Being named executor in Illinois is a 12–18 month job nobody trained you for. This is the whole sequence — what Illinois requires of you, what is merely sensible, and which statute each requirement comes from.
Small-estate affidavit available for personal property at or below this amount with no real estate, for deaths on or after Aug 15, 2025. $100,000 for earlier deaths. Illinois-registered motor vehicles do not count toward the limit.read at source
$150,000
755 ILCS 5/25-1, as amended by P.A. 104-0346 · last checked 2026-09-05
Claims barred after the date stated in the published notice (not less than the statutory minimum from notice), with an absolute 2-year bar from the date of death whether or not letters issue or notice is sent.read at source
6 months / 2 years
755 ILCS 5/18-3, 5/18-12 · last checked 2026-09-05
Inventory generally filed within 60 days of letters.not yet confirmed
60 days
755 ILCS 5/14-1 · last checked 2026-07
A representative is entitled to "reasonable compensation" for services, determined by the court. No statutory percentage.read at source
no percentage
755 ILCS 5/27-1 · last checked 2026-09-05
Illinois specifics (verify current law with the Circuit Court or an attorney): whoever has the will must file it with the clerk of the circuit court promptly after death (755 ILCS 5/6-1) — knowingly concealing a will for 30 days can be a felony, but that is not a filing deadline; a small-estate affidavit may be available for personal property of $150,000 or less with no real estate (for deaths on/after Aug 15, 2025 under P.A. 104-0346; $100,000 for earlier deaths), and Illinois-registered motor vehicles no longer count toward the limit (755 ILCS 5/25-1); the representative generally files an inventory within 60 days of letters (755 ILCS 5/14-1); creditors are generally barred 6 months after publication of notice (or after mailing to a known creditor), with a 2-year absolute bar from death (755 ILCS 5/18-3, 18-12); Illinois offers independent administration with reduced court supervision. General information, not legal advice.
Steps are grouped the way the work actually arrives. Required marks a duty backed by a citation; Recommended marks something that protects you or the estate but is not itself a legal obligation.
Nearly every institution requires an original certified copy.
How: Order through the funeral home or the Illinois Department of Public Health / county clerk.
Illinois requires the person who has the will to file it with the circuit court clerk promptly after death (755 ILCS 5/6-1). Note: knowingly concealing a will for 30 days can be a felony — that 30 days is not a filing deadline, so file right away.
How: Deliver the original will to the clerk of the circuit court in the county where they lived.
You are responsible for protecting estate property from loss.
How: Lock up, collect keys, consider re-keying, keep utilities on for now.
The mail reveals accounts and bills you don't know about.
How: USPS forwarding as 'representative for the estate of…'. Photograph everything into Settle.
Stops benefit payments that would have to be repaid. Survivor benefits are separate — nobody starts them for you.
How: The funeral home usually reports the death — confirm by calling SSA at 1-800-772-1213. If a surviving spouse or child may qualify for survivors benefits or the $255 lump-sum death payment, they must apply themselves; you cannot apply online. Ask about the benefit paid for the month of death, which often has to be returned.
Avoids full probate for smaller estates without real estate.
How: Generally available if the estate is $150,000 or less and has no real estate, for deaths on or after August 15, 2025 (motor vehicles excluded); the older limit was $100,000 (755 ILCS 5/25-1).
755 ILCS 5/25-1, as amended by P.A. 104-0346 · last checked 2026-09-05read at source
Gets you Letters of Office. Independent administration reduces court supervision — the Illinois efficiency option.
How: Petition the circuit court in the county where they lived; ask for independent administration.
Statements, deeds, titles, and tax returns recur constantly through settlement.
How: Photograph everything into Settle as you find it.
Vacancy can limit or void coverage; an uninsured loss drains the estate.
How: Call the insurer and ask about a vacancy endorsement.
Needed for the estate bank account and tax filings.
How: Free at irs.gov, 15 minutes online.
Never mix estate money with your own.
How: Bring Letters of Office, EIN, and a death certificate to the bank.
Illinois creditors are generally barred 6 months after publication of notice, or after mailing to a known creditor (755 ILCS 5/18-3).
How: Publish the notice and mail it to known creditors. Track claims in Settle.
Freezes accounts against fraud; starts transfers.
How: Write to each institution with a certified death certificate and, once the court issues them, a copy of your Letters. Log who you contacted and when in Settle so you can show the follow-up trail.
Policies pay beneficiaries directly and often quickly.
How: Call each insurer with policy number + death certificate.
Stops fees and identity theft.
How: Notify issuers, then Equifax, Experian, TransUnion.
Illinois generally requires the representative to prepare an inventory within 60 days of letters (755 ILCS 5/14-1).
How: Settle's inventory report gives you the asset list; file or provide it as required.
755 ILCS 5/14-1 · last checked 2026-07not yet confirmed
Date-of-death values set tax basis and drive distribution.
How: Real estate: appraisal or broker opinion. Keep reports in Settle.
Protects estate value; order of payment matters if funds are tight.
How: Estate account only. If the estate may be insolvent, pause and get advice.
Penalties accrue if missed; a large estate may also owe Illinois estate tax above the state threshold.
How: A CPA experienced with estates is usually worth it — hand them Settle's reports.
Documented expenses come back to you from the estate.
How: Settle's ledger tracks 'paid personally' items; reimburse with a paper trail.
Distributing before the 6-month creditor period closes and debts/taxes are paid can create personal liability.
How: Follow the will (or Illinois intestacy rules). Get signed receipts; keep them in Settle.
The court discharges you once the estate is settled (independent estates close with a final report).
How: Generate Settle's Ledger and Inventory reports; file the final report or accounting. Keep records for several years.
Settle builds this checklist into a plan you can actually work
The steps above, ordered for your situation in Illinois, with the deadlines on a calendar, your documents attached to the step that needs them, and an expense ledger for everything the estate owes you back. The plan itself is free.
Every figure on this page links to the statute or court source it came from and shows the date we last read it. 2 of the 6 citations on this page carry the “not yet confirmed” tag. That means we recorded the citation from a secondary source and have not yet read it against the primary statute text ourselves. We could have left those rows out and the page would look better — but it would imply the rest were checked too, which is exactly the impression nobody should be given about a court deadline.
The full registry, including everything we have not confirmed, is published at Where the state information comes from. If the court or your attorney gave you a different date, please tell us at [email protected] — it is the fastest way to get it fixed for the next executor.