Illinois: Handling Mortgage Payments and Utilities While an Estate Is in Probate
Managing Mortgage Payments and Utilities During Probate in Illinois Detailed Answer When someone dies in Illinois, the person (or persons) appointed by the probate court as the personal representative (executor or administrator) takes responsibility for managing the decedent’s assets and paying valid estate expenses and debts. Mortgage payments and utility bills are handled as part […]
Read article →Which Assets to List on an Illinois Small-Estates Affidavit
Deciding Which Assets to List on an Illinois Small-Estates Affidavit If someone died and you plan to use Illinois’ small-estates affidavit procedure (often called an "affidavit for collection of personal property"), you must decide which assets to show on the affidavit. This guide explains, in plain language, how to identify assets that belong on the […]
Read article →Opening an Intestate Estate in Illinois When a Sibling Dies — Steps to Transfer a House
Detailed Answer — How to open an intestate estate in Illinois for a sibling’s house When a person dies without a will (intestate) in Illinois, the estate must generally go through probate to transfer title to real property such as a house. The probate process lets a court appoint a personal representative (sometimes called an […]
Read article →Do I Need to Include Survivorship Assets on an Illinois Probate Inventory?
When jointly owned assets pass to a survivor: how to treat them in Illinois probate Detailed answer Short answer: In most cases, assets that pass by right of survivorship do not belong to the probate estate and therefore do not have to be listed as estate assets on the formal probate inventory filed in Illinois. […]
Read article →Illinois Probate: Finding a Missing Parent as a Next-of-Kin
Detailed Answer — How to locate a missing parent who is a potential next-of-kin in an Illinois probate case If you are involved in an Illinois probate matter and a parent who may be a next-of-kin cannot be located, the court expects you to make a good-faith, documented search before the court will allow alternate […]
Read article →Illinois: How to Confirm a Bank Account's Amount for the Small Estate Process
Determining Whether a Bank Account Qualifies for Illinois' Small Estate Process Quick overview: This article explains how to confirm whether a deceased person's bank account is small enough to use Illinois' simplified small estate procedures, what counts toward the limit, and practical steps to verify the account balance and related assets. Detailed answer Short answer: […]
Read article →How to Use an Illinois Small Estate Affidavit to Claim a Deceased Parent’s Bank Account
Using an Illinois small estate affidavit to collect a deceased person’s bank account This FAQ-style guide explains how an Illinois small estate affidavit can be used to claim a deceased parent’s bank account. It assumes you start with no legal background and uses a simple hypothetical to show the typical steps. This is educational only […]
Read article →Illinois — Do You Automatically Become Guardian of the Estate When Appointed Guardian of the Person?
Detailed Answer Short answer: Under Illinois law, appointment as guardian of the person does not automatically make you guardian of the estate. The court must separately appoint a guardian of the estate (sometimes called a guardian of the property) after its own finding that the proposed ward needs one. You can ask the court to […]
Read article →Illinois: Do I Need to File a Federal Estate Income Tax Return When No Distributions Were Made?
Do I need to file a federal tax return for the estate if no distributions were made from any accounts? Detailed Answer — Federal and Illinois context Short answer: Maybe — it depends on whether the estate earned income (interest, dividends, rents, capital gains, etc.), whether any beneficiary is a nonresident alien, and whether the […]
Read article →Illinois: How to Transfer Brokerage Account Assets into an Estate Checking Account
How to transfer brokerage account assets into an estate checking account (Illinois) Short answer: If the brokerage account did not pass automatically to a surviving owner or a named beneficiary, a court-appointed personal representative (executor/administrator) must collect those assets for the estate. The broker will usually require a certified death certificate, proof of the personal […]
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