This handbook is the attorney’s guide to the areas of primary concern in estate administration. The early chapters deal with the beginning process of administration, including filing the will, funeral arrangements, the initial meeting with the decedent’s family, life insurance, and social security and Veterans Administration benefits. Also extensively covered are the steps of opening the estate in court, such as important documents and time frames, notices, proof of will, and electronic filing. Other topics include claims against the estate, managing the decedent’s personal and real property, handling charitable bequests and trusts, ancillary administration, and attorneys’ and representatives’ fees. The handbook is full of sample language and forms to assist the attorney during the various steps of administration, including an affidavit to obtain property of nonresident decedent, a petition for probate of will and letters testamentary, a petition for authority to sell personal property, a petition for authority to sell real property, and a small estate affidavit. Also included are a guide to estate administration and a guide for executor or administrator as well as a pre-account preparation checklist and a charitable gift administration checklist.
Listing of chapters, authors (with firms hyperlinked and location — city — noted), general editor(s) (if applicable).
Chapter 1 — Initial Steps in Advising the Family
Thomas G. Hamill, Harrison & Held, LLP, Springfield
Chapter 2 — Opening the Probate Estate and Alternatives to Probate
Elizabeth Garlovsky, Lesser Lutrey Pasquesi & Howe LLP, Lake Forest, and Kim Kamin, Gresham Partners, LLC, Chicago
Chapter 3 — Counseling the Personal Representative, Marshaling Assets, and Inventory
Stacy E. Singer, The Northern Trust Company, Chicago
Chapter 4 — Consideration in Advising the Fiduciary After Death
David M. Lutrey and Sarah M. Barnes, Lesser Lutrey Pasquesi & Howe LLP, Lake Forest
Chapter 5 — Claims Against the Estate
Richard A. Campbell and Gina Oderda, Mayer Brown LLP, and Mary C. Downie, The Northern Trust Company, Chicago
Chapter 6 — Managing Decedent’s Personal and Real Property
Lorraine K. Cavataio and Joshua B. Hutkins, Sandberg Phoenix & von Gontard P.C., O’Fallon
Chapter 7 — Handling Charitable Bequests and Charitable Trusts
Timothy S. Midura and Jennifer A. Johnson, Huck Bouma PC, Wheaton
Chapter 8 — Planning for Death Benefits from Life Insurance and Retirement Arrangements
Patricia A. Hoke and Casey L. Twomey, Barrett, Twomey, Broom, Hughes & Hoke, LLP, Carbondale
Chapter 9 — Account, Report, and Distribution
Jessica L. Berger, Harrison & Held, LLP, Chicago
Chapter 10 — Ancillary Administration
Thomas F. Hartzell, Tucker, Hartzell & Bryant, Carthage, and Brian K. Jones, Harrison & Held, LLP, Chicago and Naples, FL
Chapter 11 — The Effective Use of Disclaimers in Estate Administration
Michael E. Morden, Honigman LLP, Chicago
Chapter 12 — Attorneys’ and Representatives’ Fees
Nicholas R. Houska, Hartweg, Turner, Wood & DeVary, P.C., Bloomington
