Wills and trusts for the rest of us.
Convenience | We meet in my office or your home, and are available when you are.
Affordable |We offer flat rate fees and payment plans.
Personalized | We provide warm personal service, simplified.
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Why do I need a will or trust?
Preserving your legacy
Planning puts the reins in your hands, not the state’s.
Protecting your loved ones
Life can be unpredictable, but with a plan, you’re providing comfort and security for the future.
Planning for the unexpected
Estate planning isn’t about preparing for death—it’s about protecting life. It’s about love, responsibility, and peace of mind. By making these decisions now, you give your family a priceless gift: clarity, security, and freedom from worry.
Our Mission
Estate planning is an act of love and responsibility.
Our mission is to protect the people and things you care about. While we provide you with all of the legal documents that you and your family need, that is not the most important thing we do. The most important thing we do is helping you articulate what matters most to you.
The value of Everyday Legal comes from the plans you make, the decisions you lay out, and the love, generosity and memories you leave behind. When you look at your estate plan, instead of worry, you will feel peace of mind, that you have done all you can to care for those you love in perpetuity.
Why choose Everyday Legal?
Hi! I’m Gregory Berlowitz. I'm a Rogers Park attorney and parent, with an office in Andersonville, and decades-long ties to the community. Since 2018, I've been helping local clients design and build their trusts, wills and estate plans.
When I started Everyday Legal, I aimed to prove that effective legal advice didn't need to come from exclusive or expensive downtown offices. I wanted to ensure that everyday Chicagoans could create an estate plan without the high fees and legal jargon that discourage so many people from taking action to protect their assets and family members.
Since then, I have helped to demystify the estate planning process for hundreds of clients with fees they could actually afford.
Whether you require a complex trust or a simple will, my door is always open.
Estate Planning FAQs
Everyday Legal tries to makes planning approachable instead of scary or overwhelming. Completing your estate plan is ultimately about care and responsibility: protecting your loved ones and ensuring your wishes are honored.
Do I really need an estate plan if I’m young and healthy?
Yes. Estate planning isn’t just for the elderly or those with serious health issues. It’s for anyone who wants to protect their family if something unexpected happens.
If you were in an accident tomorrow, who would make medical decisions for you? Who would handle your finances while you recover? An estate plan answers those questions in advance so your loved ones aren’t left scrambling. Think of it as an insurance policy: you may not need it soon, but if you do, it’s priceless.
What’s the difference between a will and a trust?
A will is a written document that takes effect after you die. It directs who receives your assets and who handles your estate. A trust, on the other hand, is a legal arrangement you create during your lifetime to hold property and assets. Trusts can provide privacy, avoid probate, and allow you to set special conditions for how and when assets are distributed.
I don’t have much money. Do I still need an estate plan?
Yes. Estate planning is not only about money—it’s about people. Even if you don’t own a large home or have significant savings, you still need to decide:
Who will care for your children if you can’t?
Who will make medical and financial decisions for you if you’re unable?
How should your personal belongings (like heirlooms, photos, or keepsakes) be passed on?
Without a plan, these decisions are left to the courts, often causing stress and conflict for your family.
How do I choose a guardian for my children?
This is the hardest question parents face. The truth is, no one can replace you. But naming a guardian isn’t about perfection—it’s about love and stability. You’re choosing someone who will raise your children with care, consistency, and values you trust. And remember, you can leave written guidance to help that guardian honor your wishes as closely as possible. By making the choice yourself, you protect your children from a court making it for you.
How much control can I really have?
A lot. Without an estate plan, state laws and the courts decide who inherits your property, who raises your children, and who makes medical decisions on your behalf. With a plan, you stay in control:
You decide who cares for your children.
You decide how your assets are distributed.
You decide who can make health and financial decisions for you.
This isn’t just about control—it’s about making sure your values and priorities guide the process, not government default rules.
Why is estate planning important for LGBTQIA individuals and families?
Because default inheritance laws may not reflect or protect your family. A thoughtful plan ensures:
Your partner, spouse, or chosen family inherits according to your wishes.
You name guardians for children, especially in cases of adoption or assisted reproduction.
You decide who makes medical decisions, not distant relatives or the state.
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Blended Families
Today, more families are “blended” than ever before. Second marriages, stepchildren, and shared households are now a normal part of life. These families are rich with love, but when it comes to estate planning, they can also face unique challenges.
Without careful planning, blended families often experience confusion, unintended consequences, or even conflict when someone passes away. The good news is that with the right strategy, you can create a plan that protects everyone you love — and avoids unnecessary strain.
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Couples
Many people think that if they’re married, their spouse will automatically inherit everything. This is not necessarily true in all cases. Without planning, some assets may be divided between your spouse and children under state law.
If you’re unmarried, you may still want to protect your assets, your partner, and your chosen family. -
Single People
Single people often need estate planning as well. Without a plan, the state decides who inherits your assets.
Planning lets you choose who receives your property, name someone to make medical decisions, and appoint a trusted person to handle finances if you’re incapacitated.
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Choosing a Guardian for Your Children
For many parents, the hardest part of estate planning isn’t deciding who gets what. It’s deciding who will care for their children if something happens to them.
This question can stop families in their tracks. No one likes imagining being absent from their child’s life. But taking the time to choose a guardian is one of the most powerful gifts you can give your kids — the gift of stability, security, and love, even in the face of loss.
