Protecting Your Legacy in Chicago: How Estate Planning, Probate, and Injury Law Work Together

When people in Chicago say, “I really need to get my affairs in order,” they usually mean, 

“I should probably sign a will.” A will is important, but it is only one piece of a much bigger picture.

Your legacy is not just a document in a folder. It is your home, the accounts you have built over 

a lifetime, the people who depend on you, and what happens if an accident or illness turns everything 

upside down. It is also the difference between your family quietly handling your affairs and being forced 

to sort everything out in probate court.

​

At The Law Offices of Theodore London & Associates, we look at all of those pieces together. 

Our estate planning, probate, and accident & injury work have one goal: to help the Chicago‑area 

families protect what they have worked for and make life easier for the people they love.

​

A Legacy Plan Is More Than Just a Will

Most families who sit down with us already have a story. Maybe they watched a parent’s estate 

get stuck in probate for years. Maybe they remember a cousin losing a building because paperwork 

was never done. Even so, it is easy to think, “I’ll just sign a basic will, and that will be enough.”

In Illinois, a will often sends your estate into probate, not around it. That means:

Court supervision

Delays while things are sorted out

Extra costs and public records

A true legacy plan looks at your whole situation:

Do you own a home or a multi‑unit building?

Are there bank or retirement accounts in your name only?

Who depends on your income or your care?

Does anyone in the family already struggle to get along?

Once we understand that picture, we can talk about tools such as living trusts, land trusts, 

updated deeds, and powers of attorney that can keep many assets out of probate and give your 

family clear directions instead of guesswork.

​

Estate Planning in Chicago: Keeping Your Family Out of Probate Court

Estate planning is not reserved for people with mansions on the North Shore. If you own a house 

In Roseland, a two‑flat on the West Side, or a condo in the South Suburbs, you already have an estate to protect.

Some of the tools we often use with Chicago families include:

Living trusts

A living trust can hold your home and other assets while you are alive, then pass them to your 

beneficiaries without going through probate—if everything is set up and funded correctly.

​

Land trusts

For many property owners, a land trust is a smart way to keep their name off public property 

records while maintaining control and making it easier for the next generation to take over.

​

Powers of attorney for property and health care

These documents name someone you trust to make decisions if you cannot. Without them, loved 

ones are often left guessing—sometimes arguing—about what you would have wanted.

​

Updated deeds and beneficiary forms

Old deeds and outdated beneficiary designations can undo a good plan. Part of our job is making 

Sure, the paperwork matches your wishes now, not 20 years ago.

​

Over the years, Attorney Theodore “Ted” London has helped teachers, church leaders, and small‑business owners 

owners, retirees, and first‑time homebuyers across Chicago use these tools to keep their homes in 

the family and out of unnecessary court proceedings.

​

When Probate Is Necessary—and How a Lawyer Makes It Easier

Sometimes, despite everyone’s best efforts, probate is still necessary. A loved one may pass away 

without a plan, with only a will, or with property still in their name. When that happens, families 

often have the same question: “What do we do now?”

In Illinois, probate usually means:

Opening an estate in court

Choosing someone to serve as executor or administrator

Notifying heirs and creditors

Gathering and valuing assets

Paying valid debts and taxes

Distributing what is left according to the will or state law

​

It is easy for families to feel lost in that process, especially while they are grieving. 

A Chicago probate lawyer can step in to:

Explain what each step means

Handle filings and court dates

Help keep the process moving instead of dragging on

Work to reduce conflict when relatives do not agree

​

Our goal at The Law Offices of Theodore London & Associates is to turn a confusing situation 

into a manageable one. We guide families through probate with as little stress as possible—and 

then help the next generation put better protections in place so they do not face the same problems.

​

How a Serious Accident Can Change Your Legal Picture

Estate planning and probate focus on what happens after someone dies. But life is not that neat. 

Sometimes the story changes in an instant—a car crash on the Dan Ryan, a fall on an icy sidewalk, 

or another serious accident.

Suddenly, the questions become:

How will we pay these medical bills?

What happens if I cannot go back to work right away—or ever?

How will this affect our mortgage and other obligations?

​

This is where personal injury law comes in. A fair settlement or verdict can cover medical expenses, 

lost wages, future care, and the harm you have suffered. For many families, that recovery becomes a 

key part of their long‑term financial stability.

​

But a settlement is more than just a check. It may need to be coordinated with:

Your existing trust or estate plan

The benefits a disabled family member receives

Plans for minor children or aging parents

​

That is why we created Call Ted Injury Law, a dedicated injury practice that works closely with 

our estate planning team. Together, we help injured clients pursue compensation and then protect 

it as part of their overall legacy.

​

How Our Firm Brings Estate Planning, Probate, and Injury Law Together

When you work with our office, we are not looking at your case in isolation. We ask bigger questions:

If we win this injury case, how should those funds be protected for your family?

If we prepare a trust, are there any old deeds, land trust records, or beneficiary forms that could 

cause problems later?

If you are already in probate, what can we learn from this experience to help your children and 

Grandchildren avoid it?

​

Because we handle estate planning, probate, and accident & injury law, we can help you see how one 

decision affects the others. Our clients include:

​

Families with homes on Chicago’s South Side and West Side

Business owners and landlords with multiple properties

Churches and nonprofit organizations

Professionals and retirees with assets in several states

​

Many of them have chosen to make us their long‑term legal partner, calling us when a new child is born, when they buy or sell a building, or when an unexpected injury turns their plans upside down.