Publications

Illinois Bar Journal
Articles on Wills and Probate

Getting paid, part 2: A new probate pitfall to avoid By Helen W. Gunnarsson February 2004 Lawpulse, Page 62 If your client is seeking payment from an estate, make sure you file a claim with the probate court even if the estate representative knows about the debt; that knowledge might not put the estate on the hook, according to a new appellate court ruling.
A biological father of a stillborn child who can establish his parentage is the "next of kin." January 2004 Illinois Law Update, Page 16 On October 17, 2003, the Illinois Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the appellate court, holding that a claimed biological father of a stillborn child has standing to prove his parentage and serve as administrator of the child's estate in a wrongful death case.
Can a parent inherit from a stillborn child? By Helen W. Gunnarsson December 2003 Lawpulse, Page 594 A fascinating, if perplexing, Illinois Supreme Court opinion seems to say that a fetus can have an estate for inheritance purposes.
Found Treasure: A Primer on Unclaimed Property in Illinois By Joshua A. Joyce and Hugh F. Drake August 2003 Article, Page 409 Is your client entitled to, or holding, unclaimed property? Here's a review of the Uniform Disposition of Unclaimed Property Act.
Guardian ad litem 101 By Helen W. Gunnarsson August 2003 Lawpulse, Page 374 Veteran ISBA members offer advice to lawyers who find themselves appointed as guardian ad litem for disabled respondents.
Probate Court 101 By Helen W. Gunnarsson April 2003 Lawpulse, Page 162 How does a sole practitioner learn his or her way around the courthouse? Start by asking.
Section 2-6.5 of Probate Act requires trial court to first find that parent satisfies one criteria for misconduct and then determine what effect that misconduct had before reducing parent's interest in child's estate January 2003 Illinois Law Update, Page 14 On October 15, 2002, the Appellate Court of Illinois, First District, reversed in part and reversed and remanded in part the order of the circuit court of Cook County entering an adjudication of parental neglect pursuant to section 2-6.5 of the Probate Act.
Illinois Supreme Court cares for caretakers By Helen W. Gunnarsson August 2002 Lawpulse, Page 392 The high court upholds the Probate Act provision that allows a claim against the estate by selected relatives who serve as custodial caretakers.
Probate Court Report #1: Protect children of divorce before probate By Helen W. Gunnarsson March 2002 Lawpulse, Page 114 Take steps during the divorce to protect ex-spouses/children after their ex-partner/parent's death, or they might get no higher priority in probate court than magazine subscriptions and utility bills.
Probate Court Report #2: Take care with heirship By Helen W. Gunnarsson March 2002 Lawpulse, Page 114 Do a little probate work? Then take heed: failing to properly prepare an affidavit of heirship can lead to embarrassment or worse if the will falls through.
Legislation authorizes sale of a decedent's real estate on the Internet; P.A. 92-097 November 2001 Illinois Law Update, Page 568 In July, Gov. George H. Ryan signed legislation amending the Probate Act of 1975.
The Lawyer's Journal By Bonnie C. McGrath May 2001 Column, Page 226 Arbitration clauses in employment contracts are enforceable; visit the Illinois Supreme Court Web site; and more.
Court upholds decedent's testamentary gift to dental school, which a university closed several months prior to testator's death, because plain language of will revealed testator's intent to provide university with a gift. September 2000 Illinois Law Update, Page 500 On July 13, 2000, the Third District of the Appellate Court of Illinois affirmed the trial court's grant of summary judgment to Northwestern University ("university").
Using the Probate Act to Recover Assets Stolen from Persons with Disabilities By Charles P. Golbert September 2000 Article, Page 510 How to use Article XVI of the Illinois Probate Act to discover and recover ill-gotten assets.
Nice Guys Finish Last in Wills and Estate Planning By Anne E. Thar April 2000 Column, Page 235 Confused elderly parents, estranged (and strange) children; estate-planning practice can pose serious malpractice risks for the best of lawyers. Here's what to watch for.
Making the Most of the New Illinois Perpetuities Statute By Richard A. Campbell and Christopher D. Dwyer November 1999 Article, Page 594 Illinois' recently enacted rule-against-perpetuities statute permits estate planners to create perpetual trusts, and that opens new estate-planning possibilities. The authors describe the options.
The Lawyer's Journal By Bonnie McGrath October 1999 Column, Page 514 Insurance policies and the discovery rule; read the fine print.
Probate and Estate Planning Update for General Practitioners By Donald A. LoBue October 1999 Column, Page 544 An overview of selected recent changes in estate planning law.
An Illegitimate Child's Intestate Estate May Now Be Distributed to ``Eligible Parents,'' Not Just the Mother; PA 90-803 April 1999 Illinois Law Update, Page 190 According to Public Act 90-803, an "intestate real and personal estate'' of an illegitimate child shall be distributed to the decedent's "eligible parents'' or the eligible parents' descendents, if the decedent did not have a spouse or direct descendents.
The Lawyer's Journal By Bonnie McGrath February 1999 Column, Page 70 No retaliatory discharge claims for whistle-blowing lawyers...
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