Probate & Estate Administration · DuPage County, Illinois
Steady guidance for executors and families through Illinois probate, from filing to final distribution.
If you’ve been named executor in a loved one’s will, you’re now legally responsible for administering their estate through the Illinois probate court — typically the DuPage County probate court in Wheaton for our local clients. The role comes with real duties and real personal liability. Mistakes can mean lawsuits from beneficiaries, tax penalties, and personal financial exposure.
We represent executors throughout the entire process. From your appointment by the court through the final accounting that closes the estate, you’ll have direct attorney guidance on every decision. We’ve represented executors in DuPage County since 1990 — the court is familiar, the procedures are familiar, and the typical obstacles are familiar.
Every step from appointment to closing — handled correctly and on schedule.
Drafting and filing the petition for probate, proving the will, and getting you formally appointed by the DuPage probate court.
Obtaining your official Letters Testamentary — the document banks, brokerages, and title companies require to accept your authority.
Identifying, valuing, and inventorying all estate assets — real estate, accounts, investments, personal property, business interests.
Publishing required notices to creditors, handling claims that come in, and protecting the estate from invalid claims.
Filing the decedent’s final income tax return and any required estate tax returns. Coordinating with accountants when needed.
Distributing assets to beneficiaries per the will, preparing final accountings, and obtaining court approval to close the estate.
File petition, get Letters Testamentary, secure assets, notify beneficiaries.
Inventory and appraise all assets, publish creditor notice, file inventory with court.
Pay valid creditor claims, file final tax return, manage estate assets, handle any disputes.
Distribute remaining assets, file final accounting, obtain court order closing the estate.
Executors are personally liable for mistakes. Self-dealing, missed deadlines, and improper distributions create real personal financial exposure.
Probate has strict procedural requirements. Missed filings cause delays and may require court intervention to fix.
Not all claims are valid. We review every claim and defend the estate against unsupported demands.
Family disagreements often surface during probate. We provide neutral process management and protection from personal attacks.
Final income tax return, estate tax return (if applicable), and basis adjustments all require careful coordination.
Most estates close within 9-18 months. We keep yours on schedule while meeting all required waiting periods.
From our Villa Park office, we represent clients across DuPage County and the western suburbs of Chicago.
No. You can decline (renounce) being executor before the court formally appoints you. The will likely names an alternate executor. If you’ve already started acting as executor before realizing you don’t want the role, you can still petition to resign — but it’s more complicated.
Illinois allows ‘reasonable compensation’ for executor services. The court approves the amount, typically based on estate complexity and time involved. Family executors often waive compensation. We help you decide what makes sense for your situation.
An executor administers an estate going through probate (assets passing through a will). A trustee administers a trust (assets in a trust). They serve different roles — sometimes the same person does both for a decedent who had both a will and trust.
No. Wills sometimes suggest a specific attorney, but you’re free to hire any qualified probate attorney. The attorney represents YOU as executor — you have full authority to choose.
Common. Most disagreements resolve through communication and explanation. Genuine disputes may require court intervention. Having counsel from the start prevents many disputes and resolves the rest effectively.
Most probate cases are billed as a percentage of the estate (typical Illinois standard) or hourly depending on complexity. We quote pricing at your free initial consultation based on the estate’s size and any complications expected.
First step: don’t try to do this alone. A free consultation explains exactly what’s required, the realistic timeline, and what it’ll cost.