Frequently asked Questions

Rick: Chicagoland Trust is the next chapter of a business that’s been serving families in this area for decades.

The work itself hasn’t changed - helping people understand and set up revocable living trusts - but the way the business operates has evolved.

The Seniors Foundation was built in a very offline era. Over time, it became clear that families - especially adult children - expect more transparency, better communication, and clearer systems.

Chicagoland Trust reflects that evolution. Same core mission, same experience guiding families, but with updated processes, clearer roles, and a more modern way of supporting people before, during, and after their trust is created.

Rick: My role is to educate, guide, and coordinate - not to practice law.

I work with families to help them understand how trusts work, what decisions need to be made, and how to prepare for the legal process so it’s clear and efficient.

Once that groundwork is done, I coordinate directly with licensed Illinois & Wisconsin attorneys who handle the legal drafting and execution.

What I don’t do is give legal advice or act as an attorney. What I do is make sure families aren’t overwhelmed, rushed, or confused as they go through an important planning decision.

Rick: No - Chicagoland Trust is not a law firm, and that’s intentional.

The attorneys we work with are licensed professionals who handle the legal side.

My role is to help families get prepared before legal documents are drafted.

Most people don’t need more legal jargon - they need clarity. They want to understand what a trust does, what choices matter, and how it affects their family.

By separating education and coordination from legal drafting, families tend to have a smoother process, fewer revisions, and a better overall experience.

Rick: I’ve been doing this work for over a decade, and during that time I’ve personally guided the creation of more than 500 trusts.

Until recently, Chicagoland Trust has been known as The Seniors Foundation and has created more than 3,875 trusts for retirees in the Chicagoland area since 1993.

What matters most isn’t credentials on a wall - it’s experience sitting across the table from real families, answering real questions, and helping them think through decisions that affect their loved ones.

Every family is different, but the patterns are familiar. My job is to help people slow down, understand what they’re doing, and move forward with confidence.

Rick: That’s a fair question, and it’s one families should ask any time they’re dealing with something as important as estate planning.

Chicagoland Trust operates through licensed Illinois & Wisconsin attorneys who draft and execute the legal documents. Nothing here is informal or undocumented.

My role is to guide families through the process and make sure everything is coordinated properly. The trust itself is a legal instrument, created and held through an attorney.

Transparency is intentional here.

Families should always know who is doing what, where documents live, and how to get answers. That clarity is what separates legitimate planning from something you should walk away from.

Rick: This is another important question - and one that should always be asked.

The trust itself is a legal document drafted and maintained by an attorney, not by me personally.

That means it remains valid and enforceable regardless of changes on my end.

My role is education and coordination. The legal foundation is designed to stand on its own.

This structure is intentional because good planning should be durable and not dependent on a single individual.

Rick: The legal documents are drafted and executed by licensed Illinois and Wisconsin attorneys.

Once completed, the trust becomes a legal instrument governed by state law and managed through the attorney’s office.

Chicagoland Trust does not hold legal authority over the trust. My role is to help families understand what they have and coordinate when updates or changes are needed.

That separation is important, because it protects the integrity of the legal work and provides continuity for families.

Rick: Most trusts need updates over time - life changes, laws change, family situations change.

When updates are needed, families contact us to coordinate the process, and we work directly with the attorney to handle the legal changes.

Timing can vary depending on the nature of the update, but the important thing is that there’s a clear path forward and a known point of contact.

That ongoing coordination is why we emphasize continuity and staying engaged, rather than treating trust planning as a one-time event.

Rick: In simple terms, a revocable living trust is a legal way to hold your assets during your lifetime and pass them on without going through probate.

‘Revocable’ means you can change it. You’re not locking anything in permanently. You stay in control while you’re alive and capable.

The trust doesn’t change what you own - it changes how those assets are held and transferred.

For most families, the benefit is clarity, privacy, and making things easier for loved ones later.

Rick: Most families don’t create a trust because they love paperwork - they do it to solve practical problems and for peace of mind.

A trust can help avoid probate, which is often time-consuming, costly and public. It can help if someone becomes incapacitated. And it can reduce confusion or conflict among family members.

It doesn’t solve every problem, and it’s not right for everyone, but for many families it creates a much smoother transition during difficult moments.

Rick: The process usually starts with education - either through a seminar or a one-on-one conversation.

From there, we clarify goals, family dynamics, and assets, so decisions are thoughtful instead of rushed. Once that groundwork is done, we coordinate with licensed Illinois & Wisconsin attorneys who draft the trust documents.

After everything is signed, we provide step-by-step guidance for placing assets into your trust and organizational recommendations.

Rick: Timing can vary depending on how quickly information is gathered and how complex the situation is.

For many families, the process takes several weeks from start to finish. More complex estates can take longer.

What’s important is not speed, but clarity. Rushing through decisions usually creates more work later.

Our goal is to move at a pace that’s thoughtful and appropriate for each family.