Probate – Experienced Probate Attorneys in Rockford, IL
In the minds of many people, the term “probate” is a source of dread and even horror. A lot of individuals associate probate with things like delay, expense, and long-drawn-out legal disputes. In reality, these fears are largely unjustified, for reduced to its essentials probate is a court-supervised way of handling the property of a deceased individual.
During the probate process the presiding judge of the court will appoint someone to be in charge of the financial affairs of the deceased person, including their property, assets, debts, and back taxes, if any. Once outstanding debts are settled, remaining property is distributed to the heirs of the deceased.
Probate in Illinois
All that said, what follows is a more detailed explanation of the probate process in Illinois.
In Illinois, probate is handled by the executor, named in the will of the deceased, or if the deceased named no executor, by the court. The executor will then:
- Prove the will is valid, usually a perfunctory, routine matter.
- Identify and inventory the assets of the deceased.
- Arrange an appraisal of the assets.
- Pay any outstanding debts or taxes.
- Distribute the remaining property as designated in the will, or as state law directs when there is no will.
In addition, it should be noted that in Illinois probate is necessary if:
- The deceased own assets individually rather than jointly.
- All probate assets combined are worth more than $100,000.
Exceptions to Probate in Illinois
On the other hand, some assets DO NOT have to go through probate, and these include:
- Assets that are held in trust, as, for example, in a living revocable trust, designed to avoid probate.
- Assets owned in joint tenancy or, in the case of married couples, tenancy by the entirety.
- Assets subject to a beneficiary designation, such as retirement accounts, life insurance, or a payable-on-death bank account.
- Real estate that is subject to an Illinois transfer-on-death deed.
Small Estates
If the assets of the deceased are less than $100,000 and they owned no property, probate is not required in Illinois. Instead, those inheriting assets present a signed affidavit, along with a copy of the will, if there is one, to claim their inheritance. The affidavit is signed “under penalty of perjury.” That means you may be prosecuted for perjury for lying on the affidavit.
Disputes
Most probate procedures are routine and settled within a year or less. In cases where there are disputes and a court battle, these usually involve:
- Claims that someone had undue influence over the deceased, or the deceased did not have the mental capacity to make a valid will.
- Questions about the signing and witnessing of the will.
- Confusing language found in the will.
- The claims of creditors.
- Accusations of some sort of wrongdoing by the executor.
- In cases where there is no will, identifying the rightful heirs.
Rockford Probate Lawyers
While probate is usually a routine matter, difficulties can develop if the matter of inheritance is not handled properly by experienced estate law, estate administration, and probate attorneys. At Crosby & Crosby one of our specialties is managing all matters related to probate, from the drafting of a will, through the court-supervised probate, and when necessary, the resolution of disputed cases involving significant amounts of money. We will be with you and your heirs throughout the entire process, achieving results with integrity.
If you need skilled and compassionate estate planning and probate attorneys, Crosby & Crosby is the law firm to contact in Rockford, Illinois and surrounding communities. We will guide you and your designated heirs through the entire process, to make sure your wishes are fulfilled and the interests of those who are most dear to you are protected.