ESTATE PLANNING
At Ruben & Goldberg, LLC, we have a three-pronged approach to estate planning: peace of mind, asset protection, and minimizing estate taxes. First and foremost, we like to provide our clients with peace of mind that your wishes will be carried out through a will that will appoint your executor, guardian of your children, and dispose of your personal property. We can also provide powers of attorney for health care and property in the event that you become disabled so that medical and financial decisions can be made under the terms you desire. Secondly, through a revocable trust you can ensure that your assets will pass to your heirs without the inconvenience and expense of going through probate court. Moreover, with a larger estate, an insurance trust may be utilized to ensure the payment of estate taxes. Lastly, through gifting strategies and careful planning, we can minimize the effect of federal estate taxes on your estate. Of course, we are happy to assist you with updating your existing estate plan to make sure these goals are met by your current estate plan. We offer free consultations and a number of different packages or a la carte pricing.
REAL ESTATE
Our Real Estate Practice includes both Residential and Commercial transactions. In the Residential arena, we handle both home sales and purchases in the Chicagoland area for single family homes, condominiums, conversions and new construction. We also have significant experience in short sale and foreclosure acquisitions and sales. Our fee includes negotiations during the attorney approval and inspection periods, reviewing title and surveys, following up with lenders, and attending closings. We have longstanding relationships with real estate professionals, surveyors, title companies, home inspectors, and mortgage brokers to assist our clients with all aspects of the real estate transaction.
On the commercial side, we negotiate for clients the acquisition and sale of commercial properties, retail, and office leasing. We draft and negotiate various types of leases on behalf of both landlords and tenants.
PROPERTY TAX APPEALS
We also handle real estate tax assessment appeals for Lake, Cook and other outlying counties. We charge a contingent fee for these services based on the tax savings that result from a successful appeal. In the event that no tax savings are achieved, then the client is not charged.
We can also assist with the filing of a certificate of error for any missed homeowner, senior citizen, senior citizen freeze or other exemptions.
CORPORATE
Our corporate practice consists of organizing Limited Liability Companies, Series Limited Liability Companies, Partnerships and Corporations, whether for your business and/or for Asset and Wealth protection purposes. We recommend specific plans and corporate structures to clients based on their particular needs and corporate goals, which may incorporate estate planning techniques as well. We are also experienced with drafting various initial corporate documents such as operating agreements, bylaws, articles of incorporation, board of director and shareholder minutes and resolutions. Other legal documents that we draft for our corporate clients include shareholder, buy-sell, stock sales, and asset sale and purchase agreements, consulting agreements, confidentiality agreements, non-competition and non-solicitation agreements, and promissory notes. We also assist our business clients with their annual filings of minutes and annual reports and other documentation required annually by the Secretary of State. Our business clients range from the solo entrepreneur to sophisticated multi member organizations.
INCOME TAX PREPARATION
We have a wide range of tax clients, from individuals to sophisticated investors. As a result, we prepare a wide range of individual, corporate, partnership, and fiduciary returns for our diverse clients. In addition, we prepare a large number of tax returns for condominium and homeowner associations and 990 tax returns for charitable organizations and foundations. Part of our service includes assistance with tax notice compliance, audits, estimated tax payments, and extensions. We also provide taxpayers with a method to organize your tax documents to facilitate the seamless transition from organizing your receipts to preparation of your 1040 return. We are available to our clients to answer questions, adjust estimated tax payments, and assist with tax planning throughout the year.
PROBATE
Our probate practice consists of opening, administering, and closing all types of probate matters. We will file all initial court papers, attend court hearings, secure a surety bond, and make sure all notice provisions are met including those during the mandatory claim period. In addition, we assist our clients with all required court filings throughout the administration of the estate.
TRUST ADMINISTRATION
Our Trust Administration practice complements our Estate Planning practice. We administer both living or inter vivos trusts, as well as testamentary trusts. As a Trustee, we assist with accounting, managing, and disbursing trust assets. We also perform these services in cases where the client is the named Trustee. It is common for us to work closely with financial planners for the protection and distribution of trust assets, but we do not give investment advice. Lastly, in connection with our Tax practice we file all required Federal and State fiduciary returns.
CONDOMINIUM LAW
We review and draft governing documents for condominium and homeowner associations, including but not limited to, Declarations, Amendments, Bylaws, and Rules and Regulations. We have assisted condominium associations and unit owners in disputes. We can assist with setting up an association as a not for profit association, filing annual reports and acting as a registered agent. We also handle income tax preparation for numerous condominium associations and are able to assist with real estate tax reductions.
NOT FOR PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS/CHARITABLE FOUNDATIONS
Our practice includes assisting clients with the formation of a non-profit organization, obtaining tax-exempt status from the IRS, filing appropriate paperwork with the Illinois Attorney General, Illinois Secretary of State and Illinois Department of Revenue, and obtaining FEIN numbers. We provide guidance on federal and state law applicable to not for profit organizations and prepare the 990 or other required tax returns.
