(755 ILCS 5/Art. XIX heading) ARTICLE XIX ADMINISTRATION OF PERSONAL ESTATE

(755 ILCS 5/19-1) (from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 19-1)

Sec. 19-1. Lease, sale, mortgage or pledge of personal estate of decedent.) (a) By leave of court, a representative may lease, sell, mortgage or pledge the personal estate of the decedent when it is necessary for the proper administration of the estate. Personal property selected by the surviving spouse or child or specifically bequeathed or directed by the testator not to be sold may not be sold, mortgaged or pledged unless necessary for the payment of claims, expenses of administration, estate or inheritance taxes or the proper administration of the estate.

(b) If the sale of the personal estate is not necessary for the payment of claims or expense of administration or the proper distribution of the estate, the court may order the personal estate to be distributed in kind.

(c) The provisions of this Article for the lease, sale, mortgage or pledge of personal estate do not apply to leases, sales, mortgages or pledges made without order of court by a representative under a power given in the will. The lease, sale, mortgage or pledge of any personal estate by a representative under a power given in a will is valid regardless of the subsequent setting aside of the will or any other action which might limit or restrain the right of the representative to transfer title or to lease, sell, mortgage or pledge such personal estate. A lessee, purchaser, mortgagee or pledgee from a representative under a power in a will obtains the same title or interest as though the instrument were executed by the decedent immediately prior to his death and the rights and claims of all parties claiming under or through the decedent shall be transferred to the consideration received or to be received from the lease, sale, mortgage or pledge.

(Source: P.A. 79-328.)

(755 ILCS 5/19-2) (from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 19-2)

Sec. 19-2. Lease, sale, mortgage or pledge of personal estate of ward. By leave of court a representative may lease, sell, mortgage or pledge any personal estate of the ward, when in the opinion of the court it is for the best interests of the ward or his estate.

(Source: P.A. 102-72, eff. 1-1-22.)

(755 ILCS 5/19-3) (from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 19-3)

Sec. 19-3. Mortgage of agricultural commodities.) By leave of court, a representative of an estate eligible therefor may obtain a loan and mortgage or pledge for a term of not to exceed one year agricultural commodities as security for a loan pursuant to the provisions of the federal Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938, may execute and deliver such evidences of indebtedness, security interests, pledges and other documents as may be required in connection therewith, and may repay the loan or deliver the commodity mortgaged or pledged therefor in accordance with the terms upon which the loan is made. The proceeds of the loan are personal estate in the hands of the representative.

(Source: P.A. 80-662.)

(755 ILCS 5/19-4) (from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 19-4)

Sec. 19-4. Petition to lease, sell, mortgage or pledge personal estate-notice.) Before leasing, selling, mortgaging or pledging any personal estate the representative shall file a petition in the court which issued his letters stating the facts and circumstances on which it is founded and a brief description of the personal estate sought to be leased, sold, mortgaged or pledged. The court may order such notice of the time and place of the hearing on the petition to be given to any interested persons as it deems expedient or the court may hear the petition without notice.

(Source: P.A. 79-328.)

(755 ILCS 5/19-5) (from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 19-5)

Sec. 19-5. Order of sale.) (a) The court shall provide in its order of sale whether the sale shall be public or private.

(b) A public sale shall be for cash or wholly or partly upon credit of not more than 12 months by taking a note with good security, as the court directs. The court shall direct that notice of a public sale be given by either of the following methods: (1) inserting a notice or advertisement of sale in a newspaper published in the county where the sale is to be made not less than once nor more than 3 times, as the court directs, the first publication to be not less than 5 nor more than 21 days before the date of sale, or (2) posting a notice or advertisement of sale in at least 4 public places in the county where the sale is to be made for a period specified by the court of not less than 5 nor more than 21 days before the date of sale.

(c) If the court orders a public sale of both personal and real estate the notice of public sale may be given as provided in Section 20-7 and both types of property shall be included in the same publication notice.

(d) A private sale shall be for cash or wholly or partly upon credit with or without security, as the court directs.

(e) In all public sales of personal estate the representative may employ necessary clerks and auctioneers who shall receive such compensation as the court deems reasonable, to be paid as expenses of administration.

(Source: P.A. 79-328.)

(755 ILCS 5/19-6) (from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 19-6)

Sec. 19-6. Operating business of decedent.) (a) Except as otherwise directed by the decedent in his will or except as otherwise provided by law, a representative has authority, for the preservation and settlement of the estate of a decedent, to continue the decedent's unincorporated business during one month next following the date of issuance of his letters unless the court directs otherwise, and for such further time as the court from time to time may authorize, without personal liability except for malfeasance or misfeasance for losses incurred. The court may order such notice of the time and place of the hearing on the petition to be given to any interested persons as it deems expedient or the court may hear the petition without notice. Obligations incurred or contracts entered into are entitled to priority of payment out of the assets of the business, but, without approval of the court first obtained, do not involve the estate beyond these assets.

(b) During the time the business is so conducted, unless otherwise ordered by the court, the representative shall file monthly reports in the court, setting forth the receipts and disbursements of the business for the preceding month and such other pertinent information as the court may require.

