If someone has named you as executor or trustee, you’ve been handed a significant responsibility. The person who chose you trusted your judgment. Now you have to figure out what that role actually requires.
Estate administration is the process of settling someone’s affairs after they pass. Collecting assets. Paying debts. Filing tax returns. Distributing inheritances. Whether you’re administering a trust or shepherding an estate through probate court, the job involves paperwork, deadlines, legal requirements, and often difficult family dynamics. Most executors and trustees have never done this before. The learning curve is steep, and mistakes can create personal liability.
If you need a Glenview, IL estate administration lawyer, Kravets Law Group helps executors and trustees fulfill their duties correctly. Daniel Kravets, Founder and Managing Partner, has guided hundreds of families through estate administration over the past decade. He handles each matter personally—explaining what needs to happen, preparing the necessary documents, and solving problems as they arise.
Why Choose Kravets Law Group For Estate Administration In Glenview, IL?
We’ve Seen What Can Go Wrong
Executors who distribute assets before the creditor period closes. Trustees who commingle trust funds with personal accounts. Administrators who miss tax filing deadlines. Daniel Kravets has cleaned up messes created by people who didn’t know the rules. That experience informs how we guide clients—we flag potential problems before they become expensive ones. Our probate work has exposed us to every kind of complication.
Guidance Calibrated to Your Needs
Some executors want an attorney to handle everything. Others just need someone to answer questions while they do the work themselves. We accommodate both approaches and everything in between. You’re not paying for services you don’t need, but you’re also not flying blind on issues that require legal judgment. Clients with trust administration responsibilities get the same flexibility.
Direct Access to Your Attorney
When you call, you get Daniel Kravets. Not a receptionist taking messages. Not a paralegal who has to check with someone else. Estate administration moves on its own timeline, and questions come up at inconvenient moments. You deserve answers from a Glenview estate administration attorney who actually knows your situation.
Clear Explanations, Not Legal Jargon
Fiduciary duty. Letters testamentary. Per stirpes distribution. These terms don’t mean anything to most people. We explain what you need to do in plain language. You’ll understand your obligations and how to meet them.
What Our Clients Say
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Highly recommend Daniel at Kravets Law Group for all your business law needs! He took the time to really listen to my specific situation and tailored a package perfectly to fit my business. His knowledge, passion, and willingness to go above and beyond have made him an invaluable asset to my small business. If you’re looking for someone professional, attentive, and truly invested in helping you succeed, Daniel is the one to call!” – Kelly Clark
Types Of Estate Administration Cases We Handle In Glenview
Estate administration takes different forms depending on how the deceased person planned—or didn’t:
- Probate administration. When someone dies with assets in their own name, those assets typically go through probate court. The executor files the will, gets appointed by the court, inventories assets, notifies creditors, pays valid debts, and distributes what remains to beneficiaries. We handle the court filings and guide executors through each step. Independent administration—available for most Illinois estates—streamlines the process significantly.
- Trust administration. If the deceased person had a living trust, assets in that trust don’t go through probate. But they still need to be administered. The successor trustee has duties—notifying beneficiaries, managing assets prudently, filing tax returns, making distributions according to the trust terms. We advise trustees on their obligations and help them avoid missteps.
- Small estate affidavits. Illinois allows estates under $100,000 in personal property to skip formal probate. A small estate affidavit lets heirs collect assets directly from banks and other institutions. We help families determine eligibility and prepare the necessary paperwork.
- Ancillary administration. Someone who lived out of state but owned Illinois real estate needs ancillary probate here. We handle these matters for out-of-state executors who need local counsel to deal with Illinois property.
- Will contests and trust disputes. Sometimes beneficiaries challenge the validity of estate planning documents. Undue influence, lack of capacity, improper execution. We represent executors defending wills against these challenges and beneficiaries bringing legitimate claims. Understanding who can contest a will helps families prepare. When disputes arise, our litigation experience becomes valuable.
- Creditor claims. Creditors have rights against an estate. Some claims are legitimate. Others aren’t. We help executors evaluate claims, object to invalid ones, and pay valid debts in the correct order of priority.
Illinois Legal Requirements For Estate Administration
Illinois imposes specific duties on executors and trustees. Understanding these obligations matters—violating them creates personal liability.
Executors must file an inventory of estate assets with the court within 60 days of appointment. The Illinois Probate Act requires publication of notice to creditors, giving unknown creditors six months to submit claims. Known creditors get direct notice. Miss these requirements and you may end up paying claims out of your own pocket.
