In Illinois, probate is required when an estate is worth more than $100,000 or includes real estate titled solely in the deceased person’s name under the Illinois Probate Act of 1975. A properly structured trust can help your family skip that process entirely. If you want to protect your loved ones from the time, cost, and stress of probate, the Kendall County, IL estate planning lawyers at SpyratosDavis LLC can help you put a plan in place in 2026.
What Is Probate, and Why Do People Want to Avoid It?
Probate is a legal process that takes place in court after someone dies. The court reviews the person’s will, confirms it is valid, appoints someone to manage the estate, pays off debts, and then distributes what remains to the beneficiaries.