Estate Planning & Probate Attorney | Peoria IL | Connor & O’Shaughnessy, P.C.

Protect What You’ve Built. Provide Clarity for the People You Love.

A thoughtful estate plan ensures that your wishes are honored, your loved ones are protected, and unnecessary conflict or expense is avoided.

Estate planning and probate law are essential components of a comprehensive lifetime financial strategy. At Connor & O’Shaughnessy, P.C., we guide individuals and families throughout Central Illinois in planning for incapacity, preserving assets, and administering estates with care and precision.

Why Estate Planning Matters

Without proper planning:

  • Illinois law determines who receives your assets

  • Court proceedings may be required

  • Family members may face delays or disputes

  • Important healthcare decisions may be left unclear

With a properly structured estate plan, you can:

  • Direct how your assets are distributed

  • Designate trusted decision-makers

  • Provide for minor children or beneficiaries with special needs

  • Minimize tax exposure

  • Reduce the risk of conflict

Planning for the Digital Age

Modern estate planning extends beyond physical assets.

Access to email accounts, online banking, social media platforms, and digital business records varies widely between companies and jurisdictions. Without written authorization, loved ones may face significant obstacles accessing or managing these accounts.

Including clear instructions in your Will, Trust, and Powers of Attorney can ensure your chosen representative has appropriate authority over your digital assets.

Estate Planning Services

We recognize that each client’s circumstances and objectives are unique. Our approach begins with understanding your goals and concerns, then developing a customized plan that reflects your wishes and adapts to current law.

Our estate planning services include:

  • Drafting Wills

  • Healthcare Powers of Attorney and Advance Directives

  • Powers of Attorney for Property

  • Living (Inter Vivos) Trusts

  • Special Needs Trusts for minors or adults with disabilities

  • Planning for blended families and second marriages

  • Estate and gift tax planning strategies

You have worked a lifetime to build your legacy. We are honored to help you protect it.

Probate & Trust Administration

Probate is the legal process by which a deceased person’s assets are administered, debts resolved, and property transferred under court supervision.

Proper probate and trust administration ensures that:

  • Legal requirements are met

  • Assets are distributed correctly

  • Tax obligations are addressed

  • Fiduciaries avoid personal liability

Failure to comply with statutory requirements can create legal exposure for executors, trustees, and beneficiaries. We guide clients through this process carefully and efficiently.

Probate Litigation & Disputes

Disputes sometimes arise despite careful planning. Our firm represents clients in contested estate matters involving:

  • Will or Trust contests

  • Allegations of undue influence

  • Claims of mental incapacity

  • Interference with inheritance

  • Executor or administrator disputes

  • Creditor claims against estates

  • Estate claims against third parties

We approach probate litigation with discretion and professionalism, recognizing the sensitive family dynamics often involved.

Experience You Can Trust

Connor & O’Shaughnessy, P.C. provides experienced representation in both estate planning and contested probate matters throughout Central Illinois. We combine careful drafting with strong advocacy when disputes arise.

Schedule a Consultation

Whether you are planning for the future or navigating the loss of a loved one, we are here to provide steady guidance.

Connor & O’Shaughnessy, P.C.
📞 (309) 687-6000
📧 lawyer_bc@attywilliamconnor.com
📍 Peoria Heights, Illinois

Contact us today to schedule a consultation.