Petition For Probate And Letters (Lake) (Lake)

There are all sorts of forms executors, beneficiaries, and probate court clerks have to fill out and correspond with during probate and estate settlement, including affidavits, letters, petitions, summons, orders, and notices.

Petition For Probate And Letters (Lake) (Lake) is a commonly used form within Illinois. Here’s an overview of what the form is and means, including a breakdown of the situations when (or why) you may need to use it:

Atticus Fast Facts About Petition For Probate And Letters (Lake) (Lake)

Sometimes it’s tough to find a quick summary— here’s the important details you should know about Petition For Probate And Letters (Lake) (Lake):

• This form pertains to the State of Illinois

• The current version of this form was last revised on October 18, 2024

Government forms are not typically updated often, though when they are, it often happens rather quietly. While Atticus works hard to keep this information about Illinois’s Form Petition For Probate And Letters (Lake) (Lake) up to date, certain details can change from time-to-time with little or no communication.

Step 1 - Download the correct Illinois form based on the name and ID if applicable

Double check that you have both the correct form name and the correct form ID. Some Illinois probate forms can look remarkably similar, so it’s best to double, even triple-check that you’re using the right one! Keep in mind that not all States have a standardized Form ID system for their probate forms.

Step 2 - Complete the Document

Fill out all relevant fields in Form Petition For Probate And Letters (Lake) (Lake), take a break, and then review. Probate and estate settlement processes in IL are long enough to begin with, and making a silly error can push your timeline even farther back. No thank you!

Note: If you don’t currently know all of the answers and are accessing Form Petition For Probate And Letters (Lake) (Lake) online, be sure to avoid closing the browser tab and potentially losing all your progress (or use a platform like Atticus to help avoid making mistakes).

Step 3 - Have Form witnessed or notarized (if required)

Some States and situations require particular forms to be notarized. If you have been instructed to get the document notarized or see it in writing on the document, then make sure to hire a local notary. There are max notary fees in the United States that are defined and set by local law. Take a look at our full guide to notary fees to make sure you aren’t overpaying or getting ripped off.

Step 4 - Submit Petition For Probate And Letters (Lake) (Lake) to the relevant office

This is most often the local probate court where the decedent (person who passed away) is domiciled (permanently resides) or the institution involved with this particular form (e.g. a bank). Some offices allow you to submit forms online, other’s don’t, and we while we generally recommend going in-person to expedite the process, sometimes that simply isn’t an option.

It’s also a generally good idea to establish a positive working relationship with any probate clerk (unfortunately there’s enough people & process out there making things more difficult and unnecessarily confusing for them), so a best practice is to simply ask the probate clerk proactively exactly how and where they’d prefer you to submit all forms.

Need help getting in touch with a local probate court or identifying a domicile probate jurisdiction?

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Different probate forms or processes can require different deadlines or response times for completing the appropriate form.

While some steps in the process are bound to specific deadlines (like petitioning for probate, having to submit an inventory of assets, or filing applicable notices to creditors and beneficiaries), many probate forms or processes are not tied to a specific deadline since the scope of work can vary based on situational factors or requirements involved.

Either way, there are a bunch of practical reasons why personal representatives should work to complete each step as thoroughly and quickly as possible when completing probate in Illinois.

5 reasons you should submit this form as quickly as possible:

1. The sooner you begin, the faster Illinois can allow heirs and beneficiaries to get their share of assets subject to probate. Acting promptly can also decrease the costs & overall mental fatigue through an otherwise burdensome process.
   
   Helpful Context: What’s the Difference Between Probate and Non-Probate Assets?

2. In general, creditors of an estate usually have around 3-6 months from the time you file notice to creditors to file any claims for debt against the deceased’s assets. If they don’t, then that debt is forfeited (and more importantly, the executor won’t be held personally responsible). So doing this sooner means you have a better idea of who is owed what and ensures you won’t get a surprise collector months later.

3. Not filing a will within 30 days (on average) could mean that the probate process proceeds according to intestate laws (laws that govern what happens to someone's stuff without a will) or is subject to unnecessary supervision by the probate court. And if you aren't directly related to the deceased (a.k.a. next of kin), this could also mean you lose your inheritance.

4. It’s important to file any necessary state tax returns on behalf of the deceased or estate by the following tax season in Illinois. If you don’t, you could owe penalties and interest. This also includes any necessary federal tax returns such as Forms 1040, 1041, or even a Form 706 estate tax return.

5. If a house in the State of Illinois is left empty (or abandoned) for a while, insurance can get dicey. For example, if the house burns down and no one has been there for a year, an insurance company may get out of paying your claim.

If you’re not using Atticus to get specific forms, deadlines, and timelines for Illinois probate, then try and stay as organized as possible, pay close attention to the dates mentioned in any correspondence you have with the State’s government officials, call the local Illinois probate clerk or court for exact answers regarding Form Petition For Probate And Letters (Lake) (Lake), and when in doubt— consult a qualified trust & estates lawyer for that area.

