Colleen Sahlas, an Illinois probate attorney since 2000, serves as General Editor and author and leads an impressive lineup of attorneys detailing a practical approach to all aspects of independent administration of decedents’ estates in the Illinois probate process. This go-to guide covers everything involved in probate, from the initial contact with a potential client through closing probate, while discussing complications that may arise for the attorney — both in the courts and in representing grief-stricken clients.
Probate attorneys will hit the ground running and streamline their practices with the advice in this manual. Attorneys new to probate will appreciate the definitions of probate-related terminology and step-by-step directions while more seasoned attorneys will find helpful the time-saving checklists and practice tips. An appendix with over 50 entries will also prove invaluable to attorneys by providing editable forms, including several examples of Affidavits of Heirship, a Small Estate Affidavit, a Petition for Attorneys’ Fees and Costs, and an Order to Reopen the Estate. Also included are wide-ranging charts; timelines, including comprehensive timelines for testate and intestate matters; and sample letters.
General Editor:
Colleen L. Sahlas, The Law Offices of Hoy & Sahlas, LLC, Oak Brook
Chapter 1 — Probate Fundamentals and Terminology
Colleen L. Sahlas, The Law Offices of Hoy & Sahlas, LLC, Oak Brook
Chapter 2 — Which Assets Are Governed by Probate
Colleen L. Sahlas, The Law Offices of Hoy & Sahlas, LLC, Oak Brook
Chapter 3 — Meeting with the Petitioner
Colleen L. Sahlas, The Law Offices of Hoy & Sahlas, LLC, Oak Brook
Chapter 4 — Alternatives to Probate (and Assessing Whether or Not To Probate)
Colleen L. Sahlas, The Law Offices of Hoy & Sahlas, LLC, Oak Brook
Chapter 5 — Anatomical Gifts and Disposition of Remains
Colleen L. Sahlas, The Law Offices of Hoy & Sahlas, LLC, Oak Brook
Chapter 6 — Anatomy of a Will — Filing and Admitting a Will to Probate
Colleen L. Sahlas, The Law Offices of Hoy & Sahlas, LLC, Oak Brook
Chapter 7 — Electronic and Other Nontraditional Wills
Raymond W. Prather, Prather Ebner Wilson LLP, Chicago
Chapter 8 — Identifying Heirs, Legatees, and Who Is Entitled To Inherit
Colleen L. Sahlas, The Law Offices of Hoy & Sahlas, LLC, Oak Brook
Chapter 9 — Minors and Disabled Persons as Heirs or Legatees
Caroline E. Hecht, Buckley Fine, LLC, Barrington
Chapter 10 — Disclaimers
Lawrence J. Gregory, Estate & Business Law Group, P.C., Libertyville, and Colleen L. Sahlas, The Law Offices of Hoy & Sahlas, LLC, Oak Brook
Chapter 11 — Opening Probate
Colleen L. Sahlas, The Law Offices of Hoy & Sahlas, LLC, Oak Brook
Chapter 12 — Notifying Interested Parties
Colleen L. Sahlas, The Law Offices of Hoy & Sahlas, LLC, Oak Brook
Chapter 13 — Will Contests and Formal Proof of Will
MacKenzie A. Hyde and Ray J. Koenig III, Clark Hill PLC, Chicago
Chapter 14 — Renunciation of Will and Lost Wills
J. Amber Drew, Clingen Callow & McLean, LLC, Lisle, and Robert S. Held, Held Law Offices, Chicago
Chapter 15 — Advising the Representative — Fiduciary Powers, Duties, and Tasks
Colleen L. Sahlas, The Law Offices of Hoy & Sahlas, LLC, Oak Brook, Makedonka Baloski, Kelleher + Holland, LLC, North Barrington, and Amy J. Delaney, DDV Law LTD., Chicago
Chapter 16 — Decedent’s Estate Expenses and Creditors’ Claims
Part 1: Overview and the Practical Side of Creditor Claims:
Colleen L. Sahlas, The Law Offices of Hoy & Sahlas, LLC, Oak Brook, and Sherwin Abrams, Abrams & Chapman, Chicago
Part 2: Summary of Creditor Claims:
MacKenzie A. Hyde and Ray J. Koenig III, Clark Hill PLC, Chicago
Part 3: Medicaid Claims Against Decedent’s Estate: A Primer:
Leonard F. Berg, Godfrey
Chapter 17 — Marshaling Assets
Colleen L. Sahlas, The Law Offices of Hoy & Sahlas, LLC, Oak Brook
Chapter 18 — Recovery of Property and Citations To Discover
Ray J. Koenig III, Clark Hill PLC, Chicago, and Priscilla Singer, Singer Law LLC, Chicago
Chapter 19 — Tax Returns and Liability
Part 1: Colleen L. Sahlas, The Law Offices of Hoy & Sahlas, LLC, Oak Brook
Part 2: Lawrence J. Gregory, Estate & Business Law Group, P.C., Libertyville
Chapter 20 — Death, Resignation, Removal, or Revocation of Letters of Office and Termination of Independent Administration
Part 1: Robert S. Held, Held Law Offices, Chicago
Part 2: Colleen L. Sahlas, The Law Offices of Hoy & Sahlas, LLC, Oak Brook
Chapter 21 — Accounting, Receipts, and Distributions; Representative’s Compensation and Preparing To Close Probate
Colleen L. Sahlas, The Law Offices of Hoy & Sahlas, LLC, Oak Brook
Chapter 22 — Distribution of Wrongful-Death and Survival Settlements in Probate Court
Steven A. Wade, Anesi Ozmon, Ltd., Chicago
Chapter 23 — Reopening Probate
Colleen L. Sahlas, The Law Offices of Hoy & Sahlas, LLC, Oak Brook
Chapter 24 — Ethical Considerations in Probate Cases
Melissa A. Maye, Law Office of Melissa A. Maye, PLLC, Nacogdoches, TX
Chapter 25 — Appendix
