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Best Probate Lawyers in Champaign

2023

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Website
2106 W Springfield Ave., Champaign, IL 61821
  • Wills
  • Probate
  • Living Wills

Why choose this provider?

Champaign-Urbana Legal Clinic handles probate cases in Champaign and the nearby communities. With over three decades of experience in the legal field, it assists individuals in creating living wills, guardianships, health care powers of attorneys, and premarital agreements. It also assists clients in the probate court to help them navigate the distribution process of the estates of their deceased loved ones. Champaign-Urbana Legal Clinic also focuses on bankruptcy, traffic violations, and residential and commercial real estate cases.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Mary Gorski - Principal44 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (2)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
3.8
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
––

Website
2504 Galen Drive Suite 101, Champaign, IL 61821
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

Miller & Hendren is a general practice law firm serving clients in Champaign and the surrounding areas. It offers estate planning and probate services, covering probate administration, inter vivos or living trusts, and estate tax planning and preparation. For more than 100 years, the firm has been assisting farmers, university faculty, families, businesses, and local government. Because of its diverse clientele and practice areas, the firm has the advantage of seeing cases from more than one angle and finding innovative solutions.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (3)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
2918 Crossing Court, Champaign, IL 61822
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Probate Litigation
  • Estate Settlement

Why choose this provider?

Livingston, Barger, Brandt, & Schroeder LLP is a legal firm that's been representing individuals, families, and businesses since 1920. Its probate attorneys near Champaign, with a second location in Bloomington, guide executors and administrators through the court proceedings following a loved one's death. The team also assists fiduciaries and other interested parties in estate and trust litigation to ensure the estate is handled properly. Other services include medical liability and personal injury defense.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Thomas Borton - Partner34 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (2)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
3.8
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
––

Website
111 East Main Street, Champaign, IL 62565
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

Lookofsky Law Office caters to clients in Champaign. The company's probate practice assists individuals and families in validating, distributing, and protecting the last will and assets of their deceased loved ones. Walter Lookofsky, the firm's founder and sole practitioner, handles legal matters involving probate and non-probate estates. He also assists clients in the preparation of estate planning documents such as wills, trusts, and powers of attorney. Lookofsky previously served as a captain in the United States Army and the Illinois National Guard during overseas deployments.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
3.9
Google
3.9 / 5 (12)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
1400 Charleston Ave., Mattoon, IL 61938
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning
  • Trust Administration

Why choose this provider?

Armstrong, Grove & Wawrzynek LLC helps Champaign families avoid probate through personalized estate planning. It drafts healthcare and property powers of attorney, trusts, and wills, as well as amendments and restatements to communicate its clients’ last wishes in the event of their incapacity or death. Working as a team, the attorneys assist in administering the decedent’s estate and resolve issues through mediation. Partner Janet L. Grove served as the chair of the Illinois State Bar Association’s Trust & Estates Section Council.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
3.8
Google
5.0 / 5 (3)
Facebook
0.0 / 5 (1)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
801 West Springfield Avenue, Champaign, IL 61820
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

Founded in 1895, Koester & Bradley is a law firm that focuses on personal injury and financial recovery. Its probate lawyers in Champaign handle probate litigation matters involving estate issues associated with wrongful death and survival action claims. The litigation attorneys use their knowledge and experience to resolve financial issues and get their clients the assets they deserve through the probate court. Other practice areas include class action lawsuits and defective product claims.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Ryan Bradley - Partner17 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.8
Google
4.7 / 5 (15)
Avvo
5.0 / 5 (7)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
201 East Ogden Avenue Suite 218, Champaign, IL 60521
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

The Russo Law Offices LLC consists of estate planning attorneys serving families and individuals in the Champaign community. The firm has been assisting with probate and trust administration, wills, and elder law cases for over 15 years. Founding attorney Allyson Russo guides clients through the probate administration process, which involves filing a petition with the court, preparing an estate inventory, paying taxes, and distributing assets to beneficiaries. She extends her services to complex guardianship matters and small business formation issues.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
4.9 / 5 (83)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
505 West University Avenue, Champaign, IL 61820
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning
  • Probate

Why choose this provider?

Holder Law Group is a family-owned firm that provides legal representation and advice to clients with probate cases in Champaign. Its legal team utilizes a hands-on approach by working closely with its clients throughout any probate case, from drafting wills to filing beneficiary forms. The professionals also limit the number of cases that they handle to efficiently cater to their clients' requests. Principal attorney, Charles B. Holder, is a certified public accountant and currently serves as a president of Holder Wealth Management, Inc.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.2
Google
4.2 / 5 (5)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
3.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
––
Detail
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Website
201 W Springfield Avenue Suite 601, Champaign, IL 61820
  • Estate Planning
  • Estate Administration

Why choose this provider?

