Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in Illinois
finding and executing a will
A friend of mine recently passed away and through the 18 years I've known him I was led to believe that he had accumulated a great deal of wealth. His ''caretaker'' said he died without any money to speak of and had no relativies.All the time during our friendship he never once gave me any reason not to believe that he did not have any of the assets he claimed to have. (There were never any inconsistancies in his descriptions of these assets.) He did however admit to not having any relatives save for two ''adopted'' children in Isreal.Now a cousin has appeared in a near-by suburb and both the ''caretaker'' and cousin have contacted lawyers
I'm not interested in getting any of his inheritence, however I am concerned that if he did indeed leave a will, that it be executed according to his wishes. Is there any agency or authority I can contact to ensure that his wishes as written in his will be followed?
2 Answers from Attorneys
Re: finding and executing a will
You can contact the State's attorney in the county where your friend lived. Explain the situation and "hope" they will take the time to investigate. It will be at their option to decide whether they want to investigate.
Re: finding and executing a will
Locating a will, if one exists, appears to be essential. If the caretaker intends to file a will, you can check with the County Clerks office to learn when a will is filed and obtain a copy. If the caretaker does not intend to file a will, there will be probate required to determine the beneficiaries and distribution of property. You can gain access to probate filings; in addition, if you suspect the caretaker and the "cousin" you may consult with a local attorney re filing as an interested party or contact the State Attorney if criminal acts are involved, e.g., theft, deception, misrepresentation, fraud.
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