The best probate lawyers in Chicago in 2026 include Peck Ritchey and Leon J. Teichner & Associates for contested estates, Matlin Law Group and Bielski Chapman for estate and trust administration, Illinois Estate Law for flat-fee probate, Levin Schreder & Carey for estate disputes with tax issues, and Bellas & Wachowski for general litigation.
| Firm | Office | Focus | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Peck Ritchey | The Loop | Contested estates and guardianship | Disputes over a will, trust or guardianship |
| 2. Leon J. Teichner & Associates | The Loop | Probate litigation | Contested probate in Cook County |
| 3. Matlin Law Group | Northbrook & Bannockburn | Probate and trust administration | Administering an estate with no dispute |
| 4. Illinois Estate Law | North Side | Flat-fee probate | Families looking for price certainty |
| 5. Bielski Chapman | The Loop | Probate and trust administration | Families coordinating with elder care |
| 6. Levin Schreder & Carey | The Loop | Estate disputes and tax | Larger estates with tax issues |
| 7. O'Flaherty Law | Naperville & Lisle | Probate and estate administration | Suburban estates |
| 8. Bellas & Wachowski | The Loop | Probate and litigation | Northwest-side families with disputes |
Probate is the court process for settling a person's estate. In Cook County it runs through the Probate Division of the Circuit Court at the Daley Center. Not every estate needs it: Illinois has a small estate affidavit for simpler cases, and trust assets and accounts with named beneficiaries usually pass outside probate.
A firm known for litigation in estates and elder law.
Peck Ritchey focuses on contested estates, including will contests, trust disputes and guardianship litigation, as well as planning. It has offices in the Loop, Northbrook, Oak Brook and Lake Forest.
Good to know: Deadlines to contest a will are short, so call right away.
321 S Plymouth Ct, 6th Floor, Chicago, IL 60604
Loop practice citing 50 years of experience.
Leon J. Teichner & Associates cites 50 years of experience as a probate litigation attorney and also handles estate planning and real estate from West Madison Street, near the Daley Center.
Good to know: Bring the will and any letters from the court.
181 W Madison St, Suite 4700, Chicago, IL 60602
An estate-focused firm with trust litigation available.
Matlin Law Group handles probate, estate and trust administration, guardianships and trust litigation, from Northbrook, so it can continue if an uncontested estate turns into a dispute.
Good to know: Don't distribute any assets until you've had advice.
500 Skokie Blvd, Suite 100, Northbrook, IL 60062
Publishes flat fees, including for contested matters.
Illinois Estate Law advertises flat-fee probate and says contested probate and guardianship matters start at a flat fee for an initial defined scope, which makes it easier to budget.
Good to know: Ask what's outside the flat fee.
4422 N Ravenswood Ave, Suite 212, Chicago, IL 60640
A firm with elder law on the same team.
Bielski Chapman handles probate and trust administration alongside elder law and Medicaid planning, so it can help a family that has been managing a parent's care and then their estate.
Good to know: Bring the most recent statements for each account.
123 N Wacker Dr, Suite 2300, Chicago, IL 60606
A firm that combines tax and estate disputes.
Levin Schreder & Carey focuses on estate and income tax planning and related dispute resolution. Consider it when an estate has significant tax issues as well as a family disagreement.
Good to know: Illinois estate tax has its own filing rules, so ask about them early.
120 N LaSalle St, 38th Floor, Chicago, IL 60602
A multi-office firm for cases outside Cook County.
O'Flaherty Law handles probate and estate administration from Naperville and several other offices. Probate is filed in the county where the person lived, so a suburban office can be a practical choice.
Good to know: Confirm which county the case belongs in.
1515 Legacy Cir, Suite 1A, Naperville, IL 60563
A general litigation firm handling probate from Park Ridge.
Bellas & Wachowski lists probate within a practice built on litigation, with offices in Park Ridge and the Loop. It's a reasonable choice if you expect a dispute over a family business or property.
Good to know: Ask for an estimate if the case might go to a hearing.
120 N LaSalle St, 32nd Floor, Chicago, IL 60602
Not always. You may be able to use a small estate affidavit if the estate has no more than $150,000, and a motor vehicle doesn't count toward that limit, according to Illinois Legal Aid Online. Conditions apply, so check them before relying on it.
An uncontested estate often takes about a year, in part because creditors have a period to make claims, while disputes can take longer. Ask a lawyer about your estate's situation.
An executor collects the assets, pays debts and taxes, keeps records and distributes what's left according to the will. Executors can be personally responsible for mistakes, so getting advice is usually worthwhile.
Yes, but deadlines are short, generally within months of the will being admitted to probate. Common grounds include undue influence and lack of capacity. Talk to a lawyer quickly.