Estate Administration in Oak Brook

With the right help from our experienced estate planning attorneys at the Estate and Probate Legal Group, you and your family can get through estate administration in Oak Brook with minimal problems and delays. We understand the emotional strain and other issues that arise from the death of a beloved family member, and our services are designed to lessen the burden on you and your family in your time of grief and loss.

When Is Estate Administration Required?

Under the Illinois Probate Act of 1975, if an Oak Brook resident dies owning more than $100,000 in assets or without leaving a will, their estate must go through administrative probate in accordance with the Act’s processes and procedures. These processes and procedures are designed to resolve the deceased’s outstanding debts and distribute their remaining assets to their heirs and other entitled parties. If you are unsure of the value of assets in an estate or have other questions about the administration process, one of our attorneys can help you.

Important Estate Administration Deadlines

When your immediate family member or close relative in Oak Brook passes away, you are required to take specific actions within defined time limits for the administration of their estate.

• If you have their will or are aware of its location, you have 30 days after the date of their passing to file the will with the clerk of a probate court that has jurisdiction over the matter. Note that if you delay filing the will, the probate court will require you to provide a valid explanation for the delay. If you fail to provide one, the court could disqualify you from acting as the executor of the estate.
• If you are the executor of the estate, you have 30 days from the date you were appointed to turn down your nomination. Your attorney can explain your duties and obligations as an executor to help you decide.
• If you have accepted the nomination, you have 14 days to send a written notice of the estate administration to heirs and beneficiaries and 60 days to file an asset inventory with the court. 
• If you serve as executor, you also have 14 days to notify creditors of the deceased’s passing and to publish the first of three notices of the death in a local newspaper or similar publication.

Your lawyer can request extensions of these deadlines depending on the relevant facts and circumstances, but you should never count on a probate court granting them. If you complete all of the required actions within the established deadlines, the entire estate administration process should be complete within 18 to 24 months from the date of your initial probate filing.

Contact an Oak Brook Attorney for Experienced Estate Management Services

Our attorneys at the Estate and Probate Legal Group have the knowledge and experience you need to protect all involved parties throughout every aspect of estate administration in Oak Brook. We understand that your primary interest is completing the process as quickly and efficiently as possible, with minimal complications–such as disputes among family members and heirs, creditor claims, federal and state estate tax issues, and delays due to missed deadlines or incorrect information in filed documents.

Call our offices to schedule a complimentary review of your estate administration matter with a member of our team. When you retain our services, we take the burden of estate management from you and free up your time and energy to focus on what matters most to you.