Q: My Father passed last month and left no will. He has a house, cars, retirement funds, investments and etc. can I become
Admin for his estate and does his estranged wife/separated for 14yrs receive anything?
A: Yes. As an heir, you are entitled to petition the court to open the estate and be appointed as the administrator. Any of your siblings and your father's estranged wife are entitled to file such a petition. Under the Illinois statute, your father's wife and his children split the proceeds of the estate. So your father's estranged wife is entitled to receive one-half of your father's estate.
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