An Illinois Small Estate Affidavit is a document used to settle the estate of a deceased person who owned less than $100,000 in assets in Illinois. It is a sworn statement that is used to transfer assets from the estate of the deceased person to the rightful heirs. This affidavit is available to anyone who can prove that they are the rightful heir of the deceased person's estate. There are two types of Illinois Small Estate Affidavits: the Small Estate Affidavit and the Simplified Estate Affidavit. Both affidavits require the swearing in of a personal representative of the deceased's estate who is able to identify the assets and distribute them to the rightful heirs. The Small Estate Affidavit requires the swearing in of two witnesses, while the Simplified Estate Affidavit does not. The Small Estate Affidavit is valid for six months, while the Simplified Estate Affidavit is valid for two years.