• DuPage County Trust and Estates Council
• Kane County Bar – Estate, Probate & Elder Law
• Northwest Suburban Estate Planning Council
• Greater North Shore Estate & Financial Planning Council
• South Suburban Estate Planning Council
• Lake County Bar Association – Trust and Estates
• Chicago Estate Planning Council (CEPC)
• Illinois State Bar Association – Trust and Estates Section Councils
• Illinois Trial Lawyers Association (ITLA)
• National Structured Settlement Trade Association (NSSTA)

• Special Needs Alliance (SNA)
• Academy of Special Needs Planners (ASNP)
• Nordic Law Club of Chicago

• Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (IICLE) – Estate Planning, Elder Law, Special Needs

• Community Support Services, Inc. – West Suburbs
• March of Dimes
• Lawyers Lend-A-Hand to Youth
• Race Judicata – Chicago Volunteer Legal Services

A corporate trustee is a legal entity, such as a trust company, that serves in a fiduciary capacity on behalf of a person or business for the purposes of administration, management, and transfer of assets to a beneficial party.

A corporate trustee is an unbiased (or neutral) partner that administers trusts, manages assets, and ultimately transfers assets to beneficiaries. A corporate trustee brings knowledge, understanding, and resources to administer various complexities of wealth transfer and legacy planning.

Complexities may include:

• Understanding and managing diverse asset types held by an individual, business, foundation, or trust, for example: real property, special assets, such as closely held businesses, LLCs, or assets held abroad.
• Professional and skilled investment management. A corporate trustee may use tools such as financial planning, budgets, and asset allocation strategies to balance the needs of beneficiaries and build wealth.
• A corporate trustee brings an impartial perspective to the administration process when managing family dynamics, honoring the Grantor’s intentions, and working with beneficiaries who may live in multiple jurisdictions.
• A corporate trustee acts in the best interests of all beneficiaries to apply an “even hand” among beneficiaries to consider everybody’s needs and account to beneficiaries by providing account statements and/or court accountings.
• A corporate trustee will consider tax implications that may arise from administering the trust.
• A corporate trustee is held to a high fiduciary standard with internal and external oversights and controls.

With a primary office in Chicago, Midland Trust Company offers corporate trustee services across the United States. Connect with us today to learn more.

The term guardianship and conservatorship are often used interchangeably. The term that applies to your specific situation will depend on the laws of the state of residency of the person to whom the conservatorship or guardianship applies. In this circumstance, we will use the term guardianship.

There are two types of guardianship proceedings:

• Guardian of the Person - makes decisions about medical treatment, residential placement, social services, and other personal needs.
• Guardian of the Estate - makes decisions about the management of the estate and finances.

Both types of guardians are appointed by a court when an individual is unable to make responsible decisions about his or her personal care and finances. While the same person may serve as both types of guardians, a court may appoint a corporate fiduciary to act as guardian of the estate because of their experience and skills in professional financial management.

Both types of guardianships are court-supervised and are in place to safeguard and protect a minor or a person adjudicated disabled. Corporations, such as a bank and trust companies, usually serve as guardian of the estate.

Examples of situations where the court may appoint a corporate guardian to safeguard and manage financial matters:

• A minor or a person adjudicated disabled who receives proceeds from a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit,
• A well-child who receives an inheritance from the death a parent, or
• An adult who is adjudicated disabled and unable to manage his or her own affairs.

Find out more on Guardianships/Conservatorships here or reach out to one of our Trust Officers today.

When an individual is unable to manage his or her own financial affairs and has been adjudicated as disabled, the court will appoint a person or corporation to manage the individual’s financial affairs. If a court appoints a corporate guardian, they will:

• Partner with the family, guardian of the person, and other professionals to learn about the needs and care plan for the person who has been adjudicated disabled,
• Diligently work to preserve and protect the assets,
• Offer a broad range of services to address present and future needs, and
• Assist in protecting the client’s overall financial well-being.

Services include cash flow assessment, budget creation for approved distributions, bill review and payment processing, accessible vehicle purchase assistance, real estate purchase and home modifications assistance, investment management, annual accounting submissions for court approval, resource support in hiring others (e.g., case managers, care agencies, contractors).

Learn more about our services here or get in touch with us today.

A special needs trust is designed to provide for the needs of a beneficiary with disabilities without jeopardizing his or her eligibility for government benefits. A corporate trustee manages the trust funds, disburses funds for the beneficiary's supplemental needs, and maintains the beneficiary's eligibility for public assistance programs.

Find out more here  or contact one of our Trust Officers in Chicago today.

In the case of a traditional trust, where a grantor establishes a trust for the benefit of one or more beneficiaries, a corporate trustee can serve as the trustee. The corporate trustee will administer the trust according to the grantor's instructions, manage trust assets, make distributions, file tax returns, and handle other administrative tasks with the goal of ensuring that the trust's objectives are met and the beneficiaries are well-cared for.

Learn more about our trust services here or send a message to our team in Chicago today.

Benefits of choosing a corporate trustee include:

• Continuity through generations.
• Immortality; an individual trustee may pass away or become incompetent.
• Impartial implementation of your wishes as carefully laid out in your trust document.
• Safety; a corporate trustee is subject to strict state and federal regulation and oversight.
• Expert, prudent investment management, designed to meet the needs of grantors and beneficiaries.

When choosing Midland Trust Company as your corporate trustee, you will work with a dedicated trust officer who brings specialized knowledge and experience in trust and estate administration. Our team offers an objective viewpoint on your estate planning and financial decisions and provides peace of mind, knowing that your or your client’s wishes will be carried out effectively. We handle the administrative burden associated with trusts and estate plans, including tax reporting, accounting, and recordkeeping, providing transparency and accountability. Our team provides personalized service and solutions intended to fulfill your wealth transfer strategies and legacy planning to preserve assets for future generations, while supporting philanthropic goals through charitable giving.

Our trust officers and administrators serving Chicago and Chicagoland areas (Cook, Lake, DuPage, Will, Kane, Grundy, and Kankakee Counties) offer a human touch to financial management, building long-term relationships with clients based on trust and understanding. Complete a quick form today to get started and witness it firsthand.

When choosing a corporate trustee in Chicago and Chicagoland areas (Cook, Lake, DuPage, Will, Kane, Grundy, and Kankakee Counties), focus on factors such as the trustee's experience in administering similar trusts, their range of services, fees and charges, responsiveness, and their ability to provide personalized solutions tailored to your or your client’s specific needs. Prioritize a trustee who demonstrates a commitment to safeguarding your or your client’s best interests and financial well-being. Every situation is unique so we encourage you to connect with Midland Trust Company to learn more and understand your options.