wills and trusts Archives – Goldenberg Heller & Antognoli, P.C.

GHA Partner Elizabeth Heller to Co-Host Free Estate Planning Event

As featured on the Big Z Morning Show. If something were to happen to you tomorrow, would your family be prepared to navigate the legal and financial complexities that follow? It is not an easy question to consider, but it is one of the most important. On May 8, you will have the opportunity to… Continue reading →

As featured on the Big Z Morning Show.

If something were to happen to you tomorrow, would your family be prepared to navigate the legal and financial complexities that follow? It is not an easy question to consider, but it is one of the most important. On May 8, you will have the opportunity to gain clear, practical guidance to help you plan with confidence.

Goldenberg Heller & Antognoli, P.C. partner Liz Heller is teaming up with Curtis Stephens of StephensPlanning.com to host a community Lunch & Learn on estate planning and taxes. The event is open to anyone in the Southern Illinois and St. Louis metro area who wants to better understand how to protect their assets and make sure their wishes are carried out for themselves and for the people they love.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to participate in event giveaways, including St. Louis Cardinals tickets!

Event Details

When: Friday, May 8, 2026
Starts at noon. Lunch provided.

The Wedge | 620 E Broadway Alton, IL 62002
This is a free event. Reserve your spot here.

Liz and Curtis will walk through the topics that come up most often when families realize they don’t have a plan in place or that the plan they have is outdated.

The biggest estate planning mistakes people make
The true purpose of estate planning
How estate taxes may impact you and your family
Strategies for asset protection and lawsuit protection
Ways to improve tax efficiency and transfer wealth effectively

Whether you’re just starting to think about these things or you have a plan that hasn’t been updated in years, this event is designed to help you leave with clarity.

Reserve your spot here.

About Our Firm:

At Goldenberg Heller & Antognoli, we’ve helped clients across Southern Illinois and the St. Louis metro area navigate these questions for more than 40 years. We’ve seen firsthand what happens when families have a solid plan and what happens when they don’t. This event exists because we believe everyone deserves access to straightforward, honest information about protecting what they’ve worked for.

If you have questions beforehand, feel free to reach out to our office in Edwardsville at (618) 656-5150. We look forward to seeing you there.

Goldenberg Heller & Antognoli, P.C. is a full-service law firm serving Southern Illinois and the St. Louis metro area, with offices in Edwardsville, IL and Clayton, MO. For more on our estate planning practice, visit goldenbergheller.com.

2 Common Misconceptions about Wills and Trusts

Wills and trusts differ slightly from the way they’re depicted in films and on television, in that they function less as a dramatic spectacle and more as a routine administration of your final wishes. In fact, many clients seek out dedicated estate management attorneys with certain expectations in mind, only to learn later that what… Continue reading →

Wills and trusts differ slightly from the way they’re depicted in films and on television, in that they function less as a dramatic spectacle and more as a routine administration of your final wishes. In fact, many clients seek out dedicated estate management attorneys with certain expectations in mind, only to learn later that what they believe about wills is false. Here are a couple common misconceptions about wills and trusts. After you learn them, you will be better prepared to speak with your attorney about your plans for the future.

Misconception #1: Everything Will Go As Planned
Unfortunately in death, as in life, you must plan for the unexpected. When preparing their wills and trusts, many people believe that their family members will accept whatever the documents lay out without infighting. This is rarely the case. That’s why it is so important to have a competent attorney who will assure that your will is ironclad and difficult to dispute.

Misconception #2: Even If I Make a Will, It Will Just Be Disputed Anyway
This school of thought is the opposite from the first myth. This person recognizes that estate administration is rarely simple, and he or she worries that their wishes will not be respected once they’re no longer around to advocate for themselves. While it is true that wills and trusts can be challenged in court, it again comes down to the prowess of your attorney. It’s crucial to hire someone who will advocate aggressively on your behalf, even after you’re gone.

Now that you know more about how wills and trusts work, it’s time to get started outlining your wishes for the future. The attorneys at Goldenberg Heller & Antognoli, P.C. are well versed in estate management law, and can help you safeguard your assets and outline your wishes in a way that will help your friends and family down the line. Fill out a contact form here to get in touch with an attorney today who can schedule an appointment for a free legal consultation to go over your options.