Petition For Probate And Letters (Lake) (Lake) is one of the many probate court forms available for download through Atticus.

It may also be available through some Illinois probate court sites, such as . In order to access the latest version, be updated with any revisions, and get full instructions on how to complete each form, check out the Atticus Probate & Estate Settlement software or consider hiring a qualified legal expert locally within Illinois.

While Atticus automatically provides the latest forms, be sure to choose the correct version of Form Petition For Probate And Letters (Lake) (Lake) f using any other site or resource in order to avoid having to re-complete the form process and/or make another trip to the Illinois probate court office.

Petition For Probate And Letters (Lake) (Lake) is a .pdf, so opening it should be as simple as clicking “View Form” from within the Atticus app or by clicking the appropriate link found on any Illinois-provided government platform. Once you’ve opened the form, you should be able to directly edit the form before saving or printing.

Here’s the text, verbatim, that is found on Illinois Form Petition For Probate And Letters (Lake) (Lake). You can use this to get an idea of the context of the form and what type of information is needed.

Page 1 of 4 171P-30 (Rev. 10/18) IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE NINETEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT LAKE COUNTY, ILLINOIS ESTATE OF ) ) ) ) _________________________________________ ) Deceased. ) Case No. ____________________________ ) Date Will filed: ________________________ Hearing on petition is set for _________________, 20_____, at _______ a.m.  p.m. Main Courthouse, Courtroom 201, 18 N. County Street, Waukegan, IL 60085 PETITION FOR PROBATE AND FOR LETTERS _________________________________________, the Petitioner, under penalties of perjury as provided under Section 1-109 of the Code of Civil Procedure, states: 1. __________________________________________ the Decedent, whose place of residence at the time of death was _____________________________________________________________________________________________ (address) (city) (country) (state) died _____________________________, 20_____, in __________________________County, ________________ . (state) 2. The approximate value of the estate in Illinois is: Annual Income Personal Estate $_______________ Real Estate $_______________ From Real Estate $ _______________ . 3.  The Decedent did maintain a safe deposit box in Illinois.  Box No. ________ Location _______________________________ Notice to said institution has been provided.  The Decedent did not maintain a safe deposit box in Illinois.  Petitioner does not know whether Decedent maintained a safe deposit box in Illinois. 4.  The Decedent did leave a Will dated _________________, _____ (and Codicil dated ________________, _____) which Petitioner believes to be the valid last Will of the Decedent.  The Decedent’s Will has not previously been admitted to probate.  The Decedent’s Will was previously admitted to probate on: _________________________________________ .  Previous Letters of Office were issued to: ________________________________________________________ .  Reason for new Letters of Office: ______________________________________________________________ .  The Decedent did not leave a Will. 5. SELECT ONLY ONE OF THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS:  Petitioner seeks admission of Will to Probate and seeks Letters Testamentary. Complete “SECTION A” and then Signatory Section.  Petitioner seeks admission of Will to Probate and seeks Letters of Administration With Will Annexed. Complete “SECTION B” and then Signatory Section.  There is no Will to admit to Probate and Petitioner seeks Letters of Administration. Complete “SECTION C” and then Signatory Section. 6. The names and post-office addresses of Decedent's heirs (all petitions) and legatees (only if decedent had a will) are set forth on Exhibit A and made a part of this petition. List the heirs first. Indicate the relationship of each heir and legatee and, if the heir or legatee is a minor or disabled person, so state. Page 2 of 4 171P-30 (Rev. 10/18) SECTION A - Petition for Probate of Will and Letters Testamentary 7. The Decedent, in the Will, nominated as executor the following to act (if a nominated executor has declined to act, a Declination of Office form must be filed with this Petition): Name Address  Qualified and willing to act  Unable to act due to _____________  Declined to act Name Address  Qualified and willing to act  Unable to act due to _____________  Declined to act 8.  Petitioner requests independent administration. The name and post-office address of the personal fiduciary designated to act during independent administration for each heir or legatee who is a minor or adults with disabilities are shown on Exhibit A and made a part of this petition.  Petitioner does not request independent administration. 9. Petitioner asks that the Will be admitted to probate and that Letters Testamentary be issued to __________________ ________________________________________________ as _________________________________________ . (executor) (independent executor) 10. Proceed to Signatory Section and complete. SECTION B - Petition for Probate of Will and for Letters of Administration with Will Annexed* 7. The names and post-office addresses of persons who are entitled to nominate an administrator in preference to or equally with Petitioner, if any, are set forth on Exhibit A and made a part of this petition. If the person is listed pursuant to paragraph 6 above, the appropriate box next to his/her name is checked. 8. The Decedent nominated as executor _____________________________, who is unable or unwilling to act because _____________________________________________________________________________________________ . (state reason for not acting) 9. The Decedent nominated as successor executor _____________________________, who is unable or unwilling to act because __________________________________________________________________________________ . (state reason for not acting) 10. Petitioner is a _________________________ of Decedent and is legally qualified to act as Administrator or to (state relationship) nominate a Resident of Illinois to act, as Administrator. Petitioner asks that Letters of Administration With Will Annexed be issued to the following, qualified and willing to act: Name Address _____________________________________________________________________________________________ . 