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Lisle Probate Attorneys | Lisle Estate Administration Attorneys | Guardianship Attorneys, Lisle IL

Our Lisle probate attorneys are here to help if you are the executor or administrator of your loved one's estate. We focus on making the probate process as smooth, painless, and affordable as possible, so you can spend your time focusing on what matters: your family.
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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 Lisle Probate Attorneys help you?

Top 3 Qualities to look for in Your Attorney

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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 Lisle 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 Lisle probate attorneys are skilled, experienced, and singularly focused on amazing client service. 
  • We Are Cost Effective!  Our Lisle 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 knowledge in many areas of law, such as real estate, family law, business law, or litigation.  Our team of knowledgeable Lisle 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 experience.  
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

5002 Main St., Ste. 201

Downers Grove, IL 60515

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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!

- Attorney Kevin O'Flaherty, Owner

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Learn About When Probate is Necessary

Probate is a court case in which the court oversees the distribution of a decedent's assets to his or her heirs and creditors.  In order to administer an estate in Illinois, probate will be necessary if:

‍(1) The decedent owned any real estate outside of a trust that is not deeded with a right to survivorship for the decedent's spouse (even if there is a mortgage) outside of a trust; OR 

(2) The decedent owned more than $100,000.00 in assets outside of either a trust or outside of accounts that are payable to a direct beneficiary upon death.

If probate is necessary, the person responsible for administering the estate, known as the executor, must have letters of office issued by the probate court before he or she can begin collecting the decedent's assets for distribution to creditors and heirs.  The executor will also have to file accountings, notices, and reports with the court regarding the collection and distribution of these assets.

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How To Administer An Estate In Ten Steps

If you are the Executor or Trustee of an estate you should have our Lisle probate attorneys handle the legal aspects of estate administration.  However, even when working with a probate attorney, there are still several actions you will need to take on your own.  For a more detailed description of each of these actions, please read our Learn About Law article on the probate process here:

  • Open an estate checking account
  • Keep good records of transactions dealing with the estate
  • Deposit cash you receive into your estate checking account
  • Gather a thorough list of assets owned by the decedent
  • Manage the estate by disconnecting utilities and filing a change of address
  • Managing finances and close credit card accounts
  • Pay any debts from estate checking account
  • Once all creditors have been paid, distribute remaining balance to the heirs of the estate as directed by decedents will or trust.
  • File income and estate tax returns

Let us help you through the process, which can be overwhelming. We want to make the process as easy as possible for you in your time of need.

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What You Need to Know About Opening a Probate Estate

In order to open a probate estate, our Lisle probate attorneys will file several documents with the probate court:

  • Petition for Issuance of Letters of Office and Admission of Will:   This petition requests that a probate case be opened.  If there is a will, the petition requests that the will be admitted to probate.  It also requests that an order be issued by the court naming the petitioner as executor of the estate.  This order is called "Letters of Office," and it gives the executor the power to collect the assets of the estate and distribute them to creditors and heirs or legatees.  
  • Affidavit of Heirship - The Affidavit of Heirship lists the individuals who stand to inherit from the estate.  If there is a will, these individuals are called "legatees."  In the absence of a will, they are called "heirs." 
  • Affidavit as to Copy of Will - This is a sworn statement by the executor that, to the best of the executor's knowledge, the will be submitted to the probate court is accurate and the most recently executed will. 
  • Oath of Office - This is an written oath sworn by the executor to fulfill his or her fiduciary duties associated with the administration with the estate. 
  • Surety Bond or Non-Surety Bond - In order to initiate a probate case, a bond must be obtained by the executor from an insurance company to insure against the executor's mishandling of assets. 
  • Notice to Heirs and Legatees - A notice that the executor must mail to all individuals who stand to inherit from the estate informing them that the probate case has been opened. 
  • Publication Notice - Unknown creditors of the deceased must be informed that the probate case has been opened through publication in a newspaper for three consecutive weeks. 

Upon filing of these documents, a hearing will be held to appoint the executor and admit the will to probate.   

Read more about how to open a probate case.

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