Table of Contents
Part I: The Wake-Up Call – A Story of Unintended Consequences
Introduction – The Phone Call I’ll Never Forget
I’m an estate planning advisor, and for over 20 years, I’ve helped families across Illinois protect their life’s work.
But the lesson that defines my practice today didn’t come from a textbook or a legal seminar.
It came from a phone call I’ll never forget.
It was from the adult children of the “Millers,” a wonderful couple I had known socially for years.
They were hardworking, successful small business owners from a suburb of Chicago.
They had built a comfortable life, raised a great family, and accumulated an estate worth around $8 million, consisting of their business, their home, and some investments.
Like many people, they had a simple, straightforward estate plan: a will that left everything to the surviving spouse, and then, upon the second spouse’s death, everything would pass to their children.
They believed they were safe.
They knew the federal estate tax exemption was in the millions—far above their net worth—and assumed that was the end of the story.
The call came about a year after the second parent, Mrs. Miller, had passed away.
Their son, the executor, was on the line, his voice a mixture of confusion and panic.
He had just received a notice from the state of Illinois.
They owed an estate tax bill of over $600,000.
He couldn’t understand it.
“How is this possible?” he asked.
“My parents were so careful.
They paid their taxes their whole lives.
They thought they were well under the limit.”
He was right.
They were well under the federal limit.
But they had run aground on a local hazard they never saw coming.
That phone call was a painful education for the Miller children, and it was a profound wake-up call for me.
It exposed a dangerous blind spot in conventional estate planning wisdom.
It forced me to realize that while the federal estate tax is a vast, well-charted ocean that most people will never have to navigate, the Illinois estate tax is a winding, treacherous local river, filled with hidden sandbars, confusing currents, and rules that defy common intuition.
You cannot use an ocean chart to navigate this river; you need a local’s map.
This report is that map.
The Anatomy of the Trap: Deconstructing the Illinois Estate Tax
To understand the disaster that befell the Miller family, you must first understand the unique and perilous architecture of the Illinois estate tax.
It operates on a set of principles that are fundamentally different from its federal counterpart, creating traps for the unwary.
The $4 Million “Cliff” Exemption
The foundational rule is that Illinois imposes an estate tax on estates with a value exceeding $4 million.1
As of 2025, this threshold remains firmly in place, a stark contrast to the much higher federal exemption.4
However, the most dangerous feature of this exemption is not its amount, but its nature.
It functions as a “cliff.”
Unlike a standard deduction where tax is owed only on the amount above the threshold, the Illinois system is far more punitive.
If an estate is valued at $4,000,000, no tax is due.
But if the estate is valued at $4,000,001, the tax is calculated on the entire value of the estate, not just the single dollar that pushed it over the edge.3
This cliff effect means a small miscalculation in valuing an asset—a piece of art, a vintage car, a business interest—can trigger a massive, unexpected tax liability out of nowhere.
It transforms the $4 million line from a simple threshold into a razor’s edge.
The Fatal Flaw: Illinois’s Lack of Portability
The central reason the Millers’ simple plan failed so catastrophically is a single, critical difference between the federal and state systems: portability.
On the federal level, “portability” is a feature that allows a surviving spouse to use any unused portion of their deceased spouse’s estate tax exemption.6
For example, if the first spouse to die only uses $3 million of their $13.99 million federal exemption, the remaining $10.99 million can be “ported” over to the surviving spouse, who can then add it to their own exemption.
This is why simple “I love you” wills often work just fine for federal tax purposes.
Illinois, however, does not have portability.3
The $4 million Illinois exemption is a “use it or lose it” proposition for each individual.
When Mr. Miller died and left his entire $8 million estate to his wife, his $4 million Illinois exemption vanished into thin air, unused.
Mrs. Miller then owned the full $8 million estate.
When she passed away, she had only her own $4 million exemption to shield it.
The remaining $4 million was fully exposed to the Illinois estate tax, resulting in that devastating $600,000+ bill.
This lack of portability is the single most dangerous trap for married couples in Illinois.
It directly contradicts the common knowledge and intuitive planning approach derived from the federal system.
It is the primary reason why simple wills are a recipe for financial disaster for any Illinois couple with a combined estate approaching or exceeding $4 million.
Who’s on the Hook? Residents, Non-Residents, and the Long Reach of Illinois Law
The reach of the Illinois estate tax extends beyond just its lifelong residents, creating another area of common and costly confusion.
Illinois Residents
For individuals whose permanent legal residence, or domicile, was in Illinois at the time of their death, the rule is straightforward.
