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Questions Answered by Stephanie Sexauer
2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning for Illinois on
Q: In Illinois, is it required to have all heirs names on the estate bank account?
Stephanie Sexauer
Stephanie Sexauer
answered on Aug 22, 2022

Hi there,

No, the name of an estate bank account should include the name and title of the representative: "John Doe, executor/administrator of the Jane Doe Estate".

Thank you, and wish you the best of luck!

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2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Illinois on
Q: Who gets IRA payout when someone dies without beneficiary in IRA but with a will and living trust? Can it go to trust?

Deceased has a will & trust, but there is no beneficiary designated in IRA (rollover and Roth). Deceased does have a spouse.

Couple questions:

1.) Who gets the payout?

2.) If it goes to estate, can the payout be directed to trust? Please note the Will has a... View More

Stephanie Sexauer
Stephanie Sexauer
answered on Jul 9, 2022

I’m so sorry to hear of your loss; I hope you’re hanging in there.

When someone has a trust, the purpose is to avoid probate. The way you avoid probate when you have a trust is to fund the trust by making sure the trust is listed as beneficiary (or owner) of assets. There are...
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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Illinois on
Q: What do I need to do my mother passed with no will she has estate and a vehicle thanks
Stephanie Sexauer
Stephanie Sexauer
answered on Jul 7, 2022

I'm so sorry to hear of your mother's passing; I hope you're hanging in there.

Her estate may need to go through probate. Probate court proceedings are needed when 1) someone owns real estate or 2) other cumulative assets that don't name a joint owner or beneficiary...
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1 Answer | Asked in Family Law, Contracts and Estate Planning for Illinois on
Q: How did my adult son, who I have financial guardianship, with no job and no savings take out a $43000 car loan withoutme
Stephanie Sexauer
Stephanie Sexauer
answered on Apr 26, 2022

I'm so sorry to hear about this; fortunately and unfortunately, it sounds like your son is high functioning to the point he wants to drive his own car but doesn't have the capacity to understand what a car loan entails. In adult guardianships in Illinois, this is somewhat common.... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Illinois on
Q: our son passed away recently but did not have a will. He is umarried but has an 8 year old daughter. His estate is under

$100,000 The bank is holding his account open until any funds due are settled. All money due or collected will be given to his daughter. Do we just list her as 100% on the small estate affidavit? or should I list myself as his father? I want to give all proceeds to her but don't know what my... View More

Stephanie Sexauer
Stephanie Sexauer
answered on Feb 7, 2022

Sir, I'm so sorry for your loss. I hope you're all hanging in there.

While you can be the affiant of the Small Estate Affidavit, the only heir of the estate is your granddaughter. Because the amount of money she'll likely receive is over $10,000.00, there will need to be a...
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3 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning for Illinois on
Q: My passed away last month. She had no will. Whap happen to her house and bank account?

How to change her house to my name? And her bank account ( She had only very small amount money)?

Stephanie Sexauer
Stephanie Sexauer
answered on Jan 25, 2022

I'm so sorry to hear about your loss; I hope you and your family are hanging in there.

Considering there's real estate involved, it's very likely the estate will need to go through probate. Heirship needs to be determined, as well as the extent of assets/debts. In Illinois,...
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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Family Law and Probate for Illinois on
Q: What can the disabled ward do? When the ward and guardian disagree? What options does the ward have
Stephanie Sexauer
Stephanie Sexauer
answered on Jan 17, 2022

A Ward has the opportunity to seek to restore himself or herself at any time. This request can be made to the Judge directly or to the Guardian ad Litem (if one was appointed). Though it's not required, it would aide the Judge in making a determination that your circumstances have changed so... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Probate for Illinois on
Q: Hello, My wife's mother passed away a week ago. My wife has been estranged from her family for several years.

We are unsure if there is a will. How do we find out if there is one? My wife's sister is currently living in the house my mother in-law owned. There is life insurance policies, bank accounts and other assets. If there is no will and we are not on speaking terms with her sister, how do we go... View More

Stephanie Sexauer
Stephanie Sexauer
answered on Jan 14, 2022

John, I'm sorry to hear what you're all going through.

In Illinois, wills are required to be signed and witnessed by two people. If there is a will, all wills need to be filed in the county in which the Decedent resided within 30 days of death. If there is a valid will, and it...
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1 Answer | Asked in Probate for Illinois on
Q: Mom passed away,had no will. Brother is on the house deed with her, can he keep the house, how can he transfer car title

She put him on the deed last year, can he transfer the car into his name? There are 3 siblings but we have all decided everything is his we do not want anything. The small estate affidavit states there can be no property. He can not even get the mlney out of her bank account to settle some of her... View More

Stephanie Sexauer
Stephanie Sexauer
answered on Jan 12, 2022

I'm so sorry to hear about your mom; I hope you're all hanging in there.

If the property was owned as joint tenants with right of survivorship, your brother is now the sole owner. A small estate affidavit can then be used to transfer other property, so long as it's cumulative...
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1 Answer | Asked in Elder Law for Illinois on
Q: Can I buy my 91 yr old Mom's home and then rent it to her without impacting her possible future Medicaid eligibility?
Stephanie Sexauer
Stephanie Sexauer
answered on Jan 7, 2022

I see you're located in Wisconsin, but posted this for an Illinois attorney, so I'll respond regarding Illinois law.

There is a 5 year Medicaid look back period. If your mom sells you her home for less than fair market value and she does require a nursing home stay during that...
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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Illinois on
Q: My mother passed away in July. There is a will that states to split evenly between me and my sibling.

