Business Succession & Planning,
With Clear Guidance & Proven Results
Business planning and succession lawyers who provide strategic guidance, legally secure solutions, and cost transparency—ensuring a smooth transition, asset protection, and the long-term success of your business without complications.
Free Case Review - Same Day Consultation
Clear Roadmap & Strategy Guaranteed
Servicing Cook, Lake, & Dupage County
Trusted by Families & Business Professionals Across Chicagoland
Choose The Right Business Succession Lawyer
Get Answers, Not Legal Jargon
We understand how confusing it can be to find a lawyer who gets you and keeps your best interests first. At Zeidman & Carpenter, we listen first—understanding your situation and guiding you to the best legal options. Whether you need a lawyer or just the right advice, we’ll give you honest answers, not pressure.
Choosing the right business structure is crucial for long-term stability and a smooth transition. Lawyers help determine whether an LLC, corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship is best suited for succession. Proper structuring protects assets, minimizes liabilities, and ensures a seamless transfer of ownership.
A clear plan for transferring ownership is essential for business continuity. Lawyers help draft buy-sell agreements, partnership dissolution plans, and shareholder agreements to prevent disputes and financial instability. This ensures that the transfer process is legally sound, tax-efficient, and aligned with the owner's wishes.
Effective tax planning reduces liabilities and maximizes the financial benefits of succession. Lawyers structure business transfers to minimize estate taxes, capital gains taxes, and other financial burdens. They also integrate business assets into wills, trusts, and other estate planning tools to protect wealth for future generations.
Identifying and preparing a successor is key to business stability. Lawyers assist with leadership transition planning, ensuring the successor is legally recognized and equipped to take over. This includes drafting employment agreements, non-compete clauses, and training frameworks to facilitate a smooth handover.
Business succession involves potential risks, including disputes among partners, financial challenges, and regulatory hurdles. Lawyers help draft contingency plans, protect intellectual property, and ensure ongoing compliance with state and federal laws. This safeguards the business from legal complications before, during, and after the transition.
Planning for the Future, Protecting What Matters
"I worked with Jade on preparing estate planning documents and Jade's services and approach exceeded my expectations. She is extremely knowledgable about estate planning, cares about understanding her clients' needs and is creative and flexible in navigating open questions to create best possible outcome. I found her easy to work with and she made the whole process smooth and efficient."
Business Succession Questions, Answered
Answers to clarify cost, time, outcome and strategy to help you make the right decision for your situation.
The best time to start succession planning is as early as possible—ideally, when your business is thriving. A well-structured plan protects your business from unexpected events such as retirement, disability, or sudden departure. The earlier you start, the more options you have to minimize tax burdens, train successors, and ensure a smooth transition.
Yes, selling your business can be a key part of succession planning. Whether selling to family members, employees, or an outside buyer, lawyers assist with drafting purchase agreements, structuring payment terms, and ensuring compliance with tax and legal regulations. Proper legal guidance ensures you maximize value and minimize risks during the sale.
Business succession can trigger estate taxes, capital gains taxes, gift taxes, and income taxes. Proper structuring, such as transferring ownership through trusts, gifting shares over time, or implementing buy-sell agreements, can help reduce tax liabilities. Lawyers work to minimize these burdens while ensuring a tax-efficient transition.
Choosing the right attorney can make all the difference in your case. We're here to make your life easier, not harder.
- Transparent Pricing & No Hidden Fees – You’ll know exactly what to expect from day one, with upfront pricing and no surprises.
- Personalized Attention – Your estate plan isn’t one-size-fits-all—you’ll work directly with an experienced attorney who understands your unique needs.
- Clear Communication & Case Updates – No waiting for answers—we keep you informed every step of the way, ensuring your estate plan is legally sound and aligned with your wishes.
- Strategic Planning for Your Legacy – We take a proactive approach to minimize taxes, avoid probate, and provide long-term security for your family and beneficiaries.
- Proven Estate Planning Strategies – We take a personalized, results-driven approach to crafting wills, trusts, and asset protection plans that align with your long-term goals.
