackson. From our very first consultation, she was professional, attentive, and incredibly knowledgeable. She took the time to listen to my concerns, clearly explained my options, and guided me through the entire legal process with confidence and compassion.

Lauren’s attention to detail and dedication to her clients is evident in every interaction. She was always quick to respond to questions and provided honest, straightforward advice. Her ability to navigate complex legal matters while keeping me informed and at ease made a challenging situation much more manageable.

I truly appreciated her integrity, efficiency, and personal touch. If you’re looking for a trustworthy and skilled attorney who genuinely cares about your case, I highly recommend Lauren Jackson. She exceeded my expectations in every way."

06/25/2025

Top Five Provisions to check before signing a Real Estate Contract!

Before signing a real estate contract, it’s crucial to review the contract carefully. There are certain terms of the contract that must be correct, to give you the best protection. These provisions affect your rights, responsibilities, and risks as a buyer or seller. Below are the top five provisions you should review before signing any real estate contract:

1. Purchase price and Financing Terms
Make sure the purchase price is accurate and clearly stated.
If financing is involved, confirm financing contingency deadlines.
2. Contingencies - Review all clauses related to:
home inspection – confirm you can get a home inspection completed before the attorney review period ends
appraisals – what happens if the property doesn’t appraise out
sale of current homes – is this transaction contingent on another real estate transaction
3. Closing Date and Possession - Confirm the agreed closing date and when possession of the property will transfer.
4. Earnest Money and Default Terms - Confirm how much money is required, where it will be held, and under what conditions it’s refundable or forfeited.
5. Disclosures and Property Condition- Ensure all required seller disclosures are provided and check whether the property is sold “as is” or subject to repairs.

05/20/2025

I’m Single and Have No Kids — Why Do I Need an Estate Plan?

Many single individuals without children assume they don’t need an estate plan. After all, if there are no dependents or immediate heirs, what’s the urgency? As an estate planning attorney, I can assure you—estate planning is just as essential for you as it is for anyone else. Here’s why.

1. Planning for Incapacity
One of the most important reasons to create an estate plan is to prepare for the possibility of incapacity. If you are ever in an accident or suffer a medical emergency and become unable to make decisions for yourself, who will speak for you and make the important decisions?

2. Managing Your Finances During Incapacity
What happens to your finances if you’re incapacitated? Who pays your bills or manages your investments?

3. Expressing End-of-Life Wishes
Even if you are single, your end-of-life preferences should be honored. Do you prefer burial or cremation? Would you want to be kept alive on life support if you were permanently unconscious or terminally ill?

4. Directing Who Inherits Your Assets
If you die without a will in Illinois, the state’s intestacy laws determine who inherits your assets. That might be your parents, siblings, nieces, nephews, or even distant relatives. If you’d prefer your estate to go to close friends, charitable causes, or specific family members, you need a valid Will or Trust in place.

An estate plan puts you in control—allowing you to clearly state who should receive what, and under what conditions.

Conclusion
Even if you don’t have a spouse or children, an estate plan ensures your wishes are honored. It provides peace of mind that your financial and healthcare decisions will be carried out by someone you trust and that your assets will be distributed according to your values.

At our firm, we create customized estate plans that offer flexibility, clarity, and control. Don’t let default state laws dictate your future—let us help you design a plan that reflects your life and your choices.

Contact us today - https://laurenjacksonlaw.com/im-single-and-have-no-kids-why-do-i-need-an-estate-plan/

05/03/2025

Do I Need an Attorney to Purchase a New Construction Home?

Many people are drawn to the idea of buying a brand-new home. It’s exciting: you get to choose your lot, customize every detail, and everything is fresh and unused. Homebuilders often try to make the process easy—and even offer special “discounts” if you use their preferred lender and title insurance company.

But let’s get back to the main question: Do you need a real estate attorney when buying a new construction home?

Here are a few questions to consider:

Would you sign a contract worth several hundred thousand dollars without having an attorney review it?
Do you think the homebuilder has an attorney on their side?
Do you trust their title insurance company to fully explain all the legal documents to you?

https://laurenjacksonlaw.com/do-i-need-an-attorney-to-purchase-a-new-construction-home/

04/12/2025

A question that we get asked often is “when should I update my estate plan?” Updating your estate plan is essential to ensure it reflects your current wishes and circumstances. You should update your estate plan whenever significant life events occur or when you know information from your current estate plan is out of date.

Some significant life events are:

Marriage or Divorce
Adding or deleting beneficiaries
Birth or adoption of a child – ensure proper guardianship
Change the guardians of your children
Death of an existing executor
Death of a Beneficiary
Significant financial changes – substantial increase or decrease in assets
Major health concerns – update medical directives and power of attorney
Changes in wishes – changing your asset distribution

https://laurenjacksonlaw.com/when-and-how-should-you-update-your-estate-plan/

03/13/2025

When creating an estate plan, many parents with young children have one big concern: Who will provide for our children financially if something were to happen to us?

One of the most important goals of parenting is ensuring your children’s long-term financial stability. A key tool to help achieve that goal is life insurance.

Before addressing the financial aspect, the most impactful step you can take is to designate legal guardians for your children in your will. This simple act can make an enormous difference in your child’s life if something were to happen to both parents. Without named guardians, your children may end up in the court system, where a judge will appoint a guardian on your behalf. For guidance on choosing the right guardian, read more here: How to Answer the #1 Question for Parents: Who Should I Choose to Be the Guardian of My Child?

02/22/2025

We are proud to share the reviews our clients leave for us:

"Lauren is fabulous and friendly while also being intelligent and efficient. She helped in the closing of my home in 2023 and working through my will and trust in 2024. In both experiences she was thorough in breaking down the information without explaining every bit of minutiae. I can't recommend her enough!"

Address

1218 E. Main Street, Suite B
Saint Charles, IL
60174

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm
Saturday	9am - 2pm

Telephone

+18477142866

Website

http://www.laurenjacksonlaw.com/

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