When a person dies in Illinois, anyone who has a claim against a decedent's estate —whether it is a contract, tort, or statutory custodial claim—may file that claim with the estate representative or with the court.
Depending on the complexity of your estate, you may enter a formal or informal probate case. To enter an informal probate case, an estate must have a value of less than $100,000. During formal probate cases, there must be enough time for creditors to present their claims and executors to take inventory of all assets.
While this is a general framework, the Illinois probate process can take six months to two years or even longer. Factors like estate complexity, court backlog, and the cooperation of heirs influence the length of probate in Illinois. Simple estates with few assets and a valid will progress faster.
Who Pays Probate Attorney Fees in Illinois? The deceased person's estate typically pays the probate attorney fees in Illinois before the distribution of assets to the heirs. The probate lawyer fees are deducted from the beneficiaries' inheritance.
Executor of an Estate Following the filing of the Will, any person may file a written petition asking the Court to admit the Will to probate, to name an "executor" of the estate, to determine the heirs of the decedent, and to formally open the probate estate.
How to fill out a small estate affidavit in Illinois Fill in your name and information in #1. Complete the information about the decedent in #2-4. Mark either #7a or #7b depending on what is true. Complete #9a to indicate the names of the spouse and children if any.
Eligibility for using a small estate affidavit requires the total value of the decedent's personal estate to not exceed $100,000. The decedent must not have owned any real estate at the time of death. An heir or executor must complete and notarize the affidavit.
When a person dies in Illinois, anyone who has a claim against a decedent's estate —whether it is a contract, tort, or statutory custodial claim—may file that claim with the estate representative or with the court.
CASE MANAGEMENT ORDER – CATEGORY 1 CASES The intent of this order is for the parties to complete all discovery and for the court to rule on all dispositive motions within 15 months following the filing of the complaint. This order does not alter the application of Illinois Supreme Court Rule 218 – the 60-day rule.