He paid for funeral, paid off her car, her house payment, some bills (like electric and so on until the house was sold last week. What expenses are considered acceptable? Now, when splitting the money. Does he get to factor in those expenses and basically leave me with nothing? Just doesn't... View More

Stephanie Sexauer
Stephanie Sexauer
answered on Nov 5, 2021

I'm so sorry to hear about your mother; I hope you're hanging in there.

Yes, it's appropriate for most costs in "finalizing" your mother's affairs be deducted from an estate before any heir receives their share. All bills of an estate must be paid, and...
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4 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning for Illinois on
Q: At what size Net Worth should I consider a Trust instead of a Will?
Stephanie Sexauer
Stephanie Sexauer
answered on May 5, 2021

Hi there,

Congratulations for considering an estate plan! It's so important to do this as soon as you're able, but we know most people don't (which makes their estates ultimately much messier and more expensive when they become disabled or die). I'm assuming you're...
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1 Answer | Asked in Probate for Illinois on
Q: My mother lent my brother 55k dollars to pay for his divorce 15 yrs ago. He only paid her back about 29k before he died.

As part of the divorce settlement, he kept the condo in Chicago. He remarried 2 years ago, but didnt put his wife's name on the property. He was literally at the condo getting it ready to sell when he died (massive heart attack). He did not have a will, so his current wife contact 2 lawyers... View More

Stephanie Sexauer
Stephanie Sexauer
answered on Apr 26, 2021

Hi there,

I'm so sorry to hear about your brother. I hope you're all hanging in there.

In Illinois, if your brother didn't have children, his assets (that don't name a beneficiary or joint owner) would pass to his wife. If there was a probate proceeding,...
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3 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning for Illinois on
Q: My mother passed away with an irrevocable family trust. Under the terms I am the beneficiary. How do I get assets?

My father is executor and for two years has refused to give me info unless I sign 1/2 to him. This was from my grandparents estate. What actions need to be taken?

Stephanie Sexauer
Stephanie Sexauer
answered on Mar 1, 2021

Hi there,

To start off, I'm really sorry to hear you're going through this. From what you say, it sounds like your father is wrongfully withholding/assets from you. I'd be happy to speak with you about some options, if you'd like to give me a call at (312)300-4743 or...
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2 Answers | Asked in Family Law, Estate Planning and Elder Law for Illinois on
Q: How does Guardianship relate to marital rights? My husband had a stroke July1 and his kids showed up with signed Power

of Attorney forms that he didn't remember signing. They completely took over...changed locks on husband's house, closed all of our joint accounts leaving me with no phone, no car insurance and no house insurance. They took over finances and I haven't seen a cent of his money since... View More

Stephanie Sexauer
Stephanie Sexauer
answered on Feb 4, 2021

I'm so sorry to hear about these circumstances. I think you may need to consider hiring an attorney to have better communications with your husband's children to reach a resolution.

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2 Answers | Asked in Family Law and Elder Law for Illinois on
Q: My mother fell in her apartment and wasn't found for a period of time. She was not able to give the hospital my number.

Now she a ward of Illinois. I live in California and have identified myself as her daughter to the guardian. What do I have to do to have it dropped? No one (hospital lawyer, social worker) will assist me. Thank you.

Stephanie Sexauer
Stephanie Sexauer
answered on Jul 18, 2020

If by "ward of Illinois", you mean she's now legally a disabled person and the Office of the State Guardian was appointed to be her guardian, I think it would make sense for you to reach out to them. They take care of a lot of people who don't have family, and if you're... View More

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3 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Illinois on
Q: My husband passed with no will. His children are telling me they want his 2 trucks, motorcycle and trailer?

Do I have any right to the value of these after 30 years of marriage

Stephanie Sexauer
Stephanie Sexauer
answered on Jun 16, 2020

I’m SO sorry to hear about this; how awful.

A surviving spouse is entitled to half the assets of a deceased spouse. Please call me at (312) 300-4743 to discuss, if you’d like.

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3 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning for Illinois on
Q: My dad passed (no spouse) and in his will left everything to my sister and myself.

Six weeks after his death my sister passes. She had a husband but no children. I am the executor and wondering if I have to pay out half my father's estate to her husband. Nothing has been distributed yet and they were talking about a divorce so it feels wrong to pay half of my dad's... View More

Stephanie Sexauer
Stephanie Sexauer
answered on Jun 11, 2020

I'm so sorry to hear of your recent losses. It must be an awful time for you.

Unfortunately yes, now that your sister passed away, her half will go to he heirs, which happens to be her husband. \

If you'd like to discuss this by phone, I'd be happy to. My phone number is (312)300-4743.

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2 Answers | Asked in Family Law and Elder Law for Illinois on
Q: dementia diagnosis and guardianship

My grandma is 89 she has symptoms of dementia to my knowledge she has not been formally diagnosed by her physician her physician will not speak to me because he does not have a release to do so anytime anyone tries to help my grandma with anything she gets irate and violent she does not have a... View More

Stephanie Sexauer
Stephanie Sexauer
answered on Jan 8, 2020

I'm so sorry to hear of what's been going on.

You're right that this sounds like a guardianship issue. You should contact an estate or guardianship attorney in or near your town, as soon as you can, to get the process started.

I hope for the best for you all!

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1 Answer | Asked in Probate for Illinois on
Q: I am an heir/legatee in an estate. There were several court dates and I was not notified nor given the filed motions.

What recourse do I have? I thought that the court required all interested parties to be notified of all court activity.

Stephanie Sexauer
Stephanie Sexauer
answered on Nov 14, 2018

You're correct; if you're an heir or legatee of an estate, the court will require the attorney for the proposed executor or administrator to send notice (when to send notice depends on whether the Decedent died with or without a will). It's possible the matter has been continued to... View More

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