Estate Planning Lawyer for Plainfield, Illinois
Most Plainfield households are young, newly settled and raising children, so a basic estate plan means a will with a guardian, powers of attorney, and a check of every beneficiary form. Jeff McCarthy handles this for Plainfield families. Most of Plainfield is in Will County, with part in Kendall County.
The fastest growing town in the group
The Census Bureau estimates Plainfield grew 11.5% from the April 2020 base to July 2025, reaching 50,043. Only 9.9% of residents are 65 or older. Owners hold 88.0% of homes and the median value is $431,400 for 2020 to 2024. Check the figures on Census QuickFacts.
Many of these households moved in during the last few years. A new house usually means a new mortgage, new life insurance and a changed family. Those events are all reasons to update paperwork. See planning after you buy a home.
Start with the forms you already signed
Before drafting, bring any beneficiary forms from work. A 401(k), a pension and a group life policy each pass by the form on file, not by your will. A form that names an ex, or names no one, can undo a careful plan. Jeff lines the forms up with the rest of the papers.
Wills for parents of young children
A will lets you name a guardian and lets you say who manages money for your children. The signing rule is plain. The will must be in writing, signed, and attested by 2 or more credible witnesses in your presence (755 ILCS 5/4-3). Learn more about wills and guardians.
Get your plan done. Call Jeff.
Tell Jeff about your family, your home and what you want to happen. He'll explain the next step.Office hours: Monday to Friday 8:30 AM to 6 PM, Saturday 10 AM to noon. After hours, leave your name, number and the best time to call back.
Jeff McCarthy, Inspired Law Group, 136 E 9th St, Lockport, IL 60441
Which county is your Plainfield address in?
Most of Plainfield is in Will County. A part sits in Kendall County. Because probate goes to the county where the decedent lived (755 ILCS 5/5-1), a Kendall County address would file in Kendall County rather than in Joliet. Jeff checks the address when you call.
Powers of attorney at any age
Powers of attorney are not just for the elderly. A car accident at 38 leaves the same question: who pays the mortgage? A power of attorney for property and a health care power of attorney answer it.
Check every few years
For a young household, new events change the plan quickly. Marriage, a baby, a new house and a new job each call for a short review. Ask yourself four questions after each: Who gets my things? Who raises my kids? Who pays my bills if I cannot? Who decides my care? If any answer has changed, update the papers.
Phones, photos and online accounts
A great deal of life now sits online. Photos, email and money apps do not appear on a deed. A short plan for access, kept with your will, helps your family. Jeff covers the basics on the digital assets page.
Starting early
People often put off a plan because they think they are too young. Starting early means a short document set that fits a young family, and an easy update each time life changes. Waiting until after an illness leaves fewer choices. Jeff covers what changes the work involved on the first call.
Many young Plainfield couples need only a short set: a will for each spouse with a guardian, a power of attorney for property, a power of attorney for health care, and updated beneficiary forms. A trust can come later if the family or the assets grow. Many couples can finish in a short number of meetings, and Jeff schedules the signing so both spouses are there. Bring your beneficiary forms, your mortgage paperwork and the names of the people you would choose. Review will versus trust to see where each fits.
Sources
Reviewed by Jeff McCarthy, Attorney, Inspired Law Group, 136 E 9th St, Lockport, IL 60441.
Questions people ask about plainfield
Short answers first. Jeff McCarthy reviews every answer on this page.
Check how the deed is titled and who is named on your insurance and retirement accounts. Then see the post purchase estate plan page.
No. It goes to the person named on the plan's beneficiary form. That is why Jeff reads those forms.
For the Will County portion, the Circuit Clerk of Will County at 100 W. Jefferson Street in Joliet. For the Kendall County portion, the court in that county.
If you own a home, have children or have a spouse, you already have an estate. A plan decides what happens to it.
What changes the cost is how much has to be redrafted. Jeff explains it on the first call.
Keep reading
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Every case comes down to its facts and its deadlines. Talk with Jeff McCarthy so you can:
- Get clear on your legal options.
- Avoid costly mistakes.
- Know what happens next, and when.
