Estate Planning

Protect What You Have Built. Plan for What Comes Next.

Joerika Stitt, J.D., M.S.W., L.S.W.

Estate planning is about more than deciding who receives your property after death. It is about protecting your family, preserving your financial interests, preparing for unexpected circumstances, and ensuring that the people and priorities that matter most are thoughtfully considered.

Whether you are purchasing a home, raising children, building a business, preparing for retirement, or establishing a lasting legacy, Joerika Stitt Esquire, LLC provides personalized legal guidance to help you plan with clarity and confidence.

We work with individuals, couples, families, and business owners to develop estate plans that reflect their assets, responsibilities, family relationships, and long-term objectives.

Take the First Step — Start Your Estate Planning Intake

Complete our brief intake form to tell us about your estate planning needs. Our office will review your information and contact you regarding next steps.

Start Your Estate Plan Intake

Watch this short video to see how estate planning at Joerika Stitt Esquire, LLC protects the people and the legacy you have worked a lifetime to build.

Our Services

  • Estate Planning Services & Packages

    Every family's circumstances are different. Our estate planning services range from foundational legal documents to comprehensive trust and legacy planning.

    We offer clearly defined services and transparent starting fees so you can better understand your options before beginning the planning process.

  • Estate Planning Consultation

    $350 | Specialized Consultation — Up to 60 Minutes

    For individuals and families who want legal guidance before making important decisions about their estate, assets, beneficiaries, or future planning needs.

    Includes:

    • Attorney consultation of up to 60 minutes.

    • Discussion of assets, family circumstances, and planning goals.

    • Preliminary assessment of estate planning needs.

    • Discussion of wills, trusts, incapacity planning, and other appropriate legal tools.

    • Recommendations concerning potential next steps.

    Additional document review, written recommendations, or legal drafting require a separate engagement.

  • Foundational Will & Incapacity Planning Package

    Individual: Starting at $2,250 | Couple: Starting at $3,850

    For individuals and families who want essential legal protections in place without establishing a living trust.

    This package helps clarify how property should be distributed, who may assist with important decisions during incapacity, and how personal wishes should be documented.

    Includes:

    • Last Will and Testament.

    • Illinois Power of Attorney for Property.

    • Illinois Power of Attorney for Health Care.

    • Living Will.

    • HIPAA Authorization.

    • Guardianship nominations for minor children, when applicable.

    • Attorney planning and document review session.

    • Coordinated document signing appointment.

    For couples, the package includes separate estate planning documents for each person.

    This package does not include a trust, probate representation, real estate deed preparation, or advanced tax or Medicaid planning.

  • Revocable Living Trust Drafting

    Starting at $3,500 | Limited-Scope Legal Service

    For individuals and families who want a professionally drafted revocable living trust and accompanying trust documents without a comprehensive estate planning engagement.

    Includes:

    • Customized Revocable Living Trust.

    • Pour-Over Last Will and Testament.

    • Certification of Trust.

    • Trust beneficiary and successor trustee provisions.

    • Attorney review of trust drafting instructions.

    • Final trust documents and execution instructions.

    Additional Information:

    This service is limited to the preparation of trust-related documents. It does not include powers of attorney, health care directives, comprehensive asset review, real estate transfers, trust funding assistance, or ongoing estate planning services.

    Additional services are available through a separate engagement.

  • Comprehensive Trust & Legacy Planning Package

    Individual: Starting at $5,850 | Couple: Starting at $8,500

    For individuals, couples, and families seeking a complete, coordinated estate plan that addresses asset management, incapacity, inheritance, and long-term legacy objectives.

    This package combines customized trust documents with comprehensive legal planning to help protect your family and prepare for life's unexpected circumstances.

    Includes:

    • Customized Revocable Living Trust.

    • Pour-Over Last Will and Testament.

    • Certification of Trust.

    • Illinois Power of Attorney for Property.

    • Illinois Power of Attorney for Health Care.

    • Living Will.

    • HIPAA Authorization.

    • Guardianship nominations for minor children, when applicable.

    • Comprehensive attorney planning consultation.

    • Review of assets, beneficiaries, and estate planning objectives.

