Evermore Law Group

Evermore Law Group Evermore Law Group (formerly Law Office of Meghan Stokes LLC) focuses on two areas: real estate and estate planning.

Its FAQ Friday!Q: My loved one had a will, and now their estate is tied up in probate. What do I do?A: Unfortunately, on...
05/30/2026

Its FAQ Friday!

Q: My loved one had a will, and now their estate is tied up in probate. What do I do?

A: Unfortunately, once your loved one has passed, you cannot avoid the probate process if assets are owned in their personal name.

In order for assets in a will to be transferred to a beneficiary, the will must first pass through the court process known as probate. During probate, the court oversees the will’s administration, ensuring your assets are distributed according to your wishes. However, probate proceedings can drag out for months or even years, and your family will likely have to hire an attorney to represent them, which can result in costly legal fees that can drain your estate. There’s also the chance that one of your family members might contest your will.

Unlike wills, trusts don’t require your family to go through probate, which can save them time, money, and the potential for conflict. Plus, when you have a trust set up, the distribution of your assets happens in the privacy of our office—not the courtroom.

A living will is the best way to ensure your wishes for life-sustaining measures are respected and your family is not left making difficult decisions on your behalf.

We can help you draft a legally-sound living will and provide copies to the executor of your will, your loved ones, and your health care providers.

Glad to have helped my returning client purchase this single family home in the south loop! Thank you for placing your t...
05/29/2026

Glad to have helped my returning client purchase this single family home in the south loop! Thank you for placing your trust in my team.

Happy to have helped my returning clients purchase a new condo in River North! We sold their old condo last year but the...
05/22/2026

Happy to have helped my returning clients purchase a new condo in River North! We sold their old condo last year but they were excited to return to Chicago. Welcome back!

It's FAQ Friday!Q: Isn’t an estate plan like... really expensive? A: While it does cost to get a comprehensive estate pl...
05/22/2026

It's FAQ Friday!

Q: Isn’t an estate plan like... really expensive?

A: While it does cost to get a comprehensive estate plan in place (on average between $3,000 and $7,000), there are costs to NOT planning: conflict between loved ones because they do not know your wishes, attorneys fees for probate (which will likely cost more than your estate plan), uncertainty, leaving the choice of who can make your medical decisions, who can make your financial decisions, or who can raise your children up to a judge (who may not choose who you would choose), stress to your loved ones when they should be focusing on the grieving process, and a possible estate tax bill for the State of Illinois and the Federal Government.

It's FAQ Friday!Q: I own a vacation house. How do I protect this asset, so my family can enjoy it for generations to com...
05/15/2026

It's FAQ Friday!

Q: I own a vacation house. How do I protect this asset, so my family can enjoy it for generations to come?

A: If you are fortunate enough to have a family vacation home, you know the emotional value it holds for every member of your family. Many cherished family memories are rooted in a special place, which makes it important for current and future generations to preserve it properly.

A trust is often a good choice when the current owners – parents or grandparents – are concerned that joint ownership could lead to disagreements or that maintenance costs may prove too great for the next generation to manage.

Instead of dividing ownership, you can establish a trust to hold title of the property and fund an endowment to handle maintenance expenses. In addition, to avoid paying custodial fees to the trust, you can set up a limited liability company to hold the endowment within the trust.

Once the LLC is registered in the state where the vacation property is located and the trust is created, the next step is to draw up a legal operating agreement that specifies when the property title and endowment would pass into the trust, usually upon the current owner’s death.

The operating agreement would also detail how the property is to be used, and grant each member of the next generation the right to equal access to the property. This is usually preferable to granting equal shares in a property since it prevents any one shareholder from cashing out his or her share and jeopardizing the use of the property by future generations.

It is usually preferable to have succeeding generations designate a property manager from within the family to make the key administrative decisions and coordinate the use of the property so it is shared equitably.

Using a trust can help guarantee that a beloved vacation home is preserved for generations to come, as well as preserve the family harmony that the home has played such a key role in developing.

Happy to have helped my client successfully sell their multi-family home in Jefferson Park. Even better, the tenants wer...
05/13/2026

Happy to have helped my client successfully sell their multi-family home in Jefferson Park. Even better, the tenants were able to remain in place with the new owner continuing as their landlord.

It's FAQ Friday! Q: Why does moving make estate planning issues show up?A: Because moving forces clarity in areas most p...
05/08/2026

It's FAQ Friday!
Q: Why does moving make estate planning issues show up?

A: Because moving forces clarity in areas most people haven’t revisited in years.

When you buy or sell a home, you’re not just making a real estate decision, you’re making legal and financial decisions that impact:

• How your home is owned
(individually, jointly, or in a trust)

• What happens to it if something happens to you
(who inherits it, who controls it, whether it goes through court)

• Who is responsible for decisions
(if you’re unable to manage things yourself)

• How it fits into your long term plan
(not just today, but years from now)

Real estate transactions naturally bring these questions to the surface because they require documentation, coordination, and forward looking decisions, the same things estate planning is meant to address.

That’s why it’s often the first time families pause and ask:
“Wait… is everything actually set up the way it should be?”

And as you already reinforce in your client experience, a home purchase isn’t just about closing, it’s about making sure the home is protected and properly integrated into a broader plan for the family.

Just closed on this beautiful condo in Chicago. So happy for my clients to return to Chicago, enjoy the views!
05/07/2026

Just closed on this beautiful condo in Chicago. So happy for my clients to return to Chicago, enjoy the views!

Address

4849 N Milwaukee Avenue Ste 700
Chicago, IL
60630

Opening Hours

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

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