Illinois Last

It's very common for a lawyer to charge a flat fee to write a will and other basic estate planning documents. The low end for a simple lawyer-drafted will is around $300. A price of closer to $1,000 is more common, and it's not unusual to find a $1,200 price tag. Lawyers like flat fees for several reasons.

In Illinois, to have a valid will it is required that two or more credible witnesses validate or attest the will. This means each witness must watch the testator (person making his or her will) sign or acknowledge the will, determine the testator is of sound mind, and sign the will in front of the testator.

If the decedent left a will, it must be filed with the probate court system. Illinois law states that the will must become public record upon the death of the person. As such, it must be filed with their local county clerk within 30 days of discovery.

Many states allow you to make your will "self-proving," which allows the probate court to accept the will without contacting your witnesses. However, Illinois allows your will to be self-proved without a self-proving affidavit, as long as you sign and witness it correctly.

Handwritten Wills in Illinois In the state of Illinois, holographic wills are not considered to be valid. Illinois does recognize, however, handwritten wills that are signed by two witnesses and satisfy all other requirements for wills as stated in the law.

Illinois law states that the will must become public record upon the death of the person. As such, it must be filed with their local county clerk within 30 days of discovery.For instance, your will generally appoints a legal representative, called an executor, to carry out your wishes and oversee the probate process.

You can either download a template (many are free) and write your Will at your own pace offline using your word processor, or tell us your wishes in our online questionnaire and let us write it for you.

It does not matter whether the will was prepared online or by an attorney, so long as it is valid. In order for a will to be valid, it must meet the requirements of the state where the testator lives.