Illinois Elective Share Explained: What It Means to “Take Against the Will”
When a spouse dies and leaves behind a will that disinherits (or substantially shortchanges) the surviving partner, Illinois law does not leave that survivor without recourse. Surviving spouses have a meaningful legal tool: the right [...]
Illinois Probate Creditor Hierarchy: A Guide to the 7 Classes of Claims
When a person passes away in Illinois without the appropriate estate planning in place, their estate must go through probate. This legal process ensures debts are paid and assets are distributed to heirs according to [...]
How to Minimize Family Conflicts During Probate
Probate, the legal process of administering a deceased person's estate, can be a challenging and emotionally charged time for you and your loved ones, especially if substantial assets are involved. Unfortunately, these circumstances can sometimes [...]
What is a Surety Bond in Illinois Probate Proceedings?
Probate is the legal process in the state of Illinois for administering the property of someone owning real estate and assets valued at more than $100K, who is deceased, incapacitated, or under 18 years of [...]
Reopening A Closed Probate Estate In Illinois
Probate is the legal process by which a person’s estate is administered and distributed upon their death. The purpose of the probate process is to distribute the decedent’s property and to make sure all debts [...]
Supervised Vs. Independent Estate Administration in Illinois
Losing a loved one can become even harder when you are put in a position to navigate their estate through the complex and time-consuming legal process of probate. The ultimate goal of probate, also called [...]
How Long Does Probate Take In Illinois?
The loss of a loved one is an incredibly difficult life transition to navigate. In addition to the emotional upheaval that accompanies a loss, this moment can also require you to navigate the probate process [...]
Heirs Vs. Legatees Vs. Beneficiaries: Understanding the Differences in Illinois Estate Planning and Probate
Estate planning is one of the most important steps you can take to protect and provide for your family in the future. This process involves making arrangements during your life for what will happen to [...]
Contesting a Will in Illinois: What You Need to Know
A will is an essential component of any comprehensive estate plan. This important legal document may be used to set down your wishes for how you want your property to be distributed at your death, [...]
How to File a Will In Illinois
If you’ve seen a lot of Old Hollywood movies, you might have seen a dramatic scene in which some official gathers a recently deceased person’s friends and family together for a “reading of the will.” [...]
What Are Trusts, and How Do They Work? A Guide for Illinois Residents
As you start to think about the future and make plans to protect yourself and your loved ones, one concept that you might see come up again and again is the trust. Trusts are an [...]
Do All Assets Need to Go Through Probate in Illinois?
Losing a loved one is a difficult and emotional time. This tough transition can be made even harder when you need to navigate through a complex and time-consuming court process. In Illinois, the legal process for [...]
What Happens When Someone Dies Without a Will in Illinois?
In Illinois, what happens if someone passes away without a last will and testament? Dying without a will is known as dying intestate. This occurrence is more common than you might think, and the state [...]
Five Reasons to Start Thinking About Your Estate Plan
Creating an estate plan is one of the most effective things you can do to help provide for your family’s comfort, stability, and peace of mind in a difficult time. Understandably, not many people like [...]