What are the Major Steps in an Illinois Probate Estate?

The administration of an Illinois Probate Estate involves several steps, as follows:

• First, a Petition must be filed with the Probate Court, an Estate must be opened, and a representative of the Estate must be named. Once the Estate is opened, notice must be sent to all interested parties of the Court proceedings (if notice hasn't already been sent prior to opening the Estate). 
• Next, the Court issues a document called a "Letters of Office", which effectively empowers the Estate representative to conduct all business on behalf of the Estate. The Estate representative will then collect and inventory all of the Estate assets, pay the legitimate final debts of the decedent, and distribute the assets to the proper beneficiaries of the Estate (according to the decedent's Will, or in the absence of a Will, under the Illinois Intestacy laws). 
• Finally, the Estate representative prepares a Final Report and Final Accounting of all Estate activity, obtains approval from the beneficiaries regarding the Estate administration, and then petitions the Court to close the Estate.