Estate and Trust Administration: Upon death, everyone has an "estate" requiring distribution regardless of whether or not their assets are held in trust, and regardless of whether or not a probate proceeding is required. Rollin J. Soskin and Associates, Ltd. has vast experience representing and advising fiduciaries charged with the administration of estates and trusts. We have been involved in hundreds of estate matters, including those requiring probate proceedings for decedents' estates as well as guardianship estates for minors and disabled adults. The estates and trusts we help administer vary in size and complexity, including trusts created upon the death of a client and trusts created by our clients during their lifetimes to implement their estate plans and/or particular planning objectives. In most cases where a person has a trust, the assets held in that trust do not have to pass through probate upon death or upon disability. Probate proceedings may be required even when a person has a trust for those assets which are not titled in the trust at the time of their death or disability. Managing the affairs of a trust or any estate can be an involved and a daunting prospect. Illinois law requires strict adherence to various fiduciary standards, laws and regulations in the management of estate and trust assets. Our attorneys offer assistance and guidance through the myriad of issues and processes that any representative may face. Rollin J. Soskin & Associates, Ltd. draws on over 30 years experience counseling and assisting clients in this area. Frequently recurring issues involve partial or interim distributions from a trust or estate, payment of necessary or appropriate expenses of beneficiaries, compensation of the fiduciary and those hired by the fiduciary, post-mortem tax planning, the preparation and completion of income and estate tax returns, interpretation of underlying trust or estate documents, transfers of property, paying or contesting claims, continuation, operation, or sales of businesses, interaction with beneficiaries and creditors, and a whole host of other issues and potential obstacles.