Sarah Lareau

Hi Justine ItaEURTMs understandable to be curious and youaEURTMre not aloneaEURthis is a sensitive topic but planning ahead can make a world of difference While I canaEURTMt give legal advice I can share some general information that may help guide the conversationWhen someone passes away what happens to their home depends on how the property is titled and if thereaEURTMs an estate plan in place such as a will or a trust Here are a few common scenariosNo Will Intestate If your parent or you pass without a will the home will likely go through probateaEURa court supervised process where assets are distributed according to state laws In Illinois this typically involves splitting assets among close relativesWith a Will If your parent has a will it will specify who inherits the home However the will still needs to go through probate unless other measures are in placeJoint Ownership or Rights of Survivorship If the home is jointly owned with someone else it may pass directly to the co owner without probate depending on how the deed is structuredLiving Trust A trust can help avoid probate and provide a clear private plan for transferring the propertyTo avoid misunderstandings you and your parent may want to have a conversation when theyaEURTMre comfortable about whether theyaEURTMve made any legal arrangements ItaEURTMs not about aEURoewishingaEUR anythingaEURitaEURTMs about preparing so that you donaEURTMt face unnecessary stress during a difficult timeConsider connecting with an estate planning attorney in Illinois as theyaEURTMll understand specific state laws and options IaEURTMm based in Texas but there are plenty of resources available locally Best of luck navigating this important discussion