The Cook County Circuit Court handles probate for Glenview residents. Filing fees, required forms, and local procedures all affect how administration proceeds. Daniel Kravets has filed hundreds of matters in this courthouse and knows how to move cases forward efficiently. A Glenview estate administration lawyer with local experience makes a difference.
Trustees have duties under the Illinois Trust Code (760 ILCS 3/). The Illinois General Assembly maintains the full text. Trustees must act in good faith, administer the trust according to its terms, keep beneficiaries reasonably informed, and manage trust assets prudently. Beneficiaries can sue trustees who breach these duties.
Both executors and trustees are fiduciaries. That means putting the estate or trust first—not your own interests, not the interests of particular beneficiaries you happen to like better. Self-dealing is prohibited. Favoritism creates liability. The standard is high.
Tax obligations add another layer. Estates may need to file a final income tax return for the deceased, fiduciary income tax returns for the estate or trust, and possibly federal or state estate tax returns. The IRS has specific requirements for larger estates. Illinois imposes its own estate tax on estates over $4 million.
Real estate transfers require deeds recorded with the Cook County Clerk. Transferring property out of an estate or trust involves specific procedures that title companies scrutinize carefully.
Common Issues In Estate Administration
Locating Assets and Documents
The deceased person didn’t leave a roadmap. Bank accounts, investment accounts, insurance policies, retirement funds, real estate, vehicles, safe deposit boxes—all need to be identified and valued. Sometimes important documents are missing. We help administrators track down assets and reconstruct records when necessary.
Family Conflict
Grief affects people differently. Some family members become demanding. Others withdraw. Old resentments resurface. Disagreements about who gets particular items turn into full-blown disputes. Executors get caught in the middle. Sometimes disputes involve questions about who should control an incapacitated family member’s care, which may require guardianship proceedings. We advise on how to handle difficult family dynamics and, when necessary, represent administrators in contested proceedings.
Creditor Management
Which debts get paid first? What if claims exceed assets? Can you reject a claim that seems inflated? Creditor priority rules exist for a reason, and executors who pay debts in the wrong order face personal liability. Understanding asset protection principles helps administrators preserve estate value for beneficiaries. We guide administrators through creditor management and handle disputes when claims are questionable.
Tax Complications
The deceased person’s tax situation wasn’t simple, and their estate isn’t either. Unfiled returns from prior years. Disputed deductions. Business interests that require valuation. We coordinate with CPAs to address tax issues and make sure filings happen correctly and on time.
Real Estate Sales
Selling property during estate administration involves extra steps. Clear title requires specific documentation. Buyers want assurance that the sale is properly authorized. We work with real estate agents and title companies to get properties sold and proceeds distributed.
Beneficiaries With Special Circumstances
What if an heir is a minor? Has a disability? Is receiving government benefits? Receives a creditor’s judgment against their inheritance? These situations require careful handling. A special needs trust might be necessary to protect a disabled beneficiary’s government benefits. We identify these issues and address them properly.
What To Expect From Your Glenview Estate Administration Attorney
Every administration starts with understanding what you’re dealing with. What documents exist? What assets are involved? Who are the beneficiaries? Any debts or complications? We review everything and explain what needs to happen.
For probate matters, we prepare and file the petition to open the estate, obtain letters of office, and guide you through the inventory, creditor notice, and claims process. We handle court appearances when required. We prepare the final accounting and petition to close the estate.
For trust administration, we explain your duties as trustee, help you communicate properly with beneficiaries, advise on investment decisions, and prepare required tax filings. We make sure you understand what distributions are required and when.
Throughout the process, we’re available for questions. Estate administration doesn’t follow a predictable schedule. Issues come up. Beneficiaries make demands. Institutions require documentation you didn’t expect. We help you respond appropriately.
Timeline varies. Simple estates might close in six to nine months. Estates with complications—contested claims, real estate sales, tax issues, family disputes—take longer. We set realistic expectations upfront and update them as circumstances develop.
For families who want to avoid putting their own heirs through this process, we also handle estate planning. A well-designed plan with a properly funded revocable trust can eliminate or simplify administration significantly. We also make sure clients have proper powers of attorney in place so their own affairs can be managed if they become incapacitated. Clients often come to us for administration and leave with their own estate plan in place.
The Illinois Attorney General publishes resources on executor and trustee responsibilities that provide helpful background information.
Contact Kravets Law Group
Serving as executor or trustee is a serious responsibility. You don’t have to figure it out alone. The right guidance protects you from personal liability and helps you fulfill your duties efficiently.
We offer free consultations for executors and trustees facing estate administration. We’ll explain what the role requires, what you should watch out for, and how we can help.
Our firm serves families throughout Glenview and the greater Chicago area. Contact a Glenview estate administration lawyer today to discuss your situation.