Practice resources

These resources are written for legal professionals doing legal aid or pro bono work. If you do not have legal training, they may be difficult to understand. Visit resources from the main menu for legal information written and designed for the public. Note: IICLE resources are only available to legal aid employees.

Estate planning Resources
Advising Elderly Clients and Their Families
Information on representing elderly clients on issues such as estate and tax planning, Medicare, and elder abuse. 2023 edition
IICLE
Asset protection planning
Manual on protecting assets from potential creditors including fraudulent transfers, onshore and offshore trusts, etc. 2022 edition.
IICLE
Elements of Illinois Law: Estate Planning and Probate Administration
Manual on estate planning that defines the minimum size of an estate, who should participate in estate planning, etc. 2023 edition
IICLE
Estate Administration Fundamentals
A guide for attorneys throughout the probate process, including filing the will, funeral arrangements, the initial meeting with the decedent’s family, life insurance, and social security and Veterans Administration benefits. Also extensively covered are the steps of opening the estate in courts.…
IICLE
Estate Administration: Business and Tax-Related Issues
A lawyer resource on estate administration focusing on managing a decedent's business and related federal and Illinois estate and income tax issues.
IICLE
Estate planning for retirement benefits
Includes naming a trust as a beneficiary, charitable giving, creditor protection, and postmortem planning. 2023 edition.
IICLE
Estate Planning in Illinois Guardianships
Advanced legal content. Manual for guardians on behalf of wards. 2023 edition
IICLE
Everyday mistakes in estate planning
Manual on common oversights in estate planning. 2023 edition.
IICLE
Farming law in Illinois: property issues
A lawyer resource on Illinois farming property law, addressing farm sales, purchases, leases, and land trusts.
IICLE
Litigating Disputed Estates, Trusts, Guardianships, and Charitable Bequests
Manual on the inner workings of wills, trusts, and guardianship. 2023 edition
IICLE
Revocable Grantor Trusts
Manual on planning for spouses and descendants, marital deduction and credit shelter provisions, tax aspects, and more. 2023 edition
IICLE
Special-Needs Trusts
Manual on drafting an estate plan that avoids reductions of potential government benefits for the special needs child. 2024 edition
IICLE
Trust Administration
Manual on creation of trust, role of trustee, liability, record-keeping, allocation of principal and income, and more. 2023 edition
IICLE