2021 Illinois Compiled Statutes
Chapter 755 - ESTATES
755 ILCS 5/ - Probate Act of 1975.
Article XVIII - Claims Against Estates
(755 ILCS 5/Art. XVIII heading)
(755 ILCS 5/18-1) (from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 18-1)
Sec. 18-1. Filing of claims - mailing or delivery of copies).
(a) A claim against the estate of a decedent or ward, whether based on contract, tort, statutory custodial claim or otherwise, may be filed with the representative or the court or both. When a claim is filed with the representative but not with the court, the representative may file the claim with the court but has no duty to do so.
(b) Within 10 days after a claimant files his claim with the court, the claimant (1) shall cause a copy of the claim to be mailed or delivered to each representative to whom letters of office have been issued and not revoked, including the guardian of the person of a ward and to the representative's attorney of record, unless the representative or the attorney has in writing either consented to allowance of the claim or waived mailing or delivery of a copy, and (2) shall file with the court proof of any required mailing or delivery of copies. Failure to mail or deliver copies of the claim or to file proof thereof does not affect the validity of the claim filing under subsection 18-1(a).
(Source: P.A. 89-396, eff. 8-20-95.)
(755 ILCS 5/18-1.1) (from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 18-1.1)
Sec. 18-1.1. Statutory custodial claim. Any spouse, parent, brother, sister, or child of a person with a disability who dedicates himself or herself to the care of the person with a disability by living with and personally caring for the person with a disability for at least 3 years shall be entitled to a claim against the estate upon the death of the person with a disability. The claim shall take into consideration the claimant's lost employment opportunities, lost lifestyle opportunities, and emotional distress experienced as a result of personally caring for the person with a disability. Notwithstanding the statutory claim amounts stated in this Section, a court may reduce an amount to the extent that the living arrangements were intended to and did in fact also provide a physical or financial benefit to the claimant. The factors a court may consider in determining whether to reduce a statutory custodial claim amount may include but are not limited to: (i) the free or low cost of housing provided to the claimant; (ii) the alleviation of the need for the claimant to be employed full time; (iii) any financial benefit provided to the claimant; (iv) the personal care received by the claimant from the decedent or others; and (v) the proximity of the care provided by the claimant to the decedent to the time of the decedent's death. The claim shall be in addition to any other claim, including without limitation a reasonable claim for nursing and other care. The claim shall be based upon the nature and extent of the person's disability and, at a minimum but subject to the extent of the assets available, shall be in the amounts set forth below:
1. 100% disability, $180,000
2. 75% disability, $135,000
3. 50% disability, $90,000
4. 25% disability, $45,000
(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)
(755 ILCS 5/18-2) (from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 18-2)
Sec. 18-2. Claim form.) Every claim filed must be in writing and state sufficient information to notify the representative of the nature of the claim or other relief sought.
(Source: P.A. 81-213.)
(755 ILCS 5/18-3) (from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 18-3)
Sec. 18-3. Notice - Publication. (a) It is the duty of the representative to publish once each week for 3 successive weeks, and to mail or deliver to each creditor of the decedent whose name and post office address are known to or are reasonably ascertainable by the representative and whose claim has not been allowed or disallowed as provided in Section 18-11, a notice stating the death of the decedent, the name and address of the representative and of his attorney of record, that claims may be filed on or before the date stated in the notice, which date shall be not less than 6 months from the date of the first publication or 3 months from the date of mailing or delivery, whichever is later, and that any claim not filed on or before that date is barred.
(b) The published notice under subsection (a) of this Section must be published in a newspaper published in the county where the estate is being administered and may be combined with any notice under Section 6-10 or subsection (b) of Section 9-5. The representative must file proof of publication with the clerk of the court.
(Source: P.A. 86-815.)
(755 ILCS 5/18-4) (from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 18-4)
Sec. 18-4. Claims not due.) A claim against a decedent's estate that is not due may be filed and allowed and paid out of the estate as other claims but interest which has been included as a part of the principal obligation, computed from the time of the allowance of the claim to the time when it would have become due, shall be deducted.
