Cary Probate Lawyers
Your Guide Through Every Step of Illinois Probate
At Vaclavek Hartman Vaclavek, we have seen firsthand how overwhelming it can be to deal with losing a loved one while navigating the legal challenges of resolving their estate. That is why we proudly offer our experience-backed services to individuals and families needing guidance during probate. Request a consultation to learn how we can help you overcome any legal challenges. Our Cary probate lawyers serve those throughout McHenry and Kane counties and nearby areas.
Get started with Vaclavek Hartman Vaclavek by calling (815) 507-8887 or contacting us online. While probate is often difficult, our solutions can simplify it for you and those you love.
What to Know About Probate in Illinois
Probate is the legal process of administering a deceased person’s estate. "Administering" means distributing assets, paying debts, and resolving disputes concerning the deceased's will and estate.
Under Illinois law, probate is typically required when someone passes away owning property or assets solely in their name without a joint owner or designated beneficiary. The process is meant to fulfill a deceased person’s wishes, as stated in their will. If no will exists, state laws of intestate succession determine how the estate is distributed during probate.
Probate involves several steps, including:
- Validating the will
- Appointing an executor or administrator
- Notifying creditors
- Inventorying an estate
- Paying debts and taxes
- Distributing remaining assets to beneficiaries
Do All Estates Go Through Probate?
Not every estate must go through probate in Illinois. It generally depends on the size of the estate and how its assets have been managed.
Consider the following:
- Small estates - If an estate is valued at $100,000 or less and does not include real property, it may qualify for a simplified process using a Small Estate Affidavit.
- Jointly held assets - Assets owned jointly with rights of survivorship (e.g., bank accounts or real estate) usually pass directly to the surviving owner without probate.
- Assets with named beneficiaries - Retirement accounts, life insurance policies, and other financial assets with a designated beneficiary typically bypass probate.
- Trust assets - Property held in a trust will be managed according to its terms and will not go through probate.
How Vaclavek Hartman Vaclavek Can Help with Probate
Our team possesses decades of combined experience that they use to provide clear advice and practical solutions to make probate much more manageable.
On your behalf, our Cary probate lawyers can do the following:
- Advise on fulfilling your duties as an executor or administrator. From validating a will to distributing assets, count on us to be with you every step of the way.
- Resolve probate disputes. We have extensive experience settling anything from the interpretation of a will to asset distribution.
- Help you take proactive steps to eliminate the need for probate. We can assist you in crafting an estate plan that shields your assets from risks and enables your beneficiaries to receive their inheritance quickly and easily.
Do you have specific questions about probate? Are you interested in what our team may do to tackle a specific problem you are facing? Set up a free consultation today. We can conduct these meetings in person or virtually, depending on what is most convenient for you.
Call (815) 507-8887 or reach out online to make Vaclavek Hartman Vaclavek your probate guide.