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Probate / Estate Administration

Hire an Experienced Local Estate Attorney With No Money Down!

When a loved one passes away, the last thing most people want to deal with is the legal process involved in settling an estate. That is where the attorneys at Zaba Law Group step in. We are an experienced legal team dedicated to settling a decedent’s estate efficiently and for one affordable fee. Our team has decades of experience working with all types of estates and understands exactly what needs to be done to close an estate as quickly and efficiently as possible. In some cases, probate can be avoided altogether, helping save you both time and money.

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If probate is required, you will need an attorney under Illinois law. We offer free consultations so you can better understand the process and associated costs before hiring an attorney. In many cases, our attorneys can even begin working on your file with no money due upfront.

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Additionally, Zaba Law Group Ltd also focuses on corporate and real estate law. If the decedent owned a business or real estate at the time of their passing, we can assist you with those matters as well.

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Call today for a free consultation with one of our experienced estate administration attorneys.

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Probate Process

As mentioned previously, not all estates are required to go through probate. Probate is the legal process of distributing a decedent’s estate through a court of law. The probate process can last anywhere from six months to several years and may be either independent or supervised, with supervised probate requiring the court to closely oversee and approve various aspects of the process.
 

Typically, the probate process includes the following steps:
 

  1. Filing the decedent’s will, if one exists;

  2. Filing a petition with the court to initiate the probate process;

  3. Appointing an executor or administrator to act on behalf of the estate;

  4. Providing notice to heirs and the general public;

  5. Preparing an inventory of the estate;

  6. Administering any claims against the estate;

  7. Selling or liquidating estate assets, if necessary;

  8. Closing the estate;

  9. Distributing assets to legatees and heirs; and

  10. Filing and paying any applicable estate taxes.

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How To Avoid Probate:
 

Under Illinois law, probate may be avoided if the decedent’s personal estate passing through intestacy or under a will does not exceed $100,000 and does not include real estate. This generally applies only to property passing through the personal estate and does not include assets held in a trust or assets paid directly to designated beneficiaries, such as life insurance proceeds. Our attorneys can quickly review a decedent’s estate to determine whether probate is required. Whenever possible, we will work to help avoid probate in order to save you time, expense, and unnecessary complications.
 

In Illinois, individuals may be able to avoid probate by:
 

  • Creating a revocable or irrevocable living trust;

  • Establishing joint ownership on certain accounts;

  • Setting up payable-on-death accounts; and

  • Naming qualified beneficiaries on applicable accounts.

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