Business

ATMMachines.com Owner Justin Gilmore Attributes His Success to Disappointment

Published

3 years ago

December 9, 2020

Years ago, Justin Gilmore made the fateful decision to turn his life around from a future filled with struggle and resentment. Now, he’s reaping the rewards with a successful business, happy family life, and good personal health. None of it would have been possible without his strong resolve to make a success of his life and his courage to persevere despite the many stumbling blocks that were in his way. He’s the owner of ATMMachines.com, a company that provides cutting-edge ATM devices and online transaction processing to customers nationwide.

As a kid, Gilmore didn’t focus on his schoolwork as much as he should have and also developed a bad attitude, landing him in hot water. At 15, Justin was expelled from school, and he had to suddenly figure out a way to start fending for himself. This wasn’t exactly new territory for him, as he and his brother and sister had to start taking care of themselves at a young age since their mother worked two jobs to keep a roof over their heads.

After getting expelled in the first semester of the ninth grade, he had to face the disappointment of his mother and family. “My mother, who was a saint, was so disappointed that she had given up on me. She pretty much wrote me off, as far as having a successful future. This is what motivated me to become an entrepreneur in the first place. It made me realize where my life was going, and after that, I was determined to be successful,” he explains.

However, getting a business launched at 16 with no startup funds, and no skills or experience seemed like an impossibility. So Justin decided to start educating himself through business courses and self-help books in an effort to give himself every chance to succeed. He also got a real estate license when he turned 18, even though he ended up never having to use it.

At 17, Justin also started some side jobs in order to get an income. One was selling newspapers via eBay, and the other was “hucking pizzas,” as Gilmore describes it. That involved buying pizzas for cheap under the table from a local pizzeria in Atlanta and then driving around the city, pretending to be a pizza delivery boy with a canceled order. While that gig helped him earn a fairly steady income, it also taught him many valuable skills that he still uses as an entrepreneur today.

It’s been 14 years since Justin opened his business, and his life has changed dramatically in the meantime. He was able to achieve something that no one believed he could while also realizing his dream of being able to take care of his mother and his son.

He now promotes a strong message centered around never giving up and has expanded his company’s offerings to include online training to other potential entrepreneurs, as well. Gilmore feels that the ATM business is often overlooked when people are searching for a way to start making passive income, yet it’s also one of the best ways to do so. That’s why he’s been teaching others how the industry works.

Head over to Justin Gilmore’s Instagram page, @atmmachines_com, to learn more about his company, as well as their new online training program.

Business

From Contracts to Counsel: Your Essential Guide to Hiring a Probate Attorney in Chicago

Published

2 weeks ago

March 31, 2024

Matthew Wiles

Like many people, you’ll come across the term probate after a loved one, such as a parent or spouse, passes away. So, what is probate, and why do you need an attorney for it? As defined in Forbes, probate is a legal process that occurs after death. It entails transferring the assets of the decedent (the person who passed) to beneficiaries named in their last will.

With that in mind, having a probate lawyer by your side is essential. The last thing you want to do is deal with the legal complexities of settling a loved one’s estate while grieving. A probate lawyer oversees the validation of the deceased’s will and the fair distribution of assets among family members. One challenge lies in finding a top-quality probate lawyer.

In this guide to hiring a probate attorney in Chicago, we’ll discuss the tips to identify the right legal professional for probate proceedings.

Understand the Responsibilities of a Probate Lawyer

It’s difficult to hire a talented probate lawyer when you don’t know what they do: Start by understanding the roles they play.

When you work with a Chicago probate lawyer, some tasks they might do include:

Act as an estate executor or administrator
Collect proceeds from the life insurance policies of the deceased
Identify and secure the decedent’s assets
Get an appraisal for the deceased’s estate
Pay debts and resolve estate tax issues
Prepare and file documents required in probate court
Transfer assets to rightful heirs
Represent you in litigation proceedings if someone challenges or contests the will

A probate lawyer could also help you and your family navigate state inheritance laws if a loved one dies without a valid will. That way, you can avoid unnecessary taxes or other ramifications of not creating a will, such as losing ownership rights of the deceased’s business or financial support.

Search for Lawyers Online and Offline

You’re probably thinking, where do I find the best lawyer to hire? You could seek referrals from friends or colleagues. Friends who worked with probate attorneys before might provide important details, such as how the lawyers communicate and handle the probate process.

Alternatively, do a simple online search using the terms “probate lawyer near me” or “probate attorney in Chicago.” Go through various websites or online directories and write names of lawyers with positive ratings and customer testimonials. Then, contact the potential lawyers to set up free consultations. Note that not all legal professionals offer free consultations, so make sure to ask before setting a time in your calendar.

Ask the Right Questions

A free consultation provides opportunities to ask questions to better understand if the lawyers in question have the qualifications to handle your probate case.

Four questions you might ask attorneys during the initial meeting may include:

Do You Have Experience in Probate Law?

When evaluating lawyers, prioritize experience. An experienced probate lawyer is aware of common pitfalls that can result in the probate petition being postponed or dropped by a judge. To feel more comfortable about an attorney’s expertise, ask them if they’ve handled probate cases similar to yours before.

For example, let’s say the deceased owned a substantial estate or had complicated assets like royalties and mineral stocks. Working with an attorney with a track record of successfully handling cases like that could save you time and money in the long run.

What Do Other Clients Say About You?

Experience alone doesn’t make a probate lawyer perfect for your case. Look for someone with an outstanding reputation. These reviews likely live on Google next to their business profile or are featured on their website. If you can’t find any endorsements, ask for testimonials written by past clients.

One point to focus on is what reviewers say about the lawyer’s efficiency and speed. Beyond that, does the lawyer offer expert guidance, conflict mitigation, and proper asset management during probate?

A probate attorney in Chicago, IL, should be an efficient expert in asset preservation. This can be crucial to helping avoid hefty taxes and excessive debt claims. Additionally, if the lawyer receives positive feedback on conflict mitigation, it suggests they have experience in resolving or mitigating family conflicts that tend to stall the probate process.

How Long Does Probate Last?

One way to test a probate lawyer’s knowledge is by asking them, “How long does probate last?” While the numbers vary, probate can last for a few months to over a year in many states, including Chicago. When highlighting factors that affect the duration of probate, your counsel might mention things like estate size, family disputes, debt and taxes, absence of a will, and state laws.

A knowledgeable lawyer can explain clearly why your probate case could last a few months or even years. A lawyer that makes too brazen or hard-set of promises might not be the most honest.

How Do You Want Us To Communicate?

There’s no hard rule on how you and your probate attorney communicate. You can talk via text messages, email, video calls, or phone calls. More importantly, check that the attorney communicates in simple language to help you understand your case.

In fact, one essential of a lawyer’s dos and don’ts to gaining clients’ trust is to avoid making clients feel clueless. If a potential lawyer uses complex legal terms or avoids communicating directly, search for probate services elsewhere.

Conclusion: Finding a Probate Attorney in Chicago

Reviewing the will of a loved one after their death and ensuring fair distribution of their assets often involves complex legal issues. For this reason, consider hiring an attorney who specializes in probate law.

To maximize your chances of finding the right probate lawyer, familiarize yourself with their responsibilities. Next, search online for lawyers within your state or ask for recommendations from people you trust. Then, interview prospects to help ensure they possess experience, a remarkable reputation, communication skills, and knowledge of probate law.

Settling the affairs of a loved one who has passed on can be an overwhelming time. A probate attorney can help lift some of the pressure off your shoulders as you focus on grieving and healing.