Expertise.com

2024

Last updated:

Best Probate Lawyers in Evanston

Our Recommended Top 19

We did the research for you!

  • Licensing
  • User Reviews
  • Mystery Shopping Calls

Our goal is to connect people with the best local professionals. We scored Evanston Probate Lawyers on more than 25 variables across five categories, and analyzed the results to give you a hand-picked list of the best.

34Reviewed

28Curated

19Top Picks

Learn about our selection process.

Providers

featured provider = Featured Provider

6232 North Pulaski Road, Chicago, IL 60646

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.8 (18)
Yelp
3.0 (8)
Avvo
5.0 (8)

Why choose this provider?

Whitehead Fink Elder Law LLC is a firm that focuses its practice on small estates and elder law. The agency employs probate attorneys near Evanston to assist executors and estate representatives with the collection and management of assets. Throughout the probate process, the attorneys may provide legal support in various responsibilities, such as notifying creditors and heirs, distributing assets, and calculating estate debts. The attorneys also help clients access assets using a small estate affidavit.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Mollie Whitehead - PartnerActive17 yrs

6200 North Hiawatha Suite 625, Chicago, IL 60646

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.9 (93)

Why choose this provider?

For over 25 years, Correa Law has assisted clients in probate cases in Evanston and the surrounding areas. Its principal attorney, Mario Correa, helps executors navigate the probate process. He also provides representation in contested probate matters, such as will disputes. In addition, he prepares detailed estate plans and applies measures to ensure guardianships are properly implemented and administered. Before forming his firm, Correa was an estate and trust attorney at a large Chicago Loop firm and a certified public accountant.

  • Trust Administration
  • Probate Litigation

616 N. North Court, Suite 160, Palatine, IL 60067
Website

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.2 (5)

Why choose this provider?

The Law Offices of Jeffrey R. Gottlieb, LLC, is an estate planning firm that handles probate matters in Evanston. It examines a decedent's will to authenticate and interpret it for formal probate. Alternatively, it guides beneficiaries in handling intestate concerns. The firm also assists executors in their duties, such as appraising assets and distributing them among the named heirs. In addition, it prepares powers of attorneys and processes living wills. The firm's sole practitioner, Jeffrey R. Gottlieb, volunteers for the Planned Gifts Committee for Northwest Community Hospital Foundation.

  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Jeffrey Gottlieb - PrincipalActive24 yrs
Jeffrey Gottlieb - Principal AttorneyActive24 yrs

1603 Orrington Avenue, Evanston, IL 60201

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Facebook
5.0 (6)
Google
5.0 (4)

Why choose this provider?

Stern, Perkoski, Mendez is a boutique family law firm that employs probate attorneys in Evanston. The lawyers offer legal counsel in the process of distributing a decedent's assets. The firm represents clients as they validate wills, publish notifications to creditors and heirs, and balance the checkbook of the decedent's estate prior to distributing assets. Partner Nancy Perkoski is a member of the Chicago Bar and the Illinois State Bar Associations.

  • Estate Planning
  • Trust Administration

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Joshua Stern - Managing PartnerActive14 yrs

1000 Skokie Boulevard Suite 160, Wilmette, IL 60091
Website

Expertise.com Rating

Why choose this provider?

Ruben M. Garcia & Associates, Ltd., caters to families in Evanston and the surrounding metros. The law office represents executors in probate proceedings and assists in drafting estate planning tools, such as wills, trusts, and powers of attorney. It also helps arrange guardianship arrangements for minors and disabled adults and litigates cases involving nursing home negligence and abuse. Lead attorney Ruben Garcia has been practicing law for over 20 years. As part of the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois, Garcia extends legal help to Spanish-speaking clients.

  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Ruben Garcia - PrincipalActive30 yrs

807 Greenwood Street, Evanston, IL 60201
Website

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (2)
Avvo
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

Froum Law Group, LLC, offers legal services to individuals in the Evanston area. It assists clients with matters concerning estate and trust administration, estate planning, premarital agreements, and asset protection planning for professionals and business owners. The firm also helps individuals with issues regarding litigation and guardianship. Ted Froum, an attorney at Froum Law Group, has more than 20 years of experience practicing law. He is a member of the Society of Trusts and Estates Practitioners.

  • Estate Planning
  • Trust Administration
  • Estate Administration

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Theodore Froum - OwnerActive26 yrs

500 Skokie Blvd, Northbrook, IL 60062
Website

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.6 (23)
Facebook
5.0 (11)

Why choose this provider?

