Illinois Compiled Statutes
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:
(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.)