As the year winds down, most families focus on holidays, school events, and preparing for a fresh start in January. But the end of the year is also one of the best times to review and update the legal and financial plans that protect your family.

You don’t need to overhaul everything in December. A handful of simple, intentional steps can prevent major headaches later and ensure your loved ones are protected going into the new year.

Year-end estate planning in Illinois doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Whether you’re in Naperville, Chicago, or anywhere in DuPage County, these five tasks will help ensure your family is protected.

1. Review Your Beneficiary Designations

This is the easiest and most overlooked estate planning task in Illinois.

Check the beneficiaries on:

• Life insurance policies
• Retirement accounts (401k, IRA, etc.)
• Bank accounts with POD (payable on death) or TOD (transfer on death) designations
• Investment or brokerage accounts
• Employer-sponsored benefits

These beneficiary designations override your will or trust, so staying current is essential for Illinois families. Many people are shocked to learn an ex-spouse or estranged relative is still listed. A five-minute update now can prevent an expensive and heartbreaking probate dispute later.

If you’re unsure whether your beneficiaries are current, schedule a year-end estate planning review with our Naperville estate planning attorneys serving DuPage County families

2. Update Your Powers of Attorney

Every adult in Illinois needs two essential documents:

• Power of Attorney for Healthcare
• Power of Attorney for Property

These legal documents decide who can make medical and financial decisions if you cannot. If your agents have changed, moved, or no longer make sense for your life, update these now. Hospitals and banks in Illinois rely heavily on these documents, especially during unexpected medical events.

If you have college-aged children, they need their own POAs as well. Legally, once they turn 18, you can no longer access their medical records or assist with financial matters without proper authorization under Illinois law.

Many Naperville and Chicagoland families overlook this critical step until it’s too late.

3. Make Sure Your Will or Trust Matches Your Current Life

Life moves quickly. If you’ve experienced any changes this year, it’s time to review your estate planning documents:

• New baby
• Marriage or divorce
• Buying a home in Illinois
• Inheriting assets
• Change in family relationships
• Children now adults
• Loss of a loved one

Ask yourself: “If something happened tomorrow, would my current estate plan actually reflect what I want today?”

If the answer is no, the end of the year is the perfect time to fix it. Our estate planning attorneys serving DuPage County families can help you update your will or revocable living trust to match your current wishes.

4. Verify Trust Funding in Illinois: Real Estate and Asset Titles

If you created a revocable living trust, it only works if your assets are actually titled in the trust. This is one of the most common mistakes we see in Illinois estate planning.

Trust funding in Illinois requires proper legal documentation and title transfers. Our estate planning attorneys in Naperville help families ensure their revocable living trusts are properly funded to avoid probate.

Make sure your:

• Home or primary residence
• Rental properties
• Bank accounts
• Investment accounts
• Business interests

have been properly transferred into your trust. Many families in Naperville and surrounding areas are surprised to learn their trust isn’t funded — which means their estate will still go to probate in Illinois.

If you aren’t sure how your property is titled, or whether your trust is properly funded, our probate attorneys can review it with you before year-end.

5. Organize Your Key Information for Your Family

The best estate plan in the world doesn’t help your loved ones if nobody can find anything when they need it most.

Before year-end, gather and organize:

• Copies of your will, trust, and POAs
• A list of your accounts and online logins
• Contact information for your attorney, CPA, and financial advisor
• Life insurance information
• Deeds, titles, and important tax documents

You don’t need anything formal — a simple folder or secure digital file is enough. What matters is that your family knows where to look during estate administration.

A Little Planning Now Makes a Big Difference Later

These year-end tasks aren’t complicated, but they make a tremendous difference during emergencies, illnesses, and estate administration in Illinois. By taking a little time now, you give your family clarity, protection, and peace of mind heading into the new year.

If you’d like help with year-end estate planning in Illinois, our Naperville estate planning attorneys are here to guide DuPage County and Chicagoland families through trust funding, beneficiary updates, and document reviews before December 31st.

Contact us at contact@jlonglaw.com or 312-344-3644 to schedule a year-end estate planning review.