Posted on January 31, 2026 in Real Estate

Evicting a tenant in Illinois requires following specific legal procedures exactly. You cannot simply change the locks, shut off utilities, or remove a tenant's belongings, no matter how far behind on rent they are or how much damage they have caused. Illinois law protects tenants from illegal evictions, and landlords who take shortcuts face serious penalties, including lawsuits.

The formal eviction process in Illinois is called a forcible entry and detainer action. It is governed by the Illinois Code of Civil Procedure, specifically 735 ILCS 5/9-101 and following sections. Following the correct process protects you legally and helps you regain possession of your property as quickly as possible.

Our Oswego real estate attorney for landlords has over 20 years of experience handling evictions throughout Kendall County. We offer free consultations to help you understand your rights and navigate the eviction process correctly.

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 Posted on January 27, 2026 in Asset Protection & Wealth Preservation

Real estate investing can build wealth, but it also comes with serious risks. Lawsuits, liability claims, and creditor actions can threaten everything you have worked to build. Smart investors protect their assets before problems come up.

Two powerful tools for real estate protection are Series LLCs and land trusts. Understanding how these structures work and how they can be used together gives you a strong foundation for safe and successful real estate investing. A Kendall County asset protection lawyer with over 20 years of experience can help you choose the best strategy for your situation.

What Is a Series LLC?

A Series LLC is a special type of limited liability company that allows you to create multiple separate divisions, called series, under one main LLC. Each series operates independently and can own its own assets, have its own members, and maintain its own bank accounts. Most importantly, each series has its own liability protection.

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 Posted on January 22, 2026 in Estate Planning

Many people believe that signing a living trust document completes their estate planning. They feel relieved knowing they have avoided probate and protected their family's future. Unfortunately, creating a trust is only the first step. Without proper funding, your living trust is like an empty safe. It exists, but it holds nothing of value.

An unfunded trust cannot accomplish any of the goals you created it for. Your assets will still go through probate. Your family will face delays and expenses. Your carefully planned distribution instructions will not apply to property you never transferred into the trust. 

You can avoid this by working closely with a Yorkville, IL estate planning attorney. 

Why Do So Many Trusts Remain Unfunded?

Unfunded trusts are surprisingly common. Many people pay an attorney to create a trust, attend a signing meeting, and then assume the work is done. Some attorneys prepare deeds and account transfer forms but never follow up to ensure clients actually submitted them. Other times, people acquire new assets after creating their trust and forget to add them.

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 Posted on January 19, 2026 in Estate Planning

Nobody wants to imagine their children fighting over money after they pass away, but it happens more often than most people realize. Even families that seem close can end up in bitter disputes over inheritances. The good news is that a well-designed trust can prevent many of these conflicts before they start. By including flexibility and safeguards in your estate plan, you can protect both your assets and your family relationships.

Creating a trust in 2026 is not just about deciding who gets what. It is also about anticipating problems that might come up years from now. With 20 years of experience, our Aurora, IL estate planning attorney has seen these problems and can help you guard against them.

Why Do Families Fight Over Estates and Trusts?

Estate disputes often happen for predictable reasons. Sometimes one child feels they deserve more than their siblings because they provided caregiving or stayed closer to the parent. Other times, family members disagree about whether the person who created the trust was mentally capable of making decisions at the time. Blended families can create particularly complicated situations when children from different marriages feel they are being treated unfairly.

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 Posted on January 13, 2026 in Estate Planning

Losing a parent is one of the toughest things most of us will ever experience. During this difficult time, you may hear the word "probate" and wonder what it means for you and your family. Probate is the legal process that settles a deceased person's estate. Understanding the basics can help you know what steps to take next and whether you need legal help.

Our Aurora estate planning and probate attorney offers free consultations and has over 20 years of experience guiding families through this process. We can help you manage your parents’ estate in 2026 so you can focus on your family. 

What Is Probate in Kendall County, IL?

Probate is the court process that transfers your parent's assets to their beneficiaries after death. The Kendall County Circuit Court oversees this process. During probate, the court makes sure your parent's debts get paid and their remaining property goes to the right people.

