Recent Blog Posts
4 Benefits of Divorce Mediation

While some people see the end of their marriage approaching, others find that divorce is unexpected. But whether they are ready to divorce or not, people often express feeling blindsided by the legal complexities and financial costs of dissolving their marriage.
Divorce can be expensive and difficult, but one way to make the process easier is through mediation. If couples are able to work together with a trained mediator to resolve the issues in their divorce, they can complete the process much more quickly and efficiently.
At A. Traub & Associates, our Schaumburg, IL divorce attorneys work on providing solutions tailored to each client’s needs. Our personal, hands-on approach has helped us earn the trust of the community, as we have earned over 150 5-star reviews for our excellent service.
When Does Mediation Become Necessary in a Divorce?
Mediation may become necessary when spouses reach a point where they cannot resolve key issues on their own. Many couples start out trying to divide property or agree on parenting time through informal talks. Over time, those conversations can stall. Emotions run high. Small disagreements turn into larger conflicts. At that stage, mediation offers a structured way to move forward without going straight to court.
Four Things You Cannot Do Via Will in Your Illinois Estate Plan

No matter what your age, a will can offer numerous benefits as part of a comprehensive estate plan. Your will serves as a roadmap for stating your intentions, distributing your possessions to beneficiaries, and wrapping up your final affairs. With a will, you maintain control over your assets instead of being subject to Illinois intestacy laws. You also reduce the potential for disputes among surviving loved ones, saving time and money in the estate administration process.
What you may not know is that there are a few objectives you cannot accomplish by creating a will. This can lead to surprises if you expect to achieve certain goals, so it is wise to consult with a Wheaton, IL estate planning attorney regarding the details. At A. Traub & Associates, we have decades of legal experience, so you can rely on us to guide you through the estate planning process with confidence.
The Challenges of High Net Worth Divorce
The process of property division is often a challenging part of any divorce. However, when high net worth comes into the equation, things can get extremely complex and very contentious. It is a good idea to engage a qualified lawyer to help guide you and your soon-to-be-former spouse with minimal stress.
At A. Traub & Associates, we know how to navigate the stresses that come with high asset divorces. Our Lombard, IL family law attorneys have received over 150 5-star reviews from satisfied clients, earning special praise for our "responsive, flexible" approach and personable service. We will review your financial situation in detail and develop a strategy tailored to your needs.
What Is Considered a "High Net Worth" Divorce in 2026?
The threshold for a high net worth divorce varies from source to source, as it does not have a hard and fast legal definition. That being said, most sources agree that a high asset divorce involves assets totalling $1 million or more. What makes these cases complicated isn’t just the value of assets, but their complexity as well. The property in a high asset divorce may be difficult to value, requiring the help of outside professionals to get a fair estimate. Common types of assets seen in high net worth divorces include:
Dividing Intellectual Property in an Illinois Divorce
During a divorce, most people think about how things like cars, real estate, and retirement accounts will be divided between the spouses. But, as our society becomes increasingly information-driven, another major category of property to be split is intellectual property. In a high net worth divorce, dividing these unconventional assets can be a major source of argument between the spouses.
At A. Traub & Associates, our Arlington Heights, IL divorce lawyers are equipped to handle complex property division. Our attorneys have been recognized as Super Lawyers, so you can trust that we will handle your case with proper diligence and attention.
What Is Intellectual Property?
Although intellectual property isn’t typically something tangible like a house or a car, it can sometimes be just as valuable, if not more. In simple terms, intellectual property includes ideas, creative works, inventions, and brand identities. If those ideas can be owned, sold, licensed, or used to make money, they may be considered property in a divorce.
What to Expect in Contested Guardianship Cases
When someone can’t manage his or her own finances or needs help addressing basic needs due to a disability, another party can petition for guardianship over them. When the court names somebody as a guardian, he or she can make important decisions on behalf of the disabled adult. However, these cases get much more complicated when the petition for adult guardianship is challenged.
At A. Traub & Associates, our Schaumburg, IL estate planning lawyers can help you navigate the challenges of a contested guardianship case. We have earned over 150 positive reviews from grateful clients, so when you work with our team, you can trust that your case will be handled with care.