Matlin Law Group is a boutique law firm that serves clients in Evanston. The company helps the beneficiaries and family members of the deceased with probate administration and estate planning matters. The attorneys at the firm handle wills and trusts, powers of attorney, advanced healthcare directives, trust taxation, and guardianships. The firm's founder, Eric Matlin, has helped thousands of families with probate and estate planning matters for over 25 years. His team also serves Spanish-speaking communities.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Eric Matlin - PrincipalActive46 yrs

708 Church Street, Ste. 239, Evanston, IL 60201
Website

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Avvo
5.0 (7)
Facebook
5.0 (2)

Why choose this provider?

Daci Jett Law, LLC, handles probate cases in Evanston and the surrounding areas. It helps families navigate the probate process, from settling the liabilities of the deceased person's estate to distributing assets to rightful heirs. The firm also offers mediation services to resolve estate-related disputes among personal representatives and beneficiaries. In addition, it helps individuals and married couples prepare estate plans. Its managing attorney, Daci L. Jett, is a member of WealthCounsel. Many of her clients are from middle-class families.

  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Daci Jett - Managing AttorneyActive23 yrs

5443 North Broadway #2-North, Chicago, IL 60640
Website

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.7 (57)
Facebook
4.2 (7)
Avvo
1.3 (4)

Why choose this provider?

Metz Jones LLC represents clients in Evanston in LGBTQ family law, real estate, and probate matters. The firm assists executors of wills with the legal requirements for distributing the estate of the decedent. It represents clients in court and assists with asset transfers, claims resolutions, and the implementation of the decedent's estate plan. Jill M. Metz established the firm more than 40 years ago. Since then, it has worked to advance the rights of the LGBTQ community.

  • Estate Planning
  • Probate

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Carol Jones - Managing PartnerActive21 yrs

2822 Central Street, Evanston, IL 60201
Website

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Yelp
5.0 (6)
Google
5.0 (5)
Avvo
1.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

Central Law Group P.C. is a firm located in Evanston that helps families, entrepreneurs, business owners, executives, and professionals navigate the probate process and execute their estate plans. It assists with the preparation of probate administration documents, wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and prenuptial and postnuptial agreements. Central Law Group works with clients to protect their assets and avoid probate through the use of trusts. Andrew Werth, the firm's primary attorney, has been handling estate planning, business, and real estate matters for the past three decades.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Andrew Werth - Principal / OwnerActive37 yrs

7642 West Belmont Avenue, Chicago, IL 60634
Website

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (10)
Yelp
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

Kumor Law, LLC, provides estate planning services in Evanston. The head of the firm, John Kumor, helps families prepare for life changes and secure legacies for future generations by creating personalized estate plans. He prepares documents including wills, powers of attorney for property and healthcare, trusts, living wills, and deeds of real estate transfer. His estate planning services help clients protect investments and avoid probate and litigation upon the death of family members. Kumor also practices real estate law. He is fluent in English and Polish.

  • Wills
  • Estate Planning
  • Living Trust

150 S. Wacker Suite 2400, Chicago, IL 60606

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (78)
Facebook
5.0 (18)

Why choose this provider?

The Gurney Law Group serves individuals and businesses in Evanston and nearby areas. It offers estate planning, which involves educating clients about the required documents and drafting them according to clients' circumstances. These documents include trusts, wills, and powers of attorney. The firm's other areas of practice are entity formation and real estate law. Joe Busnengo, one of the attorneys, was licensed to practice in 2013. He has advocated for clients' rights in estate planning cases through Wills for Heroes and Chicago Volunteer Legal Services.

  • Estate Planning

65 East Wacker Place, Suite 1200, Chicago, IL 60601
Website

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Avvo
4.6 (9)
Google
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

Dutton Casey & Mesoloras P.C. Attorneys at Law helps address the probate concerns of individuals and families in Evanston. Its lawyers, who have over 165 years of collective experience, help their clients in various aspects of estate and trust administration and litigation. They also assist in estate planning and provide guidance on how to navigate issues involving elder law, such as Medicaid planning. The firm's principal attorney, Kathryn Casey, has been exclusively practicing elder law since 2004.

  • Estate Planning

700 Florsheim Drive, Suite 11, Libertyville, IL 60048
Website

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (5)

Why choose this provider?

Estate & Business Law Group PC serves clients in Evanston. It assists beneficiaries through the probate process by conducting an inventory of the estate property, interim and final accounting, and estate distribution. The firm also helps clients in the aspects of wealth preservation and estate tax avoidance through its estate planning services, which include the drafting of wills, trusts, and advance health care directives. Estate & Business Law Group maximizes clients' qualification for government benefits, such as Medicaid and VA pensions.

