Palley Law Office
Probate Attorney
Representing Executors in Probate
A Law Firm that Guides You Through the Process
Palley Law counsels executors and personal representatives throughout the Chicago area, helping them through the complex probate process, appearing on their behalf in probate court, and guiding them through their estate administration and probate responsibilities.
Why Palley Law
Expert, Local Help
Unlike many firms that handle probate cases as an aside, Palley Law focuses its practice entirely on probate and estate planning. Locally headquartered, it is intimately familiar with local court procedures, current law, and best practices. You will receive expert, knowledgeable counsel.
Value for Money
Palley Law gives its clients value for money. From the no-charge one-on-one initial probate consultation to transparent fees, Palley Law is open and upfront about what it charges its clients.
Delivering Services the Way You Want: In-Person or Virtually
Visit Palley Law on the fifty-first floor of the Aon Center in Chicago, or, if you prefer to meet virtually the office offers both video and teleconferencing meetings, with easy online scheduling.
A Law Firm that Listens
The attorney at Palley Law listens intently to what you say. The practice of law is the application of law to fact. Palley Law asks you the right questions to fully develop the particular facts of your matter, actively listens to your answers, and provides you with a project plan to manage the probate process through to completion, from opening of the estate, to estate administration, to distribution of assets and final closing.
A Responsive Law Firm
Above all else, Palley Law prides itself on its responsiveness to clients. Your calls will be answered, your voicemails returned promptly, and your emails answered quickly. No client wants to be left in the dark or wait days for a response when going through what can be the daunting experience of probate, and Palley Law makes sure you are kept fully and promptly informed throughout.
Exactly What is Probate?
Fundamentally, Probate is the Legal Transfer of Title from the Deceased to one or more Beneficiaries
Probate is a legal proceeding under which title to property passing through a will gets transferred from the decedent’s estate to the beneficiary(s) as provided for by instructions in the will. If there is no will (intestacy), title will be transferred according to the Illinois intestacy statutes.
When Does Illinois Law Require Probate?
If the value of the estate is greater than $100K or there is real estate involved then Illinois requires probate. On the other hand, if the value of the estate is under $150,000 and there is no real estate then Illinois does not require probate and the executor can attest to a small estate affidavit instead of probate. Whether you should file probate depends on the facts and circumstances. It can be a tricky question–it’s best to consult with a probate attorney on your particular circumstances.
What Exactly Will I Be Doing as Executor?
Acting as an executor or personal representative of an estate carries with it important responsibilities and duties under the law. Among those are:
- Filing the will after a death
- Preparing and filing the initial probate petition
- Making sure heirs and other interested parties are properly notified
- Locating, organizing, and valuing estate assets
- Coordinating appraisals when needed
- Handling creditor claims and resolving outstanding debts
- Distributing assets according to the will or court orders
- Preparing and submitting final accountings of the estate
- Managing court filings and documentation
- Fully closing the estate
For an overview of the process see Palley Law’s recently published article “You’ve Been Named Executor–What You Need to Know.”
What Does the Probate Attorney Do?
The probate attorney at Palley Law will prepare the court filings necessary to open and close the estate, and appear on your behalf in court. Along the way the attorney will post the required notices to creditors of the estate and help you dispose of those claims, if any, and will guide you step-by-step through the probate process from opening to closing.
While navigating probate can feel overwhelming, you won’t be doing it alone. Palley Law reduces the stress of being an executor by breaking things down into discrete, manageable tasks, and providing you with full instruction on how to complete them, all the while keeping you apprised of important dates, to-dos, and deadlines.
What Does Probate Cost?
Costs vary but include court fees, attorney fees, and expenses related to notifying creditors. Attorneys generally charge by the hour for probate-related services. In the Chicago area, expect to spend between $4000 – $8000 to probate a routine, uncontested estate. Visit Palley Law’s pricing page for information on its fees.
Beyond legal fees, court fees and expenses, there are non-legal transaction costs associated with the disposition of assets. One example is the sale of real estate. Often, a decedent’s home is sold so that the proceeds of the sale can be distributed to the children or other beneficiaries. This involves paying a real estate broker commission, usually 5% in the Chicago area.
To get a better idea of expenses related to probate in your case, schedule a free call with the probate attorney at Palley Law. If payment of a security retainer is an issue, the office offers a “pay later” option that allows you to finance the retainer with later reimbursement of the legal fees out of the estate.
Need Help With Probate?
Palley Law’s probate attorney simplifies the complex probate process for clients across the Chicago metropolitan area. Palley Law Office gives one-on-one probate planning sessions at no charge.