Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in Illinois

I am sorry for your loss. Going through a property dispute on top of it is not easy.

We have helped administer estates with oil royalties and generally (unless the deed says otherwise) if the title was in your mother's name then it would pass through her probate estate. You don't mention a trust so I assume there is none and probate would be in order.

I would recommend you have the Will and deeds reviewed by an attorney. Let me know If you need assistance in this matter.

It is painfully obvious that, with so much money at stake, you should consult with an attorney instead of trying to figure this out on your own by using the internet. Proceed without legal counsel at your own risk.

One thing your sister should do, which doesn't cost anything except her time, is to file the original will with the clerk of the probate court in the county in which your mother resided on the date of her death. Depositing the will with the clerk of court is legally required even if there will not be a court cased opened in the probate courts. Willfully secreting a will is a criminal offense. Upon filing, the will becomes a public document, available to anyone who requests a copy. You should make sure you get a copy of the will before formulating any conclusions.