    • Trust funding instructions and beneficiary coordination guidance.

    • Attorney document review and final planning session.

    • Coordinated document signing appointment.

    For couples, individualized wills, powers of attorney, and health care directives are prepared for each spouse. Trust arrangements are customized to the couple's circumstances.

    Additional Information:

    The package includes comprehensive revocable trust and incapacity planning. Irrevocable trusts, Medicaid eligibility planning, specialized tax planning, complex asset transfers, and probate or court proceedings are not included.

    Real estate deed preparation and recording expenses are separate unless expressly included in the engagement agreement.

    Final fees may vary based on estate complexity, family circumstances, and specialized planning needs.

  • Additional Estate Planning Services

    Our firm also assists with reviewing and updating existing estate planning documents, trust amendments and restatements, beneficiary planning, and coordination of estate planning with closely held business interests and succession objectives.

    These services are individually scoped and quoted based on the legal work required.

Estate Planning for Every Stage of Life

  • Parents & Young Families

    Protect your children's future through guardianship nominations, inheritance planning, and arrangements for managing assets left to minors.

  • Blended Families

    Balance your responsibilities to your spouse, children, and loved ones while reducing uncertainty and addressing potentially competing interests.

  • Homeowners & Real Estate Owners

    Understand how your home, rental properties, and other real estate fit into your estate plan and how ownership affects future transfers.

  • Business Owners

    Coordinate your personal estate plan with business ownership, succession objectives, and continuity planning.

  • Individuals Preparing for Retirement

    Review your estate plan as your financial circumstances evolve, including incapacity planning, beneficiary designations, and future asset transfers.

  • Families Focused on Legacy & Asset Preservation

    Plan for the responsible transfer of assets, the protection of loved ones, and the reduction of avoidable administrative burdens and family disputes.

Your Next Chapter Deserves a Thoughtful Plan

Whether you are just getting started or updating an existing estate plan, Attorney Stitt helps you understand your options and create a strategy suited to your circumstances.

Start Your Estate Plan Intake

Joerika Stitt, J.D., M.S.W., L.S.W.

Licensed Illinois Estate Planning Attorney

Cook County & Chicago South Suburbs

Attorney Stitt's foundation in social work continues to shape how she practices law today. Before becoming an attorney, she spent nearly a decade working within complex family systems — gaining a practical understanding of how families function under pressure, how conflict develops, and how decisions made during transitions can affect generations. Clients consistently say they feel genuinely heard, because careful listening lets her surface what often goes unspoken: family dynamics, quiet priorities, and the long-term risks that thoughtful planning can resolve before they become disputes. Her early courtroom experience in contested matters informs that planning directly — documents are drafted with a clear understanding of how disputes arise, and how to prevent them.

Planning is approached with foresight. Administration is handled with steady oversight. Disputes are addressed with clarity and structure.

Start Your Estate Plan Intake

Complete the form below and a member of our team will follow up regarding next steps.

  • "Attorney Stitt has provided outstanding advice and representation on several legal matters for me, estate planning, real estate, contracts, and an EEOC matter. What I value most is her ability to listen attentively and create solutions that directly address the core of the issue. She is responsive, professional, and a fierce advocate who always prioritized my best interests. Her firm has consistently provided exceptional service and has stood the test of time with me. I highly recommend Attorney Stitt for anyone seeking knowledgeable and dedicated legal representation."

    Nadia – Estate Planning Client

  • "As a new homeowner, I reached out to Joerika Stitt Esquire LLC for guidance on estate planning and creating generational wealth For my children. The firm was incredibly professional, and after my cancellation, I felt assured that the information provided will benefit both my children and me, knowing that my estate is properly plan for the future has given me immense peace of mind thank you."

    Laverta – Estate Plan Client

  • "I recently had the pleasure of working with Esquire for my estate planning needs, and I couldn’t be more impressed with the level of professionalism, expertise, and care they provided. From the very first consultation, Ms.Stitt made me feel comfortable and informed. She took the time to explain complex legal terms in a way that was easy to understand, and was patient with all of my questions."

    Kenyada – Estate Plan Client