Probate

Probate is the legal proceeding by which title to assets held by an estate are legally transferred to beneficiaries of the estate.

In a nutshell, the probate process involves:

• Filing the will with the county
• Hiring an attorney to represent you in probate court
• Petitioning the probate court to name the executor/personal representative of the estate
• Posting notice to creditors of the opening of the estate, and paying estate debts out of estate assets
• Distributing assets to beneficiaries of the estate
• Closing the estate

This is a very high-level overview of the probate process. The details are much more involved, and courts in Illinois require that you be represented by an attorney throughout the process, even where the estate is uncontested. Palley Law Office is here to make probate as pain-free as possible, carefully keeping it on track and keeping you informed.