If you die without a will in Illinois, you lose the opportunity to direct what happens to your belongings, your money, even your children. Illinois has a fixed set of rules that takes over when someone passes away without leaving written instructions. Those rules do not know your story, your relationships, or what you would have wanted. They just follow a formula. The people you love most may end up with less than you intended, or nothing at all. A Wheaton, IL will and trust lawyer can help you take control of what happens to your family before that decision is taken away from you.
What Does Illinois Law Do When You Die Without a Will?
When someone dies without a will, Illinois law steps in and distributes their property through a process called intestate succession. This is governed by the Illinois Probate Act, specifically 755 ILCS 5/2-1, which lays out a specific order for who receives what.