Probate and Estate Administration

Probate and Estate Administration includes probate, which is a court-managed process through which a person’s estate is administered after his or her death. Through this process, the decedent’s debts are paid and distributions are made to his or her heirs and beneficiaries. Chicago probate lawyer Alan Sohn has significant experience representing fiduciaries and the families of decedents charged with the administration of estates and trusts.

In probate and estate administration, if the decedent has a carefully drafted will and/or living trust that provides for the distribution of the decedent’s assets, the probate process is typically straightforward and relatively quick. However, in some cases, the probate process can be lengthy, tedious, time-consuming and sometimes costly, particularly if the decedent lacked adequately drafted estate documents (such as a will or trust) to address the distribution of assets.

• What Is Probate? What Actually Occurs During Probate?

In Illinois, an estate’s fiduciary bears the burden of seeing that the decedent’s debts are paid and that the assets of the estate or trust are properly distributed according to the estate documents. Frequently, an estate’s fiduciary is a loved one of the decedent who is likely dealing with the emotional turmoil of the decedent’s death, making it all the more difficult to deal with the legal issues associated with probate administration. Alan Sohn and his Chicago based staff understand the complex issues related to the administration of your Illinois probate estate and works with the court and beneficiaries to ensure that your wishes are carried out with as little conflict as necessary.

Alan Sohn frequently provides the following services in connection with probate and trust administration:

• Educates and guides fiduciaries, heirs and beneficiaries through the probate process
• Prepares state and federal estate and inheritance tax returns
• Consults with the estate’s accountants to ensure that distributions are made in a tax-effective way
• Advises heirs and beneficiaries regarding postmortem estate planning techniques in order to minimize future tax implications
• Represents trustees, executors, heirs, legatees and estate and trust beneficiaries in will contests and other disputes concerning the validity, construction and interpretation of wills and trusts

As a result of his years of experience as a compassionate counselor, Alan Sohn understands the wide range of emotions that fiduciaries, heirs and beneficiaries are facing through the probate administration process.

Contact The Law Offices of Alan E. Sohn Chartered, in Chicago, to let us serve as a trusted advisor to help and guide you throughout the probate administration process.