Cook County, IL Consumer Law

Free Tools and Information for Cook County, IL Consumers

Illinois Inheritance Law & Probate Procedure

• Illinois PROBATE COURT FINDER:
  
  • Probate Court for Cook County: Key information about your local probate court (Superior Court in Illinois) for Cook County.
• How Probate Works in Illinois: How to handle the probate of an inheritance at Cook County's probate court.
  • Here are links to:
    • Illinois Probate Forms and the
    • Illinois State Probate Court Website.
• Small Estates Procedures in Illinois: Learn how to use Illinois's Small Estate procedures that can save you time and money.

  • In Washington, you can use an Affidavit if the value of assets subject to probate, less liens and encumbrances, is $100,000 or less. This figure doesn't count surviving spouse's property or partner's community property interest.  40-day waiting period.

    Wash. Rev. Code 11.62.010 and following.

    The court may grant a request for settlement without court intervention if the estate is solvent and:

    • if there's a Will, the personal representative makes a request
    • if there's no Will, the surviving spouse or domestic partner makes the request, and the estate consists entirely of community property, and the decedent let no children or grandchildren from another relationship, or
    • the personal representative is not a creditor of the decedent and the court determines it would be in the best interest of the beneficiaries and creditors.

    Wash. Rev. Code 11.68.011 and following.

• Illinois Estate Taxes:

  • The state of Washington imposes an estate tax on property owned in Washington. If you are inheriting property from the state of Washington, it may be subject to estate tax if the overall value of the estate is more than $2,193,000.

• Avoiding Probate in Illinois. Find out what property bypasses probate death and goes directly to beneficiaries. such as:
  • Transfer on Death Deeds (TODDs)

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Illinois Wage & Hour Law

• Illinois Minimum Wage:  

  • The minimum wage in Washington is $16.28 an hour. Because this is higher than the federal minimum wage of $7.25, employees in The Evergreen State must be paid at least $16.28 an hour. A couple of local governments in Washington have passed ordinances establishing a higher minimum wage.

    Cook County Minimum Wage

    In Cook County, the current minimum wage is $14.00 an hour. 

    Chicago Minimum Wage

    The minimum wage in the city of Chicago is currently $15.80 if you work for an employer that has more than 20 employees, or $15 an hour if you work for an employer with four to 20 employees.

• Overtime Pay: Every state has rules about weekly maximum hours and overtime. Learn about the overtime laws in Illinois and whether they apply to you.
• Wage Claims: If you're being unlawfully underpaid, you need to learn how to file a "Wage Claim" in Illinois. 
• Tips : Every state has special pay rates for tipped workers. Find out the rules for tipped workers in Illinois.

  • The tipped minimum wage in Washington is the same as the regular minimum wage: $16.28 an hour. Tips don't count against an employer's obligation to pay the minimum wage. 

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Bankruptcy & Debt

• MEANS TEST CALCULATOR
  • for Cook County, Illinois (applies the state and county income and expense standards into your means test calculation. Updated with the latest median income and expense standards for April 1, 2024)
• Illinois BANKRUPTCY EXEMPTION FINDER: Search detailed listings of bankruptcy exemptions under Illinois law and Federal law, for use in filing out Schedule C, when you file for bankruptcy. 
  • Federal Exemptions available in Illinois?:  

    • Yes. Federal exemptions are available.

  • Illinois Homestead Exemption

    • Real property, manufactured home, or mobile home to the greater of  (a) $125,000; (b) The county median sale price of a single-family home in the preceding calendar year (the statewide average for 2020 was $452,400); $172,900 to $729,600, depending on county.

  • Illinois Vehicle Exemption

    • Motor vehicles to $15,000 total

• Illinois BANKRUPTCY COURT ESSENTIAL INFO: Get information about using your local bankruptcy court.
• FREE BANKRUPTCY FORMS:
  We'll tell you which bankruptcy forms you need and where to find them.

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Illinois Unemployment Benefits

• Benefit Amounts in Illinois: Learn how unemployment works, how much you'll get, and for how long.
  • Minimum: 
    • $323 per week or your estimated weekly wage, whichever is less
  • Maximum: 
    • $1,019 per week
  • Duration: 

    • In Illinois, you can receive unemployment benefits for a maximum of 26 weeks under state law. 

• Eligibility: >Whether you qualify for unemployment.
• How to Apply: How to apply for unemployment in Illinois.
  • Washington Employment Security Department 
    • 800-318-6022
• Unemployment Office Near Me? How to find your local unemployment office.
• COVID-19 Benefits: We tracked the rise and fall of COVID-19 unemployment benefit payments.

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Democracy In Illinois, Cook County, Chicago 

• Elected Representatives: Find out the websites and phone numbers of those representing you at the Federal, State, County, and City levels of government.
• How to Vote: Learn how to register and where and when to vote in Cook County, IL.
  • Key Links:
    • Check Your Illinois Voter Registration Status: https://voter.votewa.gov/portal2023/login.aspx
• Gerrymandering in Illinois: Has your state been gerrymandered? Find out how to end gerrymandering and have voters pick politicians, not vice versa.
• Tracking Issues: Organizations that track legislation you care about 
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Find a Lawyer in Cook County, IL

• Our Lawyers by Zipcode section allows users to find a local lawyer using the best online resources, including on topics we don't cover.
• DUI, Criminal Defense
• Auto Accidents & Personal Injury
• Immigration
• Legal Aid
  • WashingtonLawHelp 

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