(Source: P.A. 81-213.)
(755 ILCS 5/18-5) (from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 18-5)
Sec. 18-5. Pleadings.) (a) The representative or any other person whose rights may be affected by the allowance of a claim or counterclaim may file pleadings with the clerk of the court within 30 days after mailing or delivery of the copy of the claim. A claim or counterclaim may be filed in favor of the estate and against any claimant named in the claim.
(b) The court may order the claimant, the representative or any other interested person to file such pleadings as the court directs.
(Source: P.A. 79-328.)
(755 ILCS 5/18-6) (from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 18-6)
Sec. 18-6. Jury trial.) Any interested person may demand a jury to try the issue in accordance with the following, otherwise he waives a jury:
(a) A claimant or counterclaimant must file the jury demand at the time of filing the claim or counterclaim.
(b) A person opposing a claim or counterclaim must file the jury demand not later than the filing of his answer or other pleading.
(c) If the claimant or counterclaimant files a jury demand and thereafter waives a jury, the person opposing the claim or counterclaim shall be granted a jury trial upon demand therefor made promptly after being advised of the waiver. For good cause shown, the court may permit a jury demand to be filed after expiration of the time specified.
(Source: P.A. 80-808.)
(755 ILCS 5/18-7) (from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 18-7)
Sec. 18-7. Procedure on hearing of claims.) (a) On the call of a claim it may be allowed, set for trial, continued or dismissed. A claim which is consented to by the representative or his attorney or to which no pleading has been filed within the time provided by this Act may be taken as proved or the court may require the claimant to prove his claim.
(b) If it appears at the hearing on a counterclaim filed in favor of the estate and against a claimant that he is indebted to the estate, after allowing him all just credits, deductions and set-offs, the court may enter judgment for the amount of the indebtedness.
(Source: P.A. 84-547; 84-551.)
(755 ILCS 5/18-8) (from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 18-8)
Sec. 18-8. Claim of representative or his attorney.) If a representative or the representative's attorney has a claim against the estate, that person must file a claim as other persons and the court may appoint a special administrator to appear and defend for the estate. The court may permit the special administrator to prosecute or defend an appeal from the allowance or disallowance of the claim. In the administration of the estate of a person with a disability, notice of the claim of a representative or his or her attorney shall be given by mail or in person to the ward and to all other representatives of the ward's person or estate, within 10 days of filing.
(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)
(755 ILCS 5/18-9) (from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 18-9)
Sec. 18-9. Costs.) If a claim for which a filing fee is required to be paid is filed, the clerk of the court shall collect the filing fee from the claimant. All other costs of proceedings with respect to claims and counterclaims shall be awarded in the discretion of the court.
(Source: P.A. 79-328.)
(755 ILCS 5/18-10) (from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 18-10)
Sec. 18-10. Classification of claims against decedent's estate. All claims against the estate of a decedent are divided into classes in the manner following:
1st: Funeral and burial expenses, expenses of administration, statutory custodial claims, and final fees and costs as determined by the court relating to guardianship, including fees awarded under Section 11a-13.5, 13-3, 13-3.1, 27-1, 27-2, or 27-4. For the purposes of this paragraph, funeral and burial expenses paid by any person, including a surviving spouse, are funeral and burial expenses; and funeral and burial expenses include reasonable amounts paid for a burial space, crypt or niche, a marker on the burial space, care of the burial space, crypt or niche, and interest on these amounts. Interest on these amounts shall accrue beginning 60 days after issuance of letters of office to the representative of the decedent's estate, or if no such letters of office are issued, then beginning 60 days after those amounts are due, up to the rate of 9% per annum as allowed by contract or law.
2nd: The surviving spouse's or child's award.
3rd: Debts due the United States.
4th: Reasonable and necessary medical, hospital, and nursing home expenses for the care of the decedent during the year immediately preceding death; and money due employees of the decedent of not more than $800 for each claimant for services rendered within 4 months prior to the decedent's death.
5th: Money and property received or held in trust by decedent which cannot be identified or traced.
6th: Debts due this State and any county, township, city, town, village or school district located within this State.