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 Posted on January 05, 2026 in Real Estate

If you have watched your family argue over property after a loved one passed away, you know how painful that experience can be. Indeed, a survey by Caring.com estimated that fewer than 25 percent of Americans die with a will, the most basic estate planning tool. This causes problems – even tragedies – for many families.

Many parents and grandparents in Illinois want to make sure their children and grandchildren do not go through the same thing. The good news is that with the right estate planning tools, you can pass real estate to your heirs without the delays, costs, and conflicts that come with probate.

Our Kendall County estate planning attorney has over 20 years of experience helping families protect their property and their relationships. Call Gateville Law Firm at 630-780-1034 for a free consultation in 2026.

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 Posted on December 30, 2025 in Real Estate

For landlords and real estate investors in Kendall County, evictions are one of the highest-risk legal issues you will face. An eviction is not just about removing a tenant; it is a legal process that can expose you to counterclaims, delays, and personal liability if handled incorrectly.

At Gateville Law Firm our Kendall County real estate lawyer represents landlords in landlord/tenant disputes. We approach evictions as risk-management issues, helping you navigate the process efficiently while protecting your long-term wealth.

What Are the Reasons a Landlord Can Evict in Illinois?

In Kendall County, a landlord must have "cause" to terminate a lease early. Common legal grounds include:

• Non-payment of rent (735 ILCS 5/9-209) is the most frequent reason for eviction

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 Posted on December 24, 2025 in Strategy and Asset Protection

Adding a child's name to your house deed or bank account seems like a simple way to avoid probate. Many people believe this small paperwork change will make things easier for their families. Unfortunately, this shortcut is one of the most common estate planning mistakes, and it can create serious financial and legal problems that take years to fix.

These quick fixes often override your actual wishes and expose your assets to risks you never considered. Our Aurora, IL estate planning attorney has 20 years of experience and can help you avoid mistakes like this. We start by making sure we truly understand your long-term goals, and then work backward to find great solutions.

How Do Joint Ownership and Transfer-on-Death Accounts Work?

When you add someone's name to a deed or bank account as a joint owner, you create what Illinois law calls a joint tenancy with right of survivorship. Under 765 ILCS 1005/1, this means that when one owner dies, the surviving owner immediately and automatically owns the entire asset. The same principle applies to transfer-on-death and payable-on-death account designations.

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 Posted on December 19, 2025 in Asset Protection & Wealth Preservation

You own investment properties; you set up an LLC online; you even signed a Living Trust. You probably believe your assets are protected. But a single paperwork error or structural flaw can make all that protection worthless when you actually need it.

Meaningful asset protection in 2026 requires more than signing documents. It requires proper structure, correct funding, and coordination with your insurance and tax strategy. 

Our Yorkville estate planning attorney has over 20 years of experience helping clients build protection that actually works when challenged. Call Gateville Law Firm at 630-780-1034 for a consultation.

What Did the 2008 Financial Crisis Teach About Asset Protection?

The 2008 recession revealed which asset protection strategies held up under pressure and which collapsed. When real estate values crashed and creditors aggressively pursued judgments, many DIY structures failed because they had not been properly established or maintained. We were on the front lines trying to help desperate families protect their homes and assets. But as the L.A. Times reported, at least 10 million people lost their homes. That number is truly staggering. 

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 Posted on December 15, 2025 in Asset Protection & Wealth Preservation

Your family's legacy should provide security and peace of mind, not become a source of legal complications and financial stress. For Illinois families, not having a comprehensive estate plan opens the door to significant financial and emotional risks that could have been prevented with proper planning.

Effective estate planning protects your family from three major threats through strategic risk management. These threats include:

• Probate costs and delays

• Devastating long-term care expenses

• The potential loss of inherited wealth through divorce

According to a survey by senior living advisors at Caring, around 75% of Americans die without a will. You don’t need to be one of them. Our Aurora, IL estate planning attorney can help you understand the legal tools to address these risks. Call us at 630-780-1034 to schedule an appointment in 2026.

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