Illinois Estate Claim is a legal process available to beneficiaries of a deceased person's estate who may have been wrongfully denied their inheritance or have not received their inheritance in a timely manner. It is also available to creditors who have not been paid in a timely manner by a deceased's estate. There are two types of Illinois Estate Claims: Small Estate Claim and Contested Estate Claim. A Small Estate Claim is available when the value of the estate is less than $100,000 and no probate is required. A Contested Estate Claim is required when the value of the estate is greater than $100,000 or when a dispute exists between the beneficiaries of the estate. In a Contested Estate Claim, a court will decide how the estate's assets are to be distributed.