Camp Meeker, CA Estate Planning Law Firms & Lawyers

If your father had a Will it should have been filed with the Clerk of the Court in the County where he resided within 30 days of his death, per Illinois Statute. It should be a matter of public record. Failure to file the will can be a criminal offense though rarely prosecuted. You can force the person holding the will to file it and you are entitled to a copy. The proceeds of a life insurance policy are to be paid directly to the named beneficiary and pass outside of the directions in a will unless the policy benefits are to be paid to the estate of the deceased. It is possible for you to open a probate of your father's estate, under the supervision of a court, and use the probate to discover what happened to your father's assets.

I t depends upon how it is titled.... Are they joint tenants or is he merely a signatory? This information is only intended to give general information in response to an inquiry. It does not establish an attorney client relationship. This response is only based upon the limited facts presented and is merely intended to assist you in determining if you should contact an attorney to provide you with legal advice.

The value of the property is usually included on the inventory and appraisal. It is generally estimated unless there is specific property that has been or should be appraised. Those items would usually be of value such as jewelry, coin collection, etc.