No. Anyone can file the original Will with the Clerk's office.

Yes, you can decline. If someone is named in the Will as your backup they would be next in line to accept or decline to act. If nobody designated...

Contesting a last minute (week before death) Declaration of a Trust?

Do you have any indication as to who drafted and prepared the trust instrument for signature? Was there another attorney involved? It sounds like...

Are adult children from a father's first marriage legally entitled to anything from that father's estate or must they be listei?

Children are not automatically "entitled" to anything. This disposition of your father's assets depends on how he has assets and estate arranged. ...

Do fees requested by a trustee who is a family member and 1 of the beneficiaries have to be approved by the court in Illinois?

Yes, the fees, as well as the underlying basis for the fees, should be disclosed to the beneficiaries. If a beneficiary objects, and the parties...

Everything can potentially be addressed in mediation. If the matter settles and the estate closes, you would likely then not be able to further...

Can Power attorney form be valid to my boyfriend (father of my children) appoint to making medical decisions if I can no longer?

You can absolutely appoint each other as health care power of attorney agents. You should also both consider other aspects to estate planning...

No. It would have no value at all. To be a will, it must have the signatures of two qualified witnesses. That said, if you survive your father...

Mothers trust?

It appears improper based on your description, but it's really impossible for anyone else to pass judgment on without seeing the entire trust and...

When probate distributions are made and one of the distributees is an "estate of deceased" How are distributions calculated ?

The estate of the heir that post-deceased the decedent s would receive the same share that distributee would have received if she had...