Fixed Fee For Probate In Chicago
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Certain assets do not need to go through probate, however, including: Assets held in a trust (such as a living trust) Assets owned in joint tenancy or tenancy by the entirety. Assets subject to a beneficiary designation (such as retirement accounts or life insurance policies)
If there is a named beneficiary on your bank account, on your death the funds will go to the person, people, or entity named as the beneficiary, and the funds do not need to go through the time and expense of probate.
In Illinois, you can file probate without a lawyer if the estate is valued at less than $100,000 and does not have any real estate; in these cases, the estate can be settled via the Illinois Small Estate Affidavit. However, it is still wise to hire a lawyer to ensure compliance with applicable probate rules.
Conversely, under the Mattson decision, a lawyer is required for all formal probate proceedings in Illinois and any petition to appoint a representative pro se is likely to be dismissed by the probate court.
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.
When a person dies, Illinois law generally requires that the decedent's estate go through the probate process. The exception to this rule is if the decedent owned no real estate at the time of death, and the remainder of the estate is valued at less than $100,000.
Illinois law allows for a Small Estate Affidavit to be used for estates valued under a specific monetary threshold. With this affidavit, heirs can claim assets without going through the probate process, making it a quicker and less complicated option for smaller estates.
The state of Illinois does not set a specific time limit for settling an estate, but it does expect executors and probate courts to handle the process as efficiently and diligently as possible. Because of the variation in estates, the length of the process can vary from several months to several years.
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.
