Estate Planning Challenges With Married Clients

Brent chats with Elizabeth Garlovsky about the unique challenges in representing married clients. They discuss some of the ethical considerations, including how to handle conflicts, when financial goals do not align, and ways to navigate topics like divorce.

Elizabeth (“Lizzy”) Garlovsky represents clients in matters related to estate planning and wealth transfer, probate, and estate and trust administration. She brings over 25 years of combined experience in private practice, the public sector, and as a wealth advisor for JPMorgan.

Lizzy assists clients in preparing and implementing estate plans for a wide range of individuals and families. She also helps both individual and corporate fiduciaries administer trusts and estates at any stage, including through controversies both inside and outside of court. In addition, Lizzy frequently counsels heirs, legatees, and beneficiaries of estates and trusts of all sizes to advocate for their rights under will and trust documents or when no documents exist.

In addition to her technical background and practical experience, Lizzy brings a unique holistic and human approach to every client matter through empathy and a commitment to understanding each client’s individual – and often very personal –situation before engaging in any representation. She recognizes the difficulty that clients routinely face when engaging a trusts and estates attorney, especially when emotions are high, and she is grateful for opportunities to make the difficult seem simpler for clients who are experiencing stress caused by trauma or grief, or by the anticipation of either.

Lizzy is an active member of the trusts and estates community, and her community at large. She is a Fellow of the prestigious national American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) and is a member of their Fiduciary Litigation and Practice Committees. She also serves as the State Membership Recruitment Director for Illinois. Lizzy is a frequent lecturer and author on a wide range of trust and estate topics. She enjoys giving back to her peers by mentoring junior colleagues, both inside and outside of the firm. She served as an appointed Advisory Member of the Trust and Investment Committee for the Board of Directors of Chicago-based ATG Trust Company (acquired by Midland Trust Company) from January 2020 through May 2021 and currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education. She is also a member of the Goodman Theater’s Spotlight Advisory Council.

Lizzy provides pro bono legal services and supports related organizations and activities. She performs estate planning and related legal services for under-served individuals in her community and acts as a resource to various charitable organizations. In addition, from 2017 to 2021, Lizzy served as an elected member of the Board of Education for Township High School District 113 (Illinois). She served as President of the Board from May 2018 to May 2020, and served on the Board’s Policy Committee, Equity and Inclusion Committee, and as the Chair of the Human Resources Committee.

Lizzy can be found here: Elizabeth A. Garlovsky – Harrison LLP

This material is for informational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the speaker as of the date noted and not necessarily of the speaker’s firm or its affiliates.

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