11.  Petitioner requests independent administration. The name and post-office address of the personal fiduciary designated to act during independent administration for each heir or legatee who is a minor or disabled are shown on Exhibit A and made a part of this petition.  Petitioner does not request independent administration. 12. Petitioner asks that the Will be admitted to probate and that Letters of Administration With Will Annexed be issued to _____________________________________________ as ____________________________________________ . (administrator) (independent administrator) 13. Proceed to Signatory Section and complete. Page 3 of 4 171P-30 (Rev. 10/18) SECTION C – Petition for Letters of Administration* 7. The names and post-office addresses of persons who are entitled to nominate an administrator in preference to or equally with Petitioner, if any, are set forth on Exhibit A and made a part of this petition. If the person is listed pursuant to paragraph 6 above, the appropriate box next to his/her name is checked. 8. Petitioner is a ________________________ of Decedent and is legally qualified to act, or to nominate a resident of (state relationship) Illinois to act, as Administrator. 9.  Petitioner requests independent administration. The name and post-office address of the personal fiduciary designated to act during independent administration for each heir or legatee who is a minor or disabled are shown on Exhibit A and made a part of this petition.  Petitioner does not request independent administration. 10. Petitioner asks that Letters of  Administration  Independent Administration issue to the following, qualified and willing to act: Name Address _____________________________________________________________________________________________ . 11. Complete Signatory Section below. SIGNATORY SECTION Signature of Petitioner: ____________________________________ Printed Name of Petitioner: _________________________________ Address: _______________________________________________ City and Zip: ____________________________________________ If Petitioner has an attorney, attorney shall sign certification. Attorney Certification: _____________________________________ Printed Name of Attorney: _________________________________ ARDC Number: _________________________________________ Petition Prepared by: Name: ___________________________________ Pro Se  Address: __________________________________________ City: ______________________________ State: __________ Phone: ______________________Zip Code: _____________ ARDC #: __________________________________________ E-mail address: _____________________________________ * If Section B (Petition for Probate of Will and for Letters of Administration with Will Annexed) or Section C (Petition for Letters of Administration) is completed in this petition, not less than 30 days prior to the hearing on this Petition for Probate and For Letters, petitioner shall mail a copy of this petition, endorsed with the time and place of the hearing, to each person named in the petition (including persons named on Exhibit A) whose post office address is stated and who is entitled either to administer or to nominate a person to administer equally with or in preference to the Petitioner. This 30 day notice requirement, however, will not be necessary for any person not designated as a minor or as a disabled person and who personally appears before the court at the hearing or who files a waiver of notice on or before the date of hearing. See 755 ILCS 5/9-5. Page 4 of 4 171P-30 (Rev. 10/18) PETITION FOR PROBATE AND FOR LETTERS EXHIBIT A Estate of ) ________________________________ ) Case No. ________________ Deceased. ) #_____ Please check all applicable: Name: _____________________________________________________ □ Heir Address: __________________________________________________ □ Legatee City and Zip: _______________________________________________ □ Disabled Relationship ________________________________________________ □ Minor □ Preference * If Minor or Disabled, provide fiduciary name and address: □ Equal * Fiduciary Name/Address: ________________________________________________________________________ #_____ Please check all applicable: Name: _____________________________________________________ □ Heir Address: __________________________________________________ □ Legatee City and Zip: _______________________________________________ □ Disabled Relationship ________________________________________________ □ Minor □ Preference * If Minor or Disabled, provide fiduciary name and address: □ Equal * Fiduciary Name/Address: ________________________________________________________________________ #_____ Please check all applicable: Name: _____________________________________________________ □ Heir Address: __________________________________________________ □ Legatee City and Zip: _______________________________________________ □ Disabled Relationship ________________________________________________ □ Minor □ Preference * If Minor or Disabled, provide fiduciary name and address: □ Equal * Fiduciary Name/Address: ________________________________________________________________________ #_____ Please check all applicable: Name: _____________________________________________________ □ Heir Address: __________________________________________________ □ Legatee City and Zip: _______________________________________________ □ Disabled Relationship ________________________________________________ □ Minor □ Preference * If Minor or Disabled, provide fiduciary name and address: □ Equal * Fiduciary Name/Address: ________________________________________________________________________ #_____ Please check all applicable: Name: _____________________________________________________ □ Heir Address: __________________________________________________ □ Legatee City and Zip: _______________________________________________ □ Disabled Relationship ________________________________________________ □ Minor □ Preference * If Minor or Disabled, provide fiduciary name and address: □ Equal * Fiduciary Name/Address: ________________________________________________________________________ *Check only if: 1) filled out SECTION B or C of Petition for Probate and Letters; and 2) if applicable to listed person. USE ADDITIONAL SHEETS IF NECESSARY