Supporters say will storage option would streamline judicial process
(The Center Square) – Supporters say an Illinois House bill allowing county clerks to develop a will depository would streamline judicial proceedings without the need for additional labor costs.
State Rep. Lilian Jiménez, D-Chicago, told the House Judiciary – Civil Committee that House Bill 4722 would create the option for residents to deposit a will for safekeeping.
“When a will is unable to be located, it leads to otherwise avoidable litigation amongst heirs and unnecessary tension for families, other increased legal costs and judicial inefficiencies,” Jiménez said.
For counties that opt in, Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Mariyana Spyropoulos said residents would be able to keep their wills safe from fire, theft or loss for a fee of up to $25.
“For the court system, having the original document readily accessible in the clerk’s custody streamlines the probate process, reduces the need for lost will hearings and gets families through the legal system faster,” Spyropoulos said.
Spyropoulos said she did not anticipate additional labor costs beyond what is covered by the $25 fee.
State Rep. David Friess, R-Red Bud, asked Spyropoulos if deposited wills would be considered filed.
“Because if you file it, that’s completely different than tendering it to the clerk’s office for safekeeping, because I can amend the will as many times as I want, correct?” Friess asked.
“Correct, yes,” Spyropoulos said, adding that current probate law would still apply.
Jiménez said she filed an amendment clarifying that depositing a will does not confer validity on it and that deposited wills are not public and court records.
As of Monday, 12 witness slips were filed in favor of HB 4722 and there were no witness slips filed in opposition.
The bill passed out of committee by a partisan vote of 13-7.
Spyropoulos said 22 states have legislation that gives counties the will storage option, including Texas, Wisconsin, Indiana and Iowa.
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Latest News Stories
Trump tells Iranian leaders they ‘should be very worried’
Illinois Quick Hits: Group files FOIA lawsuit vs. Pritzker
First lady meets with former Oct. 7 hostages
U.S. regulator licenses deepwater port in Gulf for oil exports
Supreme Court declines challenge to California’s congressional map
Candidate: $243 million in unlawful spending is example of ‘Preckwinkle’s mismanagement’
Tillis probes ICE practices after calling Noem a ‘sycophant’
GOP lawmakers urge Thune to tweak filibuster rules to pass voter ID bill
Illinois housing crunch sees prices rising, units dwindling
700 federal agents to leave Minnesota, Homan says
New York, New Jersey sue feds over Hudson Tunnel funding cuts
Parents sound alarm over Illinois high school voter registration bill