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Unique Estate Planning Needs for LGBTQIA Families
Every family is unique. But for LGBTQIA individuals and families, estate planning carries some especially important considerations. While legal protections have expanded in recent years, challenges still exist — and thoughtful planning ensures your wishes are respected, your relationships are honored, and your loved ones are protected.
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Planning for College-Aged Children
If you have kids heading off to college, there’s an extra layer to consider. Once your child turns 18, you no longer have automatic authority to make medical or financial decisions for them.
Before sending them off, consider having them sign:
— A healthcare power of attorney.
— A HIPAA Authorization, so doctors can share information with you in an emergency.
— A power of attorney for property, in case they need help managing bank accounts or bills.
It may feel strange, but these steps can make all the difference if something unexpected happens.
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Helping Parents with their Estate Plan
Talking with your parents about estate planning isn’t easy. It can feel awkward, uncomfortable, or even overwhelming. But these conversations are some of the most loving and important ones you can have.
By helping your parents with their estate plan, you’re not just talking about money or paperwork — you’re making sure their wishes are honored, their needs are met, and their legacy is preserved.
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How Estate Planning and Taxes Intersect
When most people think of estate planning, they picture wills, guardianship for children, or distributing assets. And when they think of taxes, they picture accountants, spreadsheets, and April 15th.
But in reality, estate planning and taxes are closely linked. If you don’t plan ahead, taxes can quietly erode the legacy you worked hard to build. With thoughtful preparation, you can minimize that burden and protect more for the people and causes you care about.
September Focus: Helping Your Parents With Their Estate Plan
Why Adult Children Often Step In
Many parents hesitate to bring up estate planning. Some think it’s too early. Others don’t want to “burden” their children. But without a plan, the burden is often much heavier.
Adult children often step in because:
They want to ensure their parents’ care and dignity as they age.
They worry about avoiding conflict with siblings later.
They want to prevent confusion and stress in times of crisis.
They hope to preserve more of the family’s legacy instead of losing it to costs or taxes.
Helping your parents plan is a way of saying: “I want to support you, and I want to protect our family.”
How to Start the Conversation
This can be the hardest part. A few tips:
Choose the right time. Holidays or big events may not be ideal. Look for a calm moment.
Frame it with care. Position it as wanting to honor their wishes, not as trying to control.
Share your own experience. If you’ve done your own estate plan, tell them how it gave you peace of mind.
Start with questions. Ask if they’ve thought about who would make decisions for them, or whether they’ve updated their will.
The goal isn’t to push — it’s to open the door.
Key Topics to Cover
Here are the most important areas to explore:
1. Wills and Trusts
Do your parents have a current will? Would a trust help avoid probate or simplify things for the family?
2. Powers of Attorney
If they become incapacitated, who will manage finances or make healthcare decisions? Having these documents in place prevents court intervention.
3. Healthcare Directives
Do they have living wills or advance directives that explain what care they want (or don’t want)? These give family members clarity during medical crises.
4. Beneficiary Designations
Are retirement accounts, life insurance, and other assets updated with the right beneficiaries?
Common Roadblocks
“We don’t need to worry about this.” Many people underestimate how much planning matters, even for modest estates.
“It’s too expensive.” The cost of not planning — court fees, conflict, and stress — is often much higher.
“It’s too uncomfortable.” It may feel that way at first, but most families find relief once the plan is in place.
The Benefits of Helping Them Plan
By helping your parents create or update their estate plan, you’re giving them:
Peace of mind that their wishes will be honored.
Clarity for family members about who will do what.
Security in knowing they’ll be cared for in the way they want.
Legacy — the chance to pass down not just assets, but values.
And you’re giving yourself and your siblings relief from worry, stress, and potential conflict.
A Gift Across Generations
Estate planning isn’t just about preparing for the end of life. It’s about strengthening family bonds, protecting relationships, and honoring the hard work that built the life your parents created.
By starting the conversation and offering support, you give your parents the chance to shape their legacy with love — and you give yourself and your family the gift of clarity.
Don’t Wait for a Crisis
The worst time to talk about estate planning is when it’s already too late. Starting now, when your parents are healthy and clear-headed, makes the process smoother, calmer, and more thoughtful.
Think of it as a family project: one that connects generations, preserves dignity, and ensures peace.
Next steps: the way we will work together.
How We Begin
Free phone or in-person consultation. What can we help you solve? Have you completed previous estate planning? Everyday Legal will answer your questions and prepare you for the next steps.
Engagement
Once we’ve decided to work together, you will sign an engagement letter and receive an online and/or downloadable questionnaire to begin your estate planning process.
Fees
Everyday Legal works on a flat-fee basis. Everything from phone calls to in person meetings to signing is included. Your specific goals and circumstances determine your fee.
Review
When your plan is ready, Everyday Legal uploads it to your personal online portal. We communicate on the phone, via email and in-person to review and finalize your plan.
Signing
We will meet at your home or in Everyday Legal’s office to sign your plan. You will need two witnesses who are neither beneficiaries or fiduciaries to sign with you.
Your Estate Plan Binder
You will keep your estate plan binder with original signed documents. Everyday Legal will also scan your binder and provide PDFs for you in your online portal.