This practical half day program covers the key steps attorneys must take before opening probate in Illinois, including initial client meetings, identifying heirs and assets, and assessing potential issues before filing. Review key will provision and common pitfalls, and best practices for preparing a clear, defensible affidavit of heirship. Designed to help practitioners avoid early missteps, this program ensures probate cases start on solid footing.
Credits: 3 General, 0 Diversity/Inclusion PR, 0 MH/SA PR, 0 Other PR
Tuesday, September 15, 2026
Live Webcast
Speakers:
Caroline E. Hecht, Buckley Fine Law, Barrington
Colleen L. Sahlas, Law Offices of Hoy & Sahlas, LLC, Oak Brook
8:30 – 9:00 Log-in to the webcast via your account at www.iicle.com
9:00 – 10:00 Actions to Take Before Opening Probate
Walk through the critical groundwork before opening a probate case, from the initial client meeting through identifying heirs, assets, and potential liabilities. This session focuses on setting expectations, due diligence, determining what assets pass into probate, and identifying creditors and funds needed to commence the estate administration efficiently and compliantly.
10:00 – 10:10 Break
10:10 – 11:10 Review and Analysis of a Last Will
A practical, clause‑by‑clause review of a last will, guiding attorneys through validity requirements, fiduciary appointments, dispositive provisions, and administration-related clauses. This session highlights common drafting issues, default statutory rules, and problem areas such as insolvency, ademption, lost wills, and no‑contest provisions to help practitioners properly analyze and administer testamentary documents.
11:10 – 11:20 Break
11:20 – 12:20 Identifying Heirs and Legatees, and Drafting an Affidavit of Heirship
An overview of the key steps and common questions that come up when confirming who the heirs are in a probate matter, and how to document those findings in an affidavit of heirship. We’ll cover the difference between close (lineal) family and more extended (collateral) relatives, who does (and does not) inherit under Illinois law, and how situations such as adoption, a child born after the decedent’s death, or disinheritance can affect the analysis. We’ll also discuss practical process issues, including cases involving minors or unknown heirs, required notices, and who has priority to be appointed.
12:20 Adjourn
