When people think of probate law, they tend to think of a long, drawn out, and tedious legal process. Often times, if proper things are not in place, that is exactly what it will be. Some have wondered how necessary it is for their deceased loved one’s estate to be in probate, others if it can be avoided at all. An estate attorney, who is also a landlord and tenant attorney, practices probate law in Chicago, Illinois. These are some facts Illinois residents may want to know about probate law.
* If a deceased person’s assets are worth more than $100,000 (this does not include 401K, IRAs, life insurance proceeds or joint benefit property), the estate must go through the process of probate. However, if the deceased person had a well-detailed will, the process of probate will flow more smoothly, and will not likely cost as much.
* The estate will have an executor or administrator to aid in the process by contacting and paying the creditors and administering the distribution of the remainder to the beneficiaries and other designated individuals.
* Other items concerning the estate might be better handled by a lawyer skilled in probate law. This items include, but are not limited to, searching and fighting invalid claims against the estate, preparing state and federal tax documents, consulting with those who are experts in financial matters regarding tax-related distributions, taking care of outstanding claims owed to the estate, and representing clients in the case of the will or other estate documents being contested.
There are many other issues that may arise when it comes to taking an estate through the probate process. Because the executor of the estate is usually a loved one or someone close to the deceased, hiring an attorney to come in and assist may be the smart thing to do. The loved one is usually in quite an emotional state. Starr, Bejgiert, Zink & Rowells are attorneys with over eight decades of experience in helping clients with legal issues such as probate law. If a client needs an attorney who understands probate law in Chicago, they can visit their website at www.Website.com.
