Schedule a Consultation
Call Us Now!
Your Community Law Firm

Lake in the HIlls Probate Attorneys | Estate Attorneys, Lake in the Hills IL

​If you are the executor, trustee or administrator of a loved ones estate, our Lake in the Hills probate & guardianship attorneys are here to assist you. We are here to make sure that you don't have to deal with the stressful process of probate alone. We take pride in our client communication and excellent service at cost-effective rates.
Schedule a Consultation
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!"

Top 3 Qualities to look for in Your Attorney

Watch Our Video

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 Lake in the Hills Probate Attorneys:

  • ​We Are Affordable!  We take pride in our affordable rates. We understand that at such a difficult time the last thing you and your family needs are expensive legal fees. Our experienced Lake in the Hills attorneys will effectively and efficiently handle your probate matters.
  • We Go Above-And-Beyond For You And Your Family! Our firm has a built a strong reputation for providing exceptional service to our clients.  Many of our clients have been gracious enough to  have taken the time to write us glowing testimonials after being assisted by our Lake in the Hills probate attorneys.  We are the 2016 recipients of the Avvo Client's Choice Award.  Also, Kevin O'Flaherty was honored to receive the Best Under 40 Award from Suburban Life Magazine in 2015.  Our mission is to make every client's experience with our firm a positive one.
  • We Are Comprehensive!  Our attorneys have a wide range of knowledge spanning practically every area of law. This means if your probate case intersects with other areas of law, we are able to assist you going forward with it.  We work collectively to make sure that you get satisfactory results in whatever area of law your case may be.
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.

Schedule a ConsultationLearn More About The Firm

Location

Office Address

8411 Pyott Rd., Ste. 107

​Lake in the Hills, IL 60156

Get Directions
Google My Business
Bing

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!

- Attorney Kevin O'Flaherty, Owner

Check Out Articles and Videos from our Lake in the Hills Probate Attorneys

Do I Have To File A Probate Case If My Loved One Passes Away?

​Probate is necessary in three different situations. The first is if the deceased (also known as the decedent) owned real estate outside of a trust. The second being the decedent owning more than $100,00.00 in assets of any kind outside of any accounts or trust that are to be directly paid to the beneficiaries named. The last situation is if the heirs and creditors cannot come up with an agreement outside of court.

If any of these situations are true, then the family members of the decedent would then have to start a probate case to be given the authority to distribute the assets. The family members would then need to be named the executor and then receive Letters of Office. Financial institutions such as banks will first need to see the Letters of Office, an order given by the court to give the executor the power to manage the estate, before allowing the executor to have any access to the assets of the deceased. 

Watch Our Video

How Is The Estate Administered If Probate Is Not Necessary?

A Small Estate Affidavit is put in place of probate if the decedent owned less than $100,000.00 of assets outside of a trust or if the decedent did not own real estate outside of a trust. These Affidavits count as the written testimony of the administrator. In the event that the decedent did have a trust in place, the administrator will testify as to the name of the trust and state that he or she Is acting as the trustee. Along with this the administrator list of the assets of the estate and explain how they will be distributed to the creditors and heirs.

Once the affidavit has been completed by the administrator of the estate, he or she will only need to sign it before a notary. Having a completed Small Estate Affidavit, a copy of the decedent’s trust or will and death certificate is enough to give the estate administrator the authority to distribute and collect the assets of the decedent without needing probate.  

Read more about when probate is necessary from our Lake in the Hills probate attorneys  

Watch Our Video