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Joliet Probate Attorney | Probate Lawyer, Joliet IL

Work with our Joliet probate attorneys who have the experienced knowledge you need to navigate through the obstacles of probate at a cost effective rate.
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Smiling womanAttorney Kevin O'Flaherty

"Kevin was extremely professional, responsive and knowledgeable when I came to him for help. I would definitely recommend O'Flaherty Law!"

How can our Joliet Probate Attorneys help you?

We believe your attorney should not speak in legalese

Finding an attorney who is a “real person” can be difficult. Many attorneys surround themselves almost exclusively with other attorneys and are accustomed to speaking in ivory tower legalese.  You should be able to connect with your attorney on a personal level, and he or she should speak to you in plain language that you can understand.  You will be working very closely with this person on issues that are very important to you. It is important that he or she be down-to-earth and someone that you connect with.

We believe your attorney should be accessible

The most common complaint that clients have of their attorneys is that the attorney is unreachable, does not communicate with them regularly, or does not promptly return your calls.  Your attorney should reach out to you about your case regularly and respond within 24 hours to calls and e-mails.  An open line of communication between you and your attorney is essential to building trust.

Learn how we service your area through our Remote Location Approach.

We believe your attorney should be realistic with you about costs and outcomes

Your attorney’s goal should not be to win at all costs.  Rather, it should be to achieve a favorable outcome for you as efficiently as possible.  It is important that your attorney set realistic expectations at the outset as to the costs you should expect, the concerns that the attorney has about the outcome of your case, and the length of time that you should expect your case to take.

Regardless of the nature of your case, we have an experienced attorney who will focus on your individual needs. Our team of attorneys works closely together, bringing each of their different fields of experience to bear in order to optimize our client care.

Client Testimonials

Christi M.

Kevin's firm handled setting up my will and trust recently. They took something that seemed intimidating and made it easy to understand. I've also referred a couple clients to Kevin - he's trustworthy, approachable and very fairly priced.

Marvin

"I've used Kevin and his firm's services since 2011. He gave undivided attention to my cases, advised me on different options and..."

Rachel B.

"Kevin was extremely professional, responsive and knowledgeable when I came to him for help. I would definitely recommend O'Flaherty Law!"

About Joliet Probate Attorneys:

You And Your Family Will Be in Excellent Hands! Our firm has built a reputation for being great at what we do and for providing exceptional service and communication to our clients. Many of our clients have taken the time to leave us positive testimonials.  In 2016 we received the Avvo Client's Choice Award due to the overwhelmingly positive reaction from our clients.  In 2015 Kevin O'Flaherty was honored with Suburban Life Magazine's Best Under 40 Award.  Our Joliet probate attorneys are skilled, experienced, and singularly focused on amazing client service. 

We Are Cost Effective!  Our Joliet probate attorneys are cost-effective and efficient, with the goal of handling your loved-one's estate as expeditiously as possible. Choosing the wrong probate attorney can be unnecessarily expensive, but with O'Flaherty, you know you'll be getting the right help for an affordable cost.

We Are Comprehensive!  It is common for probate cases to require experience in many areas of law, such as real estate, family law, business law, or litigation.  Our team of experienced Joliet attorneys collectively have experience in nearly every area of law.  We work as a team to make sure that you get the benefit of all of our knowledge.  

Expertise Best Child Support Lawyers in Chicago 201710 Best 2016 Client Satisfaction American Institute of Family Law AttorneysAvvo Clients' Choice 2016 DivorceRising Stars Kevin P. O'Flaherty SuperLawyers.com10 Best Law Firms 2018 Client Satisfaction American Institute of Family Legal Counsel Attorneys Estate Planning Law40 under forty

What to Expect From a Legal Consultation

The purpose of a consultation is to determine whether our firm is a good fit for your legal needs. Although we often discuss expected results and costs, our attorneys do not give legal advice unless and until you choose to retain us.

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Location

Office Address

200 N. Hammes Ave., Ste. E6

Joliet, IL 60435

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Hours of Operation

Monday
9:00am - 6:00pm
Tuesday
9:00am - 6:00pm
Wednesday
9:00am - 6:00pm
Thursday
9:00am - 6:00pm
Friday
9:00am - 6:00pm
Saturday
Closed
Sunday
Closed

Attorneys

Meet the Owner

I am personally committed to ensuring that each one of our clients receives the highest level of client service from our team.  Our mission is to provide excellent legal work in a cost-effective manner while maintaining open lines of communication between our clients and their attorneys.  Many of our clients are going through difficult times in their lives when they reach out to us.  They should feel comfortable leaning on the experience and knowledge of our attorneys as their counselors and advocates.  We are here to help!

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- Attorney Kevin O'Flaherty, Owner

Check Out Articles and Videos from our Joliet Probate Attorneys

What Can a Good Estate Plan Do For Me?

In this video our Joliet probate attorneys describe probate as a court case in which the court oversees the executor or administrator as they distribute the assets of a deceased individual to creditors and beneficiaries.  The probate process occurs after a person has died and is handled by an executor of the deceased person.  The executor is usually the person that the deceased named in his or her will to be responsible for managing his or her estate.  In the absence of a will, the person with this responsibility is referred to as the administrator.  The overall goal of probate is to clarify who gets certain assets of a deceased person and to ensure that debt is paid off. Do not hesitate to contact O'Flaherty Law Joliet for all your legal needs.

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Appointing Fiduciaries With Your Estate Plan

In this video our Joliet attorneys explain that probate is a court case that oversees the process of collecting and disbursing the assets of an individual’s estate once he or she has passed away.  If the deceased (known from here on as the decedent) had a valid will and named someone to manage his or her estate, the court will appoint this person as executor of the estate, as long as he or she is fit to take on the role.  If the decedent did not have a will, the court will appoint an administrator to fulfill the responsibilities of an executor until the case comes to an end.  The purpose of probate is to account for the decedent’s entire estate and allocate said estate in accordance with the wishes of the deceased, once any and all debts of the decedent are paid.

Not all estates need to go through probate.  Generally, probate is required if the decedent:

  • Owned assets outside of a trust or “payable on death” account in excess of $100,000; or
  • Owned any real estate that was not held jointly with another person with a right of survivorship.

The most notable change to probate law is the addition of the Illinois Trust Code (ITC).  The ITC is based off of a unified standard called the Uniform Trust Code (UTC), which has been implemented in 33 states.  Most of the changes outlined in the ITC are optional and can be waived by the creator (known as the settlor) of the trust, but other statutes, such as the information an executor must provide to each beneficiary, must be followed under any circumstances.

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Family Settlement Agreements for Illinois Probate Litigation

In this video, our Joliet probate litigation attorneys explain family settlement agreements for Illinois probate litigation and trust disputes.  A family settlement agreement can be used to resolve ambiguities within a trust or will in order to avoid tension between family members and costly litigation A family settlement agreement is an agreement between beneficiaries of a trust or will that have a genuine dispute over a provision of the trust or will.  The agreement can be used to adjust or clarify a provision of the trust or will.  The agreement must be signed by all interested in parties, but it does not have to be filed in court.

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