Creating an estate plan should be among the most important things you do during the ocurse of your lifetime given the fact that it should protect you and your loved ones both now and in the future. At the law firm of Amen, Gantner, & Capriano, Your Estate Matters, L.L.C. we understand how important your estate plan is to you and we would be honored to help you create yours. We have been helping people just like you in Glen Carbon, Illinois and the surrounding areas create their estate plans for many years and we hope to have the opportunity to help you with yours.
History of Glen Carbon, Illinois
The area that is today known as Glen Carbon started out as many different small communities that eventually molded into one village. Back in 1801, Colonel Samuel Judy received a military grant for 100 acres of land at the point where Judy’s Creek emerges from the bluffs into the American bottoms and became one of the first permanent settlers of Madison County. The land was originally named the Goshen Settlement, after the biblical land of Goshen. Eventually, the land was renamed Glen Carbon because of the numerous coal mines in the area. Glen Carbon was finally incorporated in 1892.
During the last decade of the 19th century Glen Carbon grew to be a bustling industrial town and somewhat of a transportation hub with two different rail lines running through the town. The area continued to grow, primarily as a result of the coal mines, throughout the first half of the 20th century. The coal mines were also largely responsible for the fact that Glen Carbon became a true melting pot of cultures during that time period. Another major industry that operated in Glen Carbon during the beginning of the 20th century was the St. Louis brick company, which burned down in the 1930s. The factory was rebuilt; however, right after being rebuilt it burned down again and was never rebuilt.
The railroads played an important role in Glen Carbon’s history and growth as well. Three railroads once served Glen Carbon – the Illinois Central Railroad, the Norfolk Southern line, and the Chicago and North Western line. In 1992, the Illinois Central Railroad became one of the first “rails to trails” projects in the U.S. with the creation of the “Ronald J. Foster Sr. Heritage Bike Trail.”
Glen Carbon, Illinois Today
Located in Madison County, Illinois, the village of Glen Carbon has a year-around population of about 13,000 residents. In 2009, Glen Carbon was ranked among the top 100 best places to live according to CNN’s Money Magazine and the residents of this small town certainly weren’t surprised that the rest of the world discovered their little slice of paradise! Glen Carbon is also located just 20 minutes northwest of St. Louis, and about 15 minutes southwest of Edwardsville, making it a popular place for people to live who work in the “big city” but prefer small town living for their residence.
Residents of Glen Carbon also take advantage of the affordable housing, safe neighborhoods, and abundant outdoor green space. Residents and visitors alike enjoy the town’s three parks, including Miner Park which is located in the Old Town section. This is the main park in Glen Carbon, with direct access to the Nickel Plate 15-mile trail. Special events usually take place on the park’s lighted stage.
Citizen’s Par is also located in Old Town and serves as the entrance to the Ronald J. Foster Sr. Heritage Trail. Finally, Village Hall Park is a 3-acre facility located directly behind the Village Hall which serves as the town’s primary sporting and recreational park. If you are hungry, you can grab a bite to eat at the Wooden Nickel Pub and Grill for the best food and service in town. For shopping, entertainment, and cultural events, the 20-minute drive to St Louis or the 15-minute drive to Edwardsville is well worth it. If you are looking for a thriving village with access to all the conveniences of St. Louis and Edwardsville, Glen Carbon is it.
Amen, Gantner, & Capriano, Your Estate Matters, L.L.C. in the Glen Carbon Community
The attorneys and staff at Amen, Gantner, & Capriano are proud to be part of the Glen Carbon community and to serve the residents who live there. Our goal is to help you protect what matters most to you – your loved ones, your assets, and you. By working together on a comprehensive estate plan, we can do just that.
Estate planning, however, is not something that occurs in a single setting in our office. On the contrary, estate planning is an ongoing project that takes into account the phases of your life and the events that mark those phases. The estate plan you create when you are young, single, and just beginning your career will not be the same plan that you need when you enter your retirement years because much will change in the meantime. Initially, your estate plan will likely focus on the basics, creating a simple Last Will and Testament, for example. Soon, however, events such as marriage or career advancement will necessitate revisions to your plan.
You may need to incorporate incapacity planning to protect you and your young family, along with the start of a retirement plan to ensure that you can enjoy your “Golden Years” when you get there. Later on, it may be time to include business succession planning if you decide to start your own business or Medicaid planning to protect the assets you are acquiring from being lost if you need to pay for long-term care down the road. Finally, you may decide to include funeral planning in your estate plan so that your loved ones do not have to make difficult decisions during the immediate aftermath of your loss when they are still grieving.
Contact Us a Knowledgeable Estate Planning Attorney Today
The team at Amen, Gantner & Capriano, Your Estate Matters, LLC will be with you throughout your life’s journey, making sure your estate plan reflects where you are in life and what your needs and goals are at each stage of your journey. If you have estate planning questions or concerns, or would like to get started creating your estate plan, contact the experienced Glen Carbon, Illinois estate planning attorneys at Amen, Gantner & Capriano, Your Estate Matters, LLC by calling (314) 966-8077 to schedule an appointment.
