Grieving the loss of a loved one is difficult enough. If you are also tasked with administering that person’s estate, those obligations can be confusing and overwhelming.

The law firm of Barber, Segatto, Hoffee, Wilke & Cate can help you work through the duties of probate and estate administration, from opening the estate to final distributions and reporting. Our probate lawyers strive to make a daunting process less cryptic and less stressful through close assistance to individuals and families.

We handle estates in Sangamon County and surrounding jurisdictions of Illinois. Our attorneys also have extensive experience with probate and trust litigation.

If you have been named executor of a will or appointed as personal representative in the absence of a will, there is a list of tasks that must be carried out in a certain order. We guide you through each stage of the process, including:

• Opening the estate in probate court

• Inventory of the assets

• Paying debts and taxes of the estate

• Liquidating or dividing assets as necessary

• Distributions to heirs and beneficiaries

• Accounting and reporting

Our probate lawyers can help you deal with the inevitable obstacles and dilemmas along the way. We have extensive experience with real property, trust assets, investments, deferred compensation and other complex assets, as well as Illinois estate tax considerations.

A death in the family sometimes creates disputes, resentments and even accusations of wrongdoing. Legal challenges not only delay the estate administration process but can also cause rifts in the family or negate an expected inheritance. Barber, Segatto, Hoffee, Wilke & Cate represents heirs/beneficiaries, excluded heirs and executors/trustees in probate and estate litigation, including:

• Will contests on the basis of testamentary capacity or undue influence

• Misappropriation of assets of the estate

• Allegations of fraud or breach of fiduciary duty

• Trust mismanagement and trust litigation

• Challenges to the valuation of probated assets

• Defense against creditor claims and lawsuits

• Petitions to remove an executor/administrator

Some disputes can be resolved through negotiation and communication, but our trial lawyers can capably advocate for you in contested court proceedings. We have litigated multimillion-dollar trusts and estates, and our in-house expertise includes a certified valuation analyst, a certified public accountant (CPA), and a tax attorney.