What You'll Master in 8 Transformative Weeks

WEEK 1-2: ILLINOIS PROBATE LAW FOUNDATIONS, CASE INITIATION, PROBATE COURT PROCEDURES AND INITIAL FILINGS

The first two weeks establish comprehensive Illinois probate law foundations and court procedure mastery, covering probate act requirements, court jurisdiction, intestate succession laws, and small estate procedures while developing expertise in initial case assessment, family consultation, and file organization that identifies estate complexity, family dynamics, and potential conflicts. Students advance to mastering will location and validity analysis, probate petition preparation and court filing procedures, comprehensive notice requirements to heirs and creditors, and fiduciary appointment processes including letters of administration and bond requirements. By completing these foundational weeks, students develop the critical case initiation and court procedure skills necessary to support attorneys in opening probate estates properly while ensuring compliance with Illinois law and protecting all interested parties' rights.

WEEK 1: ILLINOIS PROBATE LAW FOUNDATIONS AND CASE INITIATION

Module 1.1: Illinois Probate Act and Legal Framework - "Illinois Probate Law Essentials: Your Complete Legal Foundation"

Module 1.2: Initial Case Assessment and File Setup - "Probate Case Assessment: Setting Up for Success"

Module 1.3: Will Location and Validity Analysis - "Finding and Validating Wills: The Document Detective Process"

WEEK 2: PROBATE COURT PROCEDURES AND INITIAL FILINGS

Module 2.1: Probate Petition Preparation and Filing - "Probate Court Filing Mastery: Getting It Right the First Time"

Module 2.2: Notice Requirements and Heir Identification - "Probate Notices: Protecting Rights and Meeting Legal Requirements"

Module 2.3: Letters of Administration and Fiduciary Appointments - "Fiduciary Appointments: Authority, Duties, and Responsibilities"

WEEK 3-4: ASSET INVENTORY, ESTATE ADMINISTRATION,CREDITOR CLAIMS AND DEBT RESOLUTION 

Weeks 3 and 4 focus on comprehensive estate administration and financial management, teaching students to conduct systematic asset discovery and inventory procedures, coordinate professional appraisals and fair market value determinations, and manage estate banking, investment oversight, and financial record-keeping requirements. Students advance to mastering creditor claims management, learning to review claim validity, negotiate settlements, handle disputed claims, coordinate debt payment priorities under Illinois law, and manage tax compliance including final income taxes, estate tax returns, and ongoing tax obligations. By completing these weeks, students possess the essential estate administration skills necessary to support attorneys in protecting estate assets, managing creditor relationships, and ensuring full compliance with tax and financial obligations while maintaining detailed records for court reporting and beneficiary protection.

WEEK 3: ASSET INVENTORY AND ESTATE ADMINISTRATION

Module 3.1: Comprehensive Asset Discovery and Inventory - "Estate Asset Discovery: Finding Every Dollar and Property Interest"

Module 3.2: Asset Valuation and Appraisal Coordination - "Asset Valuation: Determining Fair Market Value for Probate"

Module 3.3: Estate Bank Accounts and Financial Management - "Estate Financial Management: Banking, Bills, and Asset Protection"

WEEK 4: CREDITOR CLAIMS AND DEBT RESOLUTION

Module 4.1: Creditor Claims Process and Management - "Creditor Claims: Protecting the Estate from Invalid Demands"

Module 4.2: Estate Debt Payment and Priority - "Estate Debt Management: Payment Priorities and Strategies"

Module 4.3: Tax Obligations and Compliance - "Estate Tax Compliance: Meeting All Federal and Illinois Requirements"

WEEK 5-6: PROBATE COURT PROCEDURES, ONGOING ADMINISTRATION, DISTRIBUTION, PLANNING AND BENEFICIARY COORDINATION

Weeks 5 and 6 focus on ongoing probate administration and distribution preparation, teaching students to manage court reporting requirements, coordinate hearings and ongoing compliance obligations, handle estate administration challenges including family conflicts, missing heirs, and dispute resolution while supporting litigation counsel in contested matters. Students advance to mastering estate distribution planning, learning to calculate final distributions according to wills or intestate law, coordinate beneficiary communication and relationship management, prepare comprehensive final accounting reports, and handle estate closure procedures including final tax clearances and court approval. By completing these weeks, students gain sophisticated probate administration and beneficiary coordination skills necessary to manage complex family dynamics while ensuring proper asset distribution, maintaining court compliance, and achieving successful estate closure with satisfied beneficiaries and complete legal protection.

