Importance of a Will in Illinois
Amy Winehouse’s death at age 27 illustrates the importance of having a Will, at any age. Ms. Winehouse and Blake Fielder-Civil were married briefly. Under English law, marriage negates any Wills made before the marriage, but if a couple divorces and there is no new Will, the ex-spouse is the favored beneficiary. Ms. Winehouse updated her Will to ensure that Fielder-Civil, who is currently in jail for burglary and possession of an imitation fire arm, would not inherit any of her estate. Under Winehouse’s Will, her estate, estimated at $16 million, will go to her parents and her brother.
In Illinois, if you die without a Will, the state dictates who will inherit from you as set forth in Illinois laws. If you are married, your spouse gets one-half of your estate and the rest is divided among your children.
If you have assets or have young children that will need a guardian, a Will is an important document to have. Planning your estate with a Will and a Trust is the best way to ensure your estate is distributed as you want it without your assets being made public.
Contact your estate planning attorney for more information.