5 Advantages of Planning for Incapacity
As people live longer and longer lives, the chances of one day experiencing age-related incapacity increase. Even if it is only for a short time in your very advanced age, most people will at some point lose the ability to think clearly and make decisions on their own behalf. While no one wants to go through an illness that affects the mind, like dementia, the reality is that many people do.
Planning for incapacity is a wise choice. The younger and healthier you are when you do it, the stronger your plan may be. The entire process of getting the documents you need to prepare for such an event does not take long, although you should think carefully about your choices. You have quite a bit to gain and nothing to lose by doing this important type of planning. At A. Traub & Associates, our Wheaton, IL estate planning lawyers have received over 150 positive reviews from satisfied clients, so you can trust that we will handle your case with care.
Looking After Pets in Your Estate Plan
An estate plan generally involves human heirs, such as children and grandchildren, but this is not always the case. Some individuals have non-human dependents to consider. Does that mean everyone should include their pet in an estate plan? Not necessarily, but it might be worth considering if there is even the slightest possibility that your companion may outlive you. It is important to understand when this kind of provision is legally feasible and how you can take the first step toward implementing it in your estate plan.
At A. Traub & Associates, we know how much your pets mean to you. Our DuPage County, IL estate planning lawyers can help you protect your animal companions with a personalized plan. With over 150 positive testimonials, we have built up a reputation for compassionate service.
How to Handle Property Division in a Contested Divorce
Deciding who keeps what is often one of the hardest parts of a divorce. If you and your soon-to-be ex disagree about how to split up your shared property, it is important to know how Illinois law addresses the division of assets during a divorce. At A. Traub & Associates, our Arlington Heights, IL divorce lawyers have over 100 years of combined legal experience, and we can guide you through the most difficult parts of asset division.
The Difference Between Marital and Separate Property (And Why it Matters)
In Illinois, asset division usually starts with making the distinction between marital and separate property. Marital property is generally anything you or your spouse obtained during the marriage. It doesn’t matter whose name is on the title or who made the purchase. If it was earned, bought, or built while you were married, it may be treated as marital, with some exceptions.
Why Having a Strong Estate Plan Matters
A comprehensive estate plan is important for protecting your beneficiaries and making sure your preferences for end-of-life care are respected. However, a recent caring.com survey found that less than a quarter of Americans have a will in place. If you need help setting up an estate plan – or simply don’t know where to start – reach out to a Schaumburg, IL estate planning attorney.
At A. Traub & Associates, we have built up a reputation for providing clear legal guidance and attending to our clients’ needs, resulting in over 150 5-star reviews. We can draft and review different documents in your estate plan, taking the time to understand your needs before moving forward.
Why You Should Draft a Will
A will is one of the most important documents to include in your Illinois estate plan. It gives clear instructions about what happens to your property after you die. Without one, Illinois law decides who receives your assets (755 ILCS 5/2-1). Those rules do not account for family conflict, blended families, or personal wishes.
Reasons to Challenge a Loved One’s Will
In the days and weeks after the death of a loved one, you are likely to remain focused on getting back some semblance of normalcy in your life, especially if you were very close to the person who passed away. Just as things start to settle back down emotionally, new concerns can arise when your loved one’s will is presented for probate. When the provisions in the will are finally made known, you may be surprised to learn that your loved one had made some unexpected decisions. Such surprises may lead you to think about filing a will contest, but there are factors to consider before you do so.
At A. Traub & Associates, we know how difficult it can be to review a will while processing a loved one’s death. With over 150 5-star reviews, our Lombard, IL estate administration attorneys have built a reputation for caring advocacy.
Hurt Feelings Don’t Invalidate a Will
The first thing you need to remember is that, following a person’s death, there will almost always be someone who feels that they got ignored, left out, or the short end of the stick. They may have been led to expect a certain portion of the inheritance or a particular piece of property, only to find out later that such "promises" were never formalized in the will. If you feel slighted by your loved one’s decisions regarding his or her will, that is not sufficient grounds for challenging the document.