WEEK 5: PROBATE COURT PROCEDURES AND ONGOING ADMINISTRATION

Module 5.1: Court Reporting and Ongoing Compliance - "Probate Court Excellence: Reporting, Hearings, and Compliance"

Module 5.2: Estate Administration Challenges and Problem Resolution - "Problem Solving in Probate: Handling Disputes and Challenges"

Module 5.3: Module 5.3: Estate Sale and Asset Liquidation Procedures - "Estate Sales and Liquidation: Maximizing Value for Beneficiaries"

WEEK 6: DISTRIBUTION PLANNING AND BENEFICIARY COORDINATION

Module 6.1: Estate Distribution Planning and Preparation - "Estate Distribution: Ensuring Fair and Legal Asset Allocation"

Module 6.2: Beneficiary Communication and Coordination - "Beneficiary Relations: Communication and Conflict Prevention"

Module 6.3: Final Accounting and Estate Closure Preparation -  "Estate Closure: Final Accounting and Distribution Excellence"

WEEK 7-8:  ESTATE CLOSURE, POST-ADMINISTRATION PROCEDURES, SPECIALIZED PROBATE SITUATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Weeks 7 and 8 complete comprehensive probate training by covering estate closure procedures and professional development essential for specialized practice excellence. In Week 7, students master final court approval procedures, learning to prepare closure petitions, coordinate final hearings, handle distribution orders and fiduciary discharge, while managing post-distribution administration, ongoing trust coordination, and proper record retention policies that protect both estate assets and professional liability. Week 8 expands to complex probate situations including ancillary proceedings, international assets, business interest estates, and special procedures, while emphasizing ethical compliance in probate practice, family representation conflicts, confidentiality management, and professional responsibility in sensitive situations, plus technology integration including case management software, electronic filing systems, and career development planning for probate specialization. Upon completing these final weeks, students possess advanced probate administration skills, ethical frameworks, and professional development foundations necessary to excel in sophisticated probate practice while maintaining compliance standards and building successful careers in estate administration.

WEEK 7: ESTATE CLOSURE AND POST-ADMINISTRATION PROCEDURES

Module 7.1: Final Court Approval and Estate Closure - "Estate Closure Excellence: Final Court Approval and Fiduciary Discharge"

Module 7.2: Post-Distribution Administration and Follow-up - "Post-Probate Procedures: Ensuring Long-Term Success"

Module 7.3: Record Retention and File Management - "Probate File Management: Organization, Retention, and Protection"

WEEK 8: SPECIALIZED PROBATE SITUATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Module 8.1: Complex Probate Situations and Special Procedures - "Advanced Probate: Complex Situations and Special Procedures"

Module 8.2: Ethics and Professional Responsibility in Probate Practice -  "Probate Ethics: Professional Standards and Family Dynamics"

Module 8.3: Technology and Career Development in Probate Practice - "Modern Probate Practice: Technology, Efficiency, and Career Growth"

COURSE TOTALS

Overall Statistics:

• Total Modules: 24 modules across 8 weeks
• Total Learning Hours: 64 instructional hours
• Total Video Content: 24 videos
• 24+ Comprehensive PDF Guides (500+ pages of materials)
• 24 Interactive Exercises and workshops
• 24 Real-World Case Studies
• 40+ Professional Templates and forms
• 8 Comprehensive Quizzes plus final exam
• 8 Practical Assignments plus final portfolio project
• Average Weekly Commitment: 8 hours (7-9 hours range)

Learning Objective Categories:

• Legal Knowledge: Illinois Probate Act, court procedures, and compliance requirements
• Administrative Skills: Asset discovery, inventory, valuation, and financial management
• Court Procedures: Filing requirements, hearings, reporting, and judicial coordination
• Family Relations: Beneficiary communication, conflict resolution, and relationship management
• Financial Management: Estate accounting, tax compliance, and distribution procedures
• Professional Development: Ethics, technology integration, and career advancement

Probate Case Types Covered:

• Simple Estates: Small estate affidavits, basic probate procedures
• Complex Estates: Large estates, business interests, tax issues
• Contested Estates: Will contests, family disputes, litigation support
• Special Situations: Missing heirs, international assets, ancillary probate
• Trust Administration: Ongoing trust management from estate distributions
• Tax Compliance: Estate tax, income tax, and ongoing tax obligations

This comprehensive module structure ensures systematic skill development while building toward complete professional competency in Illinois probate paralegal practice from initial case assessment through final estate closure and ongoing administration responsibilities.