(Source: P.A. 79-328.)

(755 ILCS 5/19-7) (from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 19-7)

Sec. 19-7. Operating business of ward.) Upon receiving the approval of the court, a representative may operate any unincorporated business belonging to the ward or in which he may have any interest and the court may direct the representative in connection therewith.

(Source: P.A. 79-328.)

(755 ILCS 5/19-8) (from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 19-8)

Sec. 19-8. Compounding, compromising or exchanging personal estate.) By leave of court without notice or upon such notice as the court directs, a representative may compound or compromise any claim or any interest of the ward or the decedent in any personal estate or exchange any claim or any interest in personal estate for other claims or personal estate upon such terms as the court directs.

(Source: P.A. 79-328.)

(755 ILCS 5/19-9) (from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 19-9)

Sec. 19-9. Removal of property.) The representative may not remove any personal estate of his decedent or ward beyond the limits of this State, without the order of the court. If the representative removes the estate from this State without order of court he and his surety may be sued and judgment may be rendered against him and his surety for the benefit of the estate for the full value of the personal estate removed and the damages sustained by the removal.

(Source: P.A. 79-328.)

(755 ILCS 5/19-10) (from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 19-10)

Sec. 19-10. Contracts of decedent.) By order of court a contract made by a decedent may be performed by his representative.

(Source: P.A. 79-328.)

(755 ILCS 5/19-11) (from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 19-11)

Sec. 19-11. Desperate personal estate of decedent.) (a) Upon suggestion made in the final account or report or on petition of a representative stating that any personal estate of the decedent other than goods and chattels is of desperate value and giving the reasons therefor, the court may order the evidence of the desperate personal estate to be deposited with the clerk of the court for the benefit of such of the heirs, legatees or creditors of the decedent as may be entitled thereto, except that if it appears to the court that the desperate personal estate or any part thereof is totally worthless the court may direct the representative to destroy or otherwise dispose of the evidence thereof and file an affidavit of destruction or disposition with the clerk. Notice of the hearing on a petition under this Section shall be given, as the court directs, to unpaid creditors and to every person entitled to a share of the estate who has not received that share in full, but no notice need be given to any person who waives notice. After the deposit is made or the affidavit is filed the representative has no further responsibility with respect to or liability for the desperate personal estate.

(b) By leave of court any heir, legatee or creditor having an interest in any deposited personal estate may take action necessary to realize its value, in the name of the representative or in his own name. Upon realizing the value of the desperate personal estate or any part thereof, the heir, legatee or creditor shall report to the court and be chargeable therewith and, after deducting his claim or distributive share and reasonable compensation for realizing the value, shall distribute the overplus as directed by the court. The representative is not liable for costs or other expenses incurred in any proceeding or action under this Section.

(c) At any time after 21 years following the deposit of any desperate personal estate, by leave of the court, the clerk may destroy or otherwise dispose of the evidence without notice or upon such notice to interested persons as the court directs and shall place a certificate of destruction or of disposition in the estate file.

Any sums realized from the disposition of said personal property shall be transferred by the clerk pursuant to an order of court to the county treasurer of the county in which the estate was administered for deposit into the general fund of the county.

Any person having a right thereto may file a claim with the court which ordered the disposition of the property for the sum realized from such disposition. Upon proof of the claimant's right thereto the court may enter an order upon the county treasurer to pay the claimant the amount to which the claimant is entitled without interest.

Unless a claim is filed within one year from the date of the order transferring the sums realized to the county treasurer said sums shall escheat to and become the property of the county.

(Source: P.A. 84-555; 84-690.)

(755 ILCS 5/19-12) (from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 19-12)

Sec. 19-12. Nominee registration.) Unless otherwise provided by the will, a representative or his agent, custodian or depositary may cause stocks, bonds and other personal property of the estate to be registered and held in the name of a nominee without mention of the fiduciary relationship in any instrument or record constituting or evidencing title thereto. The representative is liable for the acts of the nominee with respect to any property so registered. The records of the representative shall at all times show the ownership of the property. Any property so registered shall be in the possession and control of the representative and kept separate from his individual property.

(Source: P.A. 79-328.)

(755 ILCS 5/19-13) (from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 19-13)

Sec. 19-13. Decedent's account books.) The books of account of a decedent are subject to the inspection of all persons interested therein.

(Source: P.A. 79-328.)

(755 ILCS 5/19-14)

Sec. 19-14. Administrator or executor; legal proceeding; participation. If there is more than one administrator or executor of a decedent's estate and one of the administrators or executors is a corporation qualified to act as a representative of the estate of a decedent and if the administrators or executors of the decedent's estate appear for and represent the estate in a legal proceeding in which the compensation of the attorney or attorneys representing the administrators or executors is solely determined under a contingent fee arrangement, then upon petition and approval by the court, the administrator or executor of the decedent's estate which is a corporation shall not participate in or have any duty to review the prosecution of the action, to participate in or review the appropriateness of any settlement of the action, or to participate in or review any determination of the appropriateness of any fees awarded to the attorney or attorneys employed in the prosecution of the action.

(Source: P.A. 92-288, eff. 8-9-01.)