Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in Illinois

That sounds about right. Sometimes probate is needed even for small estates due to outstanding debts and using a small estate affidavit is probably not appropriate where heirs are disinherited. Those fees and costs don't sound excessive on its face.

Executor always has to sign an Oath and Bond, but if the Will waives surety, you shouldn't need to purchase a surety bond. Not clear if that's what you're indicating.

If you're uncomfortable, then contact another attorney and directly seek out another opinion.

Seek another attorney opinion. From what you've revealed, it appears that you are consulting with the same attorney that helped the decedent create the will, and there appears to be a need for probate created by unresolved issues that should have been addressed in the original will. The prices you're being quoted are within the range of normal, but the real question is why is there a need for a probate?

I agree that the prices quoted seem realistic. However, the question that I always ask my prospective client is, "Is this trip really necessary?" In most cases, no person has the obligation to handle a loved one's affairs after that person passes. If it seems that the beneficiaries will receive very little after a probate occurs, I generally ask that prospective client if s/he really wants to proceed. The prospective client almost always regrets the decision to move forward in these types of situations. By being appointed as the representative of an Estate, the prospective client will then be required to attend to various matters, but have little incentive to do so and will very likely become frustrated by the fact that they have to do so much to achieve so little. However, if the prospective client really wants to move forward, I almost never allow that prospective client to hire me as his/her attorney, as I recognize how likely it is that s/he will ultimately regret filing papers to open an Estate.