How to Secure a Deceased Person's Home and Prevent Siblings From Removing Property — Illinois
Detailed Answer Short answer: Secure the home immediately (locks, photos, inventory), preserve evidence of ownership, and move quickly to obtain legal authority to control the estate (letters of office). If relatives remove items, you may have both civil remedies through the probate court and criminal remedies under Illinois law. This is a summary of typical […]
Read article →Illinois — After the 90-Day Waiting Period for an Unclaimed Property Claim
What Happens After the 90-Day Waiting Period for an Unclaimed Property Claim in Illinois Not legal advice. This is general information to help you understand the Illinois unclaimed property process and decide whether to consult an attorney. Detailed Answer — How Illinois handles claims after the 90-day waiting period When you file an unclaimed property […]
Read article →Illinois — Becoming the Administrator of an Intestate (No-Will) Estate
Step-by-step guide to being appointed administrator of an Illinois intestate estate This FAQ-style article explains, in plain language, how someone can be appointed as the administrator for a person who died without a will in Illinois. This is educational only and is not legal advice. Detailed Answer — how appointment works and the steps to […]
Read article →Illinois: Order of Succession Among Children for Intestate Estates
How children inherit under Illinois intestacy law Detailed answer — how succession among children works when there is no will (Illinois) This section explains, in plain language, how a deceased person’s estate is distributed among their children when they die without a valid will (intestate) under Illinois law. This is a general explanation only — […]
Read article →Payable-on-Death (POD) Accounts and Estate Creditors in Illinois: What You Need to Know
Detailed Answer Payable-on-death (POD) accounts (also called Totten trusts or beneficiary-designated bank accounts) are bank or investment accounts that an account owner signs to name one or more beneficiaries who receive the account balance immediately when the owner dies. Under Illinois law, POD accounts generally pass outside of probate to the named beneficiary, which means […]
Read article →Opening an Estate Bank Account in Illinois Using an IRS EIN
Detailed Answer This article explains how to open a bank account for an estate in Illinois using an IRS Employer Identification Number (EIN). It walks through the typical steps, documents you will need, and practical tips for working with banks and the probate court. This is general information only and not legal advice. 1. Who […]
Read article →Illinois: Late Creditor Claims After the 90-Day Notice Period
Detailed Answer When a creditor files a claim against a decedent's estate in Illinois after the statutory notice period has passed, the claim is generally subject to being barred. Under the Illinois Probate Act, the personal representative must give notice to known and unknown creditors. The relevant statute describes the timing creditors have to present […]
Read article →How to Claim Your Share of a Parent’s Estate in Illinois — Intestate Probate & Succession
Claiming an Intestate Parent’s Estate in Illinois — What You Need to Know Detailed Answer When a person dies without a will in Illinois, the estate passes under Illinois intestate succession rules. The court must appoint an administrator to collect assets, pay debts, and distribute what remains to the heirs defined by statute. This section […]
Read article →Illinois: Surviving Spouse Rights When a Spouse Dies Without a Will
Detailed Answer: Your rights as a surviving spouse in Illinois when your spouse died without a will Short answer: As a surviving spouse in Illinois, you have clear legal rights to inherit under the Illinois Probate Act of 1975, to petition the probate court to administer the estate, to receive short-term support during administration, and […]
Read article →Illinois — Getting Appointed Administrator After a Spouse Dies Intestate
FAQ — Becoming the Appointed Estate Administrator in Illinois After an Intestate Spouse’s Death Detailed answer — How the process works and what to do when relatives won’t cooperate If your spouse died without a will (intestate) in Illinois, the Probate Act of 1975 controls who may be appointed to administer the estate. The court’s […]
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