CONTESTED ESTATES

Case Evaluation

Law Offices Paul F. O'Keefe, P.C. concentrates in representing heirs and other interested persons in contesting estates and trusts.

An estate or trust must be contested in a timely manner.  A petition to require formal proof of a will admitted to probate must be filed within 42 days after the effective date of the original order admitting the will to probate.  A petition to contest the validity of a will typically must be filed within 6 months after the admission of a will to probate.  Other claims against an estate or claims against a trust also must be filed in a timely manner.  The nature of a claim against an estate or trust determines the time limits for a claim to be brought.  If you contest an estate or trust or otherwise have a claim against an estate or trust, please contact our office immediately.  Any delay in contesting an estate or trust or bringing a claim against an estate or trust may result in your claim being barred.

A probate estate may be opened in Illinois if, at the time of death, the descendent was domiciled in Illinois or, regardless of where the deceased was domiciled at the time of death, the deceased owned any real estate or personal property in Illinois.  Depending upon the circumstances and the location of a deceased's real estate or personal property, you may consider a challenge to an estate in Illinois even if the deceased did not reside in Illinois.

Cases involving contested estates are handled by our office on an hourly or contingency basis, depending upon the circumstances.

We also represent estates that are not contested.  Estate Administration

Please contact our office at 312-263-9200 (Chicago) or 847-263-9262 (Waukegan), or e-mail us, for a consultation.

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