7th: All other claims.
(Source: P.A. 102-72, eff. 1-1-22.)
(755 ILCS 5/18-11) (from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 18-11)
Sec. 18-11. Allowance and disallowance of claims by representative. (a) The representative may at any time pay or consent in writing to all or any part of any claim that is not barred under Section 18-12, if and to the extent the claim has not been disallowed by the court and the representative determines it to be valid. Payment or consent by the representative constitutes allowance of the claim and binds the estate. When a claim filed with the court is allowed by the representative, the representative must promptly file notice of the allowance with the court, but failure to do so will not affect the allowance. At the request of any interested person the representative must establish the propriety of his allowance of any claim.
(b) The representative may at any time disallow all or any part of any claim that has not been filed with the court by mailing or delivering a notice of disallowance to the claimant, and to the claimant's attorney if the attorney's name and address are known to the representative, stating that if the claim is not filed with the court on or before the date stated in the notice, which date shall be not less than 2 months from the date of the notice, the claim will be barred. A claim disallowed by the representative under this subsection and not filed with the court on or before the date stated in the notice shall be barred under Section 18-12 in the same manner as a claim not timely filed.
(Source: P.A. 86-815.)
(755 ILCS 5/18-12) (from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 18-12)
Sec. 18-12. Limitations on payment of claims.
(a) Every claim against the estate of a decedent, except expenses of administration and surviving spouse's or child's award, is barred as to all of the decedent's estate if:
- (1) Notice is given to the claimant as provided in Section 18-3 and the claimant does not file a claim with the representative or the court on or before the date stated in the notice; or
- (2) Notice of disallowance is given to the claimant as provided in Section 18-11 and the claimant does not file a claim with the court on or before the date stated in the notice; or
- (3) The claimant or the claimant's address is not known to or reasonably ascertainable by the representative and the claimant does not file a claim with the representative or the court on or before the date stated in the published notice as provided in Section 18-3.
(b) Unless sooner barred under subsection (a) of this Section, all claims which could have been barred under this Section are, in any event, barred 2 years after decedent's death, whether or not letters of office are issued upon the estate of the decedent.
(c) This Section does not bar actions to establish liability of the decedent to the extent the estate is protected by liability insurance.
(d) Except with respect to a claimant whose claim is known to the representative and is not paid or otherwise barred under this Section, a representative who acts in good faith to determine and give notice to creditors of a decedent, as provided in Section 18-3, is not personally liable to a creditor of a decedent, but any claim not barred under this Section may be asserted against (1) the estate, to the extent that assets have not been distributed, and (2) a distributee of the estate (other than a creditor), but only to the extent that the distributee's share of the estate will not, in effect, be diminished below what the distributee would have received had the claim been paid by the representative.
(Source: P.A. 89-21, eff. 7-1-95; 89-686, eff. 12-31-96.)
(755 ILCS 5/18-13) (from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 18-13)
Sec. 18-13. Priority of payment.) Except as provided in Section 19-6, the representative of a decedent's estate shall pay from the estate all claims entitled to be paid therefrom, in the order of their classification, and when the estate is insufficient to pay the claims in any one class, the claims in that class shall be paid pro rata.
(Source: P.A. 81-213.)
(755 ILCS 5/18-14) (from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 18-14)
Sec. 18-14. Estate chargeable with legacies, expenses and claims.) All the real and personal estate of the decedent and the income therefrom during the period of administration are chargeable with the claims against the estate, expenses of administration, estate and inheritance taxes and legacies without distinction except as otherwise provided in this Act or by decedent's will and may be leased, sold, mortgaged or pledged as the court directs in the manner prescribed in this Act. In determining what property in the estate shall be leased, sold, mortgaged or pledged for any purpose provided in this Section, there is no priority as between real and personal estate, except as provided in this Act or by decedent's will.
(Source: P.A. 79-328.)
(755 ILCS 5/18-15) (from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 18-15)
Sec. 18-15. Payment of claims against wards' estates.) Claims allowed against the estate of a ward shall be paid by the representative as he has funds therefor.
(Source: P.A. 79-328.)
