The Law Office of Andrew J. Mertzenich

07/29/2026

On August 15, 2025, Illinois passed Public Act 104-0346, which raises the threshold for eligibility to sign a small estate affidavit for your deceased loved one's estate from $100,000 to $150,000. Read our new blog post to learn more about what this means for you!:

If you've ever lost a loved one and then had to fight a bank to release their checking account, you already know that "probate" can feel like a dirty word. It's slow. It's expensive. And it often shows up at the exact moment your family has the least bandwidth to deal with it. The good news: Illinoi...

07/08/2026

July is Disability Pride Month! An essential part of our estate plan work is supporting disabled people and their family members. Read our blog post about what Disability Pride means to us!:

July is Disability Pride Month, a time to celebrate the identities, contributions, and history of people with disabilities. It commemorates the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act in July 1990, and it invites all of us to think about what true inclusion looks like: not just in public s**c...

05/25/2026

Our staff is on vacation this week, so we are closed this week and will reopen on Monday June 1. We hope you have a good week and we'll see you on the first day of Pride Month!

05/22/2026

We hope you all have a meaningful Memorial Day. We remember & honor those who died in military service & veterans, including LGBTQIA+ servicemembers. Our office will be closed Monday May 25 for Memorial Day.

05/08/2026

Happy Mothers Day! We wish you all a lovely Mothers Day weekend with your families:

Mother’s Day is a time to celebrate the love, care, and strength of mothers in all their forms. For same-sex female couples and families with two or more mothers, this day is especially meaningful. It's a celebration of the unique bonds and shared journeys that define motherhood. As we honor these...

05/04/2026

If you or your loved ones practice Pagan, Wiccan, & other Earth spirituality traditions, here are ways you can honor that in your estate plan!:

Estate planning is a deeply personal process, and for practitioners of Pagan, Wiccan, and earth-based spiritualities, it offers a unique opportunity to align your legal and financial legacy with your spiritual values. For members of the LGBTQ+ community, estate planning can also provide critical pro...