Picture this: you’ve probably spent months negotiating a substantial settlement or an injured child as well as secured an outcome that is favorable for your client. You breathe a sigh of relief, believing that the worst has passed, and it is all smooth sailing going forward. However, if the minor’s state of residence is in Illinois, your bottom line is in danger once it lands at the probate division. There is a misconception by many out-of-state trial attorneys, where they assume that they can simply book a flight, present their standard contingency-fee agreement, and the judicial sign-off will follow, leading to the release of funds and their legal fees being paid out. This assumption, however, may very well cost you, the out-of-state attorney handling a minor probate case for a minor who resides in Illinois, tens of thousands of dollars when it comes to not only slashed fees, but also, wasted overhead.
It is important to note that Illinois probate courts take minor settlement approvals very seriously, and minor settlement approvals are never administrative formalities. Under the Illinois Probate Act, the judge acts as the legal guardian of the child’s estate, which effectively means that your contingency fees and associate litigation expenses are subject to very strict scrutiny. If you look at all the costs associated with such a case, including things like the cost of hotel stays, flights, ground travel and more, your recovery margin may simply grow smaller and smaller with each passing day, making the whole affair an unprofitable one. Therefore, the smart thing to do would be to work with an Illinois law firm that takes these cases off your hands for an affordable referral rate, so you do not have to risk your contingency fees in the first place; read on to find out more.
Are you looking for the best Illinois probate attorney for minor settlements? Please call the best probate attorneys at McCready Law NOW at (314) 481-63338 to learn more about how we can help you obtain Illinois court approval for your minor settlement. The experienced Illinois probate attorneys at McCready Law bring to the table combined experience spanning over 90 years where we have helped attorneys from across the country navigate the Illinois probate system with speed, efficiency, and reliability. To date, we have recovered over $500 million for our clients, and our expertise in all areas of the law as well as our personable and efficient approach place us at a level that is unheard of in probate law. We take on cases on an agreed-upon flat fee basis, and the first call to us is consulted on a 100% FREE basis.
Regardless of where you are in the country, McCready Law can assist with your Illinois probate minor settlement approval, and we will handle the entire process from start to finish so you can focus on your practice while we handle the Illinois court approval. Need to speak to someone regarding the potential for a fast and efficient Illinois probate approval? Call us NOW at (314) 481-63338 to learn more about our flat-fee probate services – our intake coordinator is standing by to route your call to one of our experienced attorneys.
Why Traveling to Handle Illinois Minor Probate is Unwise
When you try to resolve an Illinois minor settlement petition alone, there are obstacles that tend to more often than not insurmountable, and which may do a number on your profitability:
- Under 755 ILCS 5/11-13, you are required by Illinois probate court as counsel of record to attend approval hearings in person. This means that Zoom or a teleconference is out of the picture. Regardless of which state you’re flying in from, the cost of round-trip airfare, hotel accommodation and meals can be so exorbitant that the cost quickly dwarfs what you would pay if you were to refer the case to a local Illinois firm.
- Even if your client signed off on a retainer agreement which may be anywhere from 33.3 percent and all the way to 40 percent, an Illinois judge is well within his authority to slash your fees if they feel that they are not proportionate to the long-term needs of the minor.
- In Illinois, an independent, local Guardian ad Litem is usually hired to determine if the distribution of these fees are fair. If a GAL who is chosen is not familiar with your litigation process, they may look at your filings and question your fee structure, thereby recommending that the judge cap these disbursements.
Best Illinois Minor Probate Referral Law Firm – Call Us Today!
At McCready Law, we appreciate the fact that your firm’s profits and time are too precious to expend on local court red tape, unpredictable fee reductions as well as inconvenient travel and accommodation arrangements. Instead of booking a flight to go to argue fee petitions before judges who you are not familiar with, simply give us a call NOW at (314) 481-63338 and we will go over our firm’s referral service where will handle everything for you from start to finish, thereby saving you valuable time, and preserving your bottom line. Remember, the consultation is 100% FREE, and an attorney representative is standing by to listen. Thanks for choosing McCready Law, and we look forward to helping you.