Probate exists to confirm the authenticity of a will and guarantee that creditors, tax authorities, and other obligations get paid before anything is handed to heirs. Even if someone meticulously prepared a will, the courts generally want to check that everything stands up legally. If an estate is valued over $100,000 or contains real property (like a house), formal proceedings often ... https://rockpointprobate.com/illinois-probate-law-and-how-it-works/