Serving as an executor (for a will) or administrator (when no will exists) is an honor—but also a job. The court gives you legal authority to collect assets, pay debts, file taxes, and distribute what’s left. In Illinois that means working under the Illinois Probate Act of 1975, navigating county-level rules, and keeping heirs satisfied. Below is a practical, lay-friendly roadmap of everything the role entails, from Day 1 through final discharge, with links to deeper resources on our site.
1. Understanding Your Legal Authority
- Executor – Named in a valid will and confirmed by the judge.
- Administrator – Appointed by the court using a statutory priority list if there is no will
Either way, you’ll receive Letters of Office—court-stamped documents that act like a power of attorney for the decedent’s property. Independent administration (the default if the will requests it or heirs consent) lets you act without constant hearings. Supervised estates need the judge’s approval for nearly every step; our visual timeline compares both tracks in the Estate-Planning & Probate Process.
2. First Week Checklist
| Task | Why it matters |
| File the original will (if any) and a Petition for Probate in the proper county | Opens the estate and starts the creditor timetable |
| Order at least 10 certified death certificates | Banks, insurers, and title companies will all ask |
| Apply for an estate EIN on IRS .gov | Never mix the estate’s money with your own |
| Open a dedicated estate bank account | Creates a clear audit trail for the court and heirs |
Detailed forms and filing fees differ by county, but our Opening an Estate article walks you through line-by-line.
3. Notifying Heirs and Creditors
Illinois requires you to:
- Mail notice to every heir and legatee within 14 days of appointment.
- Publish notice to unknown creditors once a week for three consecutive weeks.
Creditors then have six months to file a claim. For a plain-English explanation of this window—and why you should wait before distributing cash—see our deep dive on Creditor Claims.
4. Inventorying and Safeguarding Assets
Within 60 days you must prepare a verified inventory. Items usually fall into these buckets:
| Asset Type | Typical Action |
| Real estate | Secure insurance, change locks, get valuation |
| Bank / brokerage accounts | Collect statements, move cash to the estate account |
| Vehicles | Store keys, maintain insurance |
| Digital assets | Use our Digital Asset Inventory Tool to locate online accounts |
| Household items | Photograph and list for the personal-property memorandum |
If the decedent used a revocable trust, many assets may already be outside probate. Use our Trust Funding Checklist to confirm.
5. Paying Debts, Taxes, and Expenses
Executors are personally liable if they pay the wrong creditor first, so track claims in a spreadsheet. Common priority order:
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Administration costs (attorney fees, court costs)
- Federal and Illinois taxes
- Secured debts (mortgage, auto loan)
- General unsecured debts
Estimate whether the estate is subject to Illinois estate tax (exemption $4 million) or federal estate tax (exemption ≈ $13.92 million for 2025). Use our interactive Estate-Tax Calculator for a quick projection.
6. Accounting and Transparency
Even in independent administration, any heir can demand an accounting. Keep:
- Monthly bank statements
- Receipts for every disbursement over $75
- Mileage and time logs for your executor fee
When ready, prepare a Final Accounting & Proposal to Distribute. Our Accounting & Reporting guide includes sample formats acceptable to most Illinois judges.
7. Distributing and Closing the Estate
Real estate transfers by Executor’s Deed; cash distributions require signed receipts. Hold back a modest reserve (2–5 %) for late bills, then file:
- Verified Report of Independent Representative (independent estates)
- Petition to Approve Final Account and Distribute (supervised estates)
After the court enters an Order of Discharge, your duties end and fiduciary liability stops.
8. Common Pitfalls—and How to Avoid Them
| Fix | |
| Paying a low-priority creditor before taxes | Wait until the six-month window closes |
| Losing track of digital subscriptions | Use the Digital Asset Inventory Tool early |
| Mixing personal and estate funds | Always use the separate EIN bank account |
| Ignoring Illinois estate tax | Run the tax calculator even for mid-size estates |
| Forgetting to insure vacant property | Call the insurer within days of death |
9. How Long Will This Take?
- Small-estate affidavit (under $100k, no real estate): 1–2 months
- Independent administration: 6–13 months
- Supervised or contested estate: 18 months to several years
See the full timeline in our Probate Process infographic.
10. What About Executor Fees?
Illinois statutes allow “reasonable compensation.” Track hours spent:
Routine tasks (phone calls, mileage): $30–$60 / hr
Specialized tasks (tax prep, property management): market rates
Heirs must approve your fee in the final accounting, or the judge decides.
11. When to Hire Help
- Real estate needs to be sold quickly
- Complex tax issues (e.g., large IRAs, closely held businesses)
- Family conflict or will contests
Our team guides executors statewide for a transparent flat fee. See exactly what’s included on our Services page or schedule a free consultation.
12. Final Thoughts
Being an executor or administrator is part detective, part bookkeeper, part diplomat. Follow the statute’s timelines, keep meticulous records, and communicate early and often with heirs. The resources below can shorten your learning curve:
- Interactive tools:
- Step-by-step guides:
Have questions about your specific situation? Book a consultation today or Get Started online in minutes. As executor, you don’t have to go it alone—Illinois Estate Law is here to guide you every step of the way.
