Chicago Probate and Estate Administration Attorney

Illinois Trust and Estate Lawyer

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

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.  

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.   Illinois estate planning attorney Alan Sohn understands 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 post-mortem 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

The Chicago probate administration attorney Alan Sohn is a compassionate counselor and, as a result of his years of experience, he understands the wide range of emotions that fiduciaries, heirs and beneficiaries are facing through the probate administration process.  Contact our skilled probate administration attorney and let us serve as a trusted advisor to help and guide you throughout the probate administration process.