Based in Champaign, Harrington Law provides personalized legal representation to clients with a wide variety of probate and estate planning matters. It utilizes different planning techniques and trust preparation methods to ensure that its clients' estate planning issues are efficiently resolved. Its legal team also advises trustees and executors regarding their administration concerns which involve creditor protection, guardianship, and asset preservation. Principal partner Daniel G. Harrington is also the current president of Becknell Industrial LLC, an industrial real estate firm.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
3.8
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
––

Website
622 Jackson Ave., Charleston, IL 61920
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

Smith Law, Ltd., provides counsel to Champaign clients. It advises individuals through the probate process and addresses their concerns on various issues, including the distribution of the estate's property or the payment of any final debts. For clients seeking to avert probate, the firm creates documents like wills. It also deals with bankruptcy law cases and assists individuals looking to file for chapters 7 or 13. Rodney Smith, the firm's principal attorney, is a member of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (1)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
3.8
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
––

Website
202 Lincoln Square, Urbana, IL 61801
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

For over 70 years, Webber & Thies PC has been representing business owners and high-net-worth individuals throughout the Champaign metro. It handles cases involving probates and estate planning matters, such as drafting health care and living wills and powers of attorney for property, development of individualized estate plans, and advising methods to mitigate income and generation-skipping taxes. Webber & Thies is one of the two firms in Illinois to be a member of Legus International, a global network that has access to more than 2,500 lawyers.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
John Thies - Shareholder35 yrs
David Thies - Shareholder43 yrs
Daniel Thies - Shareholder13 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.7
Google
4.7 / 5 (7)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
1605 S. State Street Suite 103, Champaign, IL 61820
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

Banner Ford Klaus LLP Attorneys and Counselors is a law firm that caters to individuals, families, and businesses in Champaign and the surrounding areas. It assists clients with estate probate and trust settlement. It also helps clients protect their assets and loved ones by offering estate planning services, which include asset protection, business succession planning, and estate and income tax reduction. Richard P. Klaus, one of the firm's attorneys, carries more than 30 years of legal experience.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Richard Klaus - Partner25 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (1)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
301 N. Neil Street, Suite 400, Champaign, IL 61820
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

King Business and Patent Law is a solo practice that focuses on the intellectual property protection of individuals and businesses in Champaign and neighboring areas. Founder Julie King also handles estate planning and probate matters like preparation of wills, trusts, and power of attorneys, as well as distribution of assets, payment of taxes and debts, and resolution of disputes. King is a Champaign native who has more than 20 years of experience working in the legal field.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Julie King - Principal22 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.8
Google
4.7 / 5 (6)
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (4)
Avvo
5.0 / 5 (2)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
301 North Neil Street, Champaign, IL 61820
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning
  • Living Trust
  • Trust Administration

Why choose this provider?

Rincker Law PLLC is a legal firm with offices in Illinois and New York representing individuals, families, and businesses in estate planning and administration matters. The probate attorney near Champaign guides probate and estate administration, such as filing the will, appraising assets, paying creditors, locating heirs, completing all court documents, and dividing the remaining assets to beneficiaries per the will. Ms. Rincker also handles animal law, business, family, agricultural, and real estate law.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Cari Rincker - Principal15 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.8
Avvo
4.9 / 5 (54)
Google
4.5 / 5 (25)
Facebook
4.8 / 5 (23)

(+2 additional sources)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
306 West Church Street, Champaign, IL 61820
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning
  • Estate Taxes

Why choose this provider?

Meyer Capel, A Professional Corporation, is a large law firm that's been offering clients a wide range of services since the 1960s. Its probate and estate planning attorneys in Champaign guide personal representatives through the court proceedings following a loved one's death. The legal group also prepares wills, trusts, and powers of attorney to prevent or reduce the time the estate stays in probate. Other practice areas include real estate, tax planning, and health care law.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Jeffrey Davis - Shareholder27 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.1
Avvo
4.5 / 5 (8)
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (5)
Yelp
1.5 / 5 (3)

(+1 additional source)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Consumers utilizing Expertise.com are free to communicate and contract with any lawyer they choose. Expertise.com is not involved in the confidential attorney-client relationship. Featured lawyers pay a reasonable advertising cost to market their legal services withExpertise.com and must meet similar selection criteria as other lawyers. All cases are different. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the non-emergency contact number for the local police station in Champaign, Illinois?

    The non-emergency contact number of the Champaign Police Department is (217) 333-8911.

  • Who is considered an heir to an estate in Champaign?

    The surviving spouse and children of the decedent are considered to be heirs in Champaign, according to the Illinois Probate Act of 1975. Other family members, such as parents, grandparents, grandchildren, siblings, nieces, nephews, uncles, and aunts, are also considered to be heirs in Champaign. An heir is entitled by law to inherit the property of the decedent by intestate succession.

  • Who is required to pay estate taxes in Champaign?

    The executors or authorized representatives of the estates with a value of more than $4 million are required to file an estate tax in Champaign, Illinois. The estate tax also applies to non-residents who own physical properties or other tangible assets located in Champaign, Illinois that are worth over $4 million.

  • What is the estate tax rate in Champaign?

    The maximum estate tax rate in Champaign, Illinois is 16 percent. However, only those with estates that are valued at more than $4 million are required to pay taxes on the entire estate. If the estate is worth less than this amount, then the estate owes nothing in the event of death.

  • Are you required to pay inheritance taxes in Champaign?

    No, you are not required to pay inheritance tax for the properties or assets inherited in Champaign. Illinois is one of the states that have no inheritance tax. However, the inheritance tax of other states may apply to you. For example, if you inherited a property or asset in the state of Kentucky and you don't live there, then you must pay inheritance tax on those estates.

  • How long do you have to contest a will in Champaign?

    According to the Illinois Probate Act of 1975, 755 ILCS 5/8-1, you generally have six months from the date of the admission or denial of the will to contest an estate in Champaign. However, the deadline to contest an estate doesn't apply if the executors or beneficiaries who intentionally interfered with an interested party’s ability to contest the will.

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