If the total value of their worldwide estate—including all bank accounts, real estate (both in and out of state), life insurance, business interests, and personal property—exceeds the $4 million threshold, an Illinois estate tax return must be filed.4
Non-Residents with Illinois Property
Here is where the river’s currents get particularly tricky.
The Illinois estate tax also applies to non-residents who own tangible personal property (like a boat or valuable artwork) or real estate located within Illinois, but only if their total worldwide estate exceeds the $4 million exemption.4
The calculation for non-residents is deeply counter-intuitive.
The tax is not simply levied on the value of the Illinois property.
Instead, the state calculates the tax that would have been due if the decedent’s entire worldwide estate were located in Illinois.
That total tax amount is then multiplied by a ratio: the value of the Illinois assets divided by the value of the total estate.2
Consider this clear example: A Florida resident with a total estate of $5 million dies owning a $1 million vacation home in Illinois.
Florida has no estate tax, so one might assume no tax is due.
This assumption is wrong.
Illinois would first calculate the tax on a full $5 million estate, which is $285,714.
Then, it multiplies that amount by the ratio of Illinois property to the total estate ($1 million / $5 million = 20%).
The resulting Illinois estate tax bill would be $57,142 ($285,714 * 0.20).2
This apportionment formula reveals a crucial planning point.
The law applies specifically to tangible property.
This creates a powerful strategy for non-residents.
By placing Illinois real estate into a legal entity, such as a Limited Liability Company (LLC) domiciled in their home state, a non-resident can convert a tangible Illinois asset (the real estate) into an intangible asset (the ownership interest in the LLC).
Since the legal situs of intangible property is the owner’s state of residence, this can effectively remove the asset from the reach of the Illinois estate tax.10
This is a sophisticated maneuver, but it demonstrates the level of local knowledge required to navigate these waters safely.
To crystallize these critical differences, the following table provides a stark, side-by-side comparison of the two tax systems.
Table 1: Federal vs. Illinois Estate Tax: A Tale of Two Systems (2025)
| Feature | Federal Estate Tax | Illinois Estate Tax |
| Exemption Amount | $13.99 million per individual 13 | $4 million per individual 4 |
| Spousal Portability | Yes, surviving spouse can use deceased spouse’s unused exemption 6 | No, exemption is “use it or lose it” 6 |
| Top Tax Rate | 40% on the amount exceeding the exemption 13 | Graduated rates up to 16% on the total estate value if over the exemption 4 |
| Gift Tax | Yes, gifts over the annual exclusion reduce the lifetime exemption 13 | No gift tax, but prior taxable gifts are “added back” to the estate for calculation purposes 3 |
This table makes the core conflict of this report undeniable.
It provides a quick, digestible summary of why federal tax knowledge is not just insufficient but actively dangerous when planning for an Illinois estate.
It sets the stage for the solutions that follow—the local’s map needed to chart a safe course.
Part II: The Local’s Map – A Framework for Illinois-Specific Planning
After the Miller family’s ordeal, it became my mission to create a new framework for Illinois families—a “local’s map” designed specifically for our state’s unique tax river.
This framework is built on four pillars of action, each representing a powerful legal tool that, when used correctly, can protect a family’s legacy from these hidden hazards.
It moves families from being passive victims of a confusing law to being active architects of their financial future.
Pillar 1: Securing the Foundation – The Bypass Trust Solution
The first and most essential tool in our map directly addresses the core problem that sank the Millers: the lack of portability.
The solution is the Bypass Trust, also known as a Credit Shelter Trust or an A/B Trust.15
This is not a passive, automatic fix like federal portability.
It is an active planning structure that requires foresight and proper legal drafting, but its power is immense.
Here is how it works:
Instead of a simple will, a married couple creates a trust-based plan.
Upon the death of the first spouse, the plan directs that an amount up to the current Illinois exemption ($4 million) be moved into a new, irrevocable trust.
This is the “Bypass Trust” (sometimes called the “B Trust” or “Credit Shelter Trust”).
The surviving spouse can be the trustee and can receive all the income from this trust.
They can even access the principal for specified needs like health, education, maintenance, and support.
However, because the surviving spouse does not legally “own” the assets in the Bypass Trust, those assets are not included in their estate when they die.
The trust effectively bypasses the surviving spouse’s estate for tax purposes.16
The remaining assets from the first spouse’s estate typically pass to the surviving spouse, often held in a separate Marital Trust (or “A Trust”) to provide for them.
The result of this strategy is profound.
It fully utilizes and preserves the first spouse’s $4 million Illinois exemption, preventing it from being lost.
When the second spouse eventually passes away, they have their own full $4 million exemption to shield the assets they own (including those