  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Howard Lang - FounderActive50 yrs

5844 W Irving Park Road, Chicago, IL 60634

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.2 (27)
Yelp
3.0 (6)
Avvo
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

John Trepel & Associates, LLC, is a law firm that handles probate concerns in Evanston. It assists in planning for their assets and liabilities to facilitate a simplified distribution process for heirs at the moment that the client passes away. It also drafts wills and living trusts and helps with medical care and estate planning to help clients avoid long and expensive probate proceedings. John is an Illinois Trial Lawyers Association member with over 25 years of litigation experience in the areas of family and personal injury law.

  • Estate Planning
  • Probate Litigation

3701 W Algonquin Rd Suite 712, Rolling Meadows, IL 60008
Website

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.9 (81)
Avvo
5.0 (50)
Yelp
4.6 (7)

Why choose this provider?

Bott & Associates, Ltd., Attorneys at Law assist with probate and trust administration in Evanston. In addition to locating assets, settling last payments and bills, Maritess Bott helps executors prepare relevant paperwork for probate court. The firm also collaborates with appraisers to determine the value of the decedent's assets and assists with asset transfer to beneficiaries. Botts has been a lawyer for over 20 years. Her practice also includes elder law, Medicaid planning, estate planning, and business planning.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Maritess Bott - PrincipalActive27 yrs

8170 McCormick Blvd Suite 116, Skokie, IL 60076
Website

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (5)
Facebook
5.0 (5)

Why choose this provider?

The Law Offices of Ira Piltz represents Evanston clients dealing with probate matters, from issuing small estate affidavits to filing proceedings. Since 2009, it has been addressing foreign asset- and real estate-related issues that arise throughout the process. Ira Piltz utilizes his knowledge of insurance and real estate to create tailored estate plans. As a speaker, he lectures on issues relating to the connection between probate and titles in Illinois. Piltz served as vice-chair for the American Bar Association’s Trusts, Estates, and Real Estate Division.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

221 E Lake Street Suite 101, Addison, IL 60101
Website

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (14)
Facebook
5.0 (6)
Yelp
4.3 (6)

Why choose this provider?

Knauf Law offers probate assistance to individuals in the Evanston metro. It guides clients throughout the probate process and lets executors understand their duties. The firm makes sure tasks such as court appearances, asset inventories, and asset distribution are handled from the beginning of the probate to estate closure. Other practice areas include real estate and special needs trusts. Previously known as Pankau Law, Knauf Law has over 30 years of combined legal experience in estate planning, taking a personalized approach in dealing with clients.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Lisa Knauf - OwnerActive11 yrs

2015 West Fullerton Avenue, Chicago, IL 60647

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Yelp
4.8 (65)
Google
4.9 (60)
Facebook
5.0 (12)

Why choose this provider?

Bell & Shah serves clients in the Evanston metro and the surrounding areas. The legal firm takes on probate cases and helps the decedent's family in carrying out the will. Its attorneys also assist clients by drafting last wills and testaments, powers of attorney, and living wills. In addition, the firm handles real estate and business transaction cases. One of the firm's attorneys, Jeremy Bell, has been in the legal field for more than 17 years.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Disclaimer:  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 with Expertise.com and must meet similar selection criteria as other lawyers. All cases are different. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

FAQs

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

    847-866-5000 is the non-emergency contact number for the local police station in Evanston, Illinois.

  • Does the surviving spouse inherit everything in Evanston?

    In Evanston, the surviving spouse does not have an automatic right to inherit everything. Although they may inherit everything depending on the situation, it is not guaranteed. This is because Illinois does not follow community property laws, which would entitle both spouses to equal ownership of assets acquired during the marriage.

  • What assets are not considered part of the estate for probate in Evanston?

    In Evanston, assets that are not considered part of the estate for probate purposes include those held in joint tenancy, retirement plans with designated beneficiaries, payable-on-death bank accounts, real estate transferred by a transfer-on-death deed, transfer-on-death brokerage accounts, and life insurance proceeds with named beneficiaries. These assets bypass probate and directly transfer to the designated individuals.

  • What are the requirements of a valid will in Evanston?

    Certain requirements must be met in order for a will to be valid in Evanston and throughout Illinois. It must be in writing and signed by the testator, who must be at least eighteen years old and mentally competent. In addition, two witnesses must sign the will in the testator's presence. Furthermore, Illinois does not recognize verbal wills as genuine. These conditions guarantee the validity and enforceability of the will.

  • How long does probate usually last in Evanston?

    In Evanston, the typical duration of the probate process ranges from six months to a year or even longer. It's important to note that the actual length of time can vary based on various factors, such as the complexity and size of the estate, as well as any disputes or challenges that may arise during the process.