During your free consultation, we provide a clear, step-by-step legal roadmap based on your unique situation. Each roadmap is designed to give you clarity, eliminate surprises, and provide a structured plan so you know exactly what comes next
Without a formal succession plan, your business could face legal disputes, tax burdens, leadership struggles, or even dissolution upon your departure. State laws may dictate what happens to your business, often leading to unintended ownership transfers or financial hardships for heirs, partners, or employees. Having a structured plan prevents chaos and ensures continuity.
The ideal successor should have the skills, experience, and vision to sustain and grow the business. Whether it's a family member, business partner, key employee, or outside buyer, legal documents such as buy-sell agreements, leadership transition plans, and training structures can help ensure a seamless transfer. A lawyer can help you legally formalize the transition and mitigate risks.
Every law case is unique, and while we strive to achieve the best possible outcome, no attorney can guarantee a specific result. However, here’s what you can expect when working with us:
- Clear Expectations Upfront – An honest assessment of your estate plan or probate case, outlining potential risks, legal obligations, and the best course of action.
- A Strong Legal Strategy – A customized estate plan designed to protect your assets, minimize tax burdens, and ensure your wishes are carried out exactly as intended.
- Expert Guidance in Probate & Estate Litigation – Proven legal strategies to navigate probate smoothly, resolve beneficiary disputes, and enforce wills or trusts effectively.
- Transparent Communication – Regular updates on your estate planning process, probate timeline, or legal proceedings—so you always know what comes next.
- A Focus on Protecting Your Legacy & Loved Ones – We provide long-term estate planning solutions to safeguard your family’s financial future, prevent legal disputes, and ensure seamless asset distribution.
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Case Study
Protecting a Family’s
Legacy in Skokie, IL
"First time using Zeidman & Carpenter for a real estate closing and it won't be the last! Lee and Corrie were great communicators during this super quick 7 day closing requested by the buyer. Lee had to navigate finding a surveyor who could get the property surveyed quickly which he did before I was able to utilize my contacts in this area at a very reasonable price. They were fantastic to work with and am looking forward to the next real estate transaction."
Our Business Succession Process:
From Start to Winning Outcomes
We make the estate planning process clear, structured, and stress-free. Whether you need wills, trusts, probate assistance, or asset protection, we guide you every step of the way to safeguard your legacy and ensure your wishes are honored.
- Strategic Consultation & Business Evaluation
- Ownership Transfer & Exit Strategy Development
- Tax Planning & Asset Protection
- Legal Documentation & Compliance
- Ongoing Legal Support & Updates
We assess your business structure, leadership, and financial landscape to develop a succession plan tailored to your long-term vision. Our consultation ensures a smooth transition while addressing legal, tax, and operational concerns.
Whether transitioning ownership to family, employees, or external buyers, we structure a legally sound and tax-efficient transfer plan. We help mitigate risks, define successor roles, and ensure business continuity.
We implement tax strategies that minimize liabilities while maximizing asset protection. Our approach includes trust structuring, buy-sell agreements, and estate planning to safeguard your business wealth.
We draft and formalize key legal agreements such as business succession contracts, governance policies, and contingency plans to protect your company’s future leadership and operations.
Beyond documentation, we provide continuous guidance to ensure a seamless transition, adapting the plan as business needs evolve to maintain stability and growth.
When You Can’t Afford To Be Wrong, Get Clear Answers
Our Free Consultations Include:
Clear Roadmap Guarantee
Transparent Pricing Guarantee
Regular Case Update Guarantee
Honest Advice with No Pressue
Proactive Problem Prevention
Complex Legal Terms Explained In Plain English
Contact us
We offer two ways to get started:
1. Quick Contact Form (Right →) : If you have a general inquiry or need a brief consultation, fill out the simple form to connect with us.
2. Detailed Intake Form (Below ↓) : If you’re ready to take the next step, our intake forms help us gather key details upfront—saving you time and allowing our attorneys to quickly determine how we can assist you. These forms help qualify cases and ensure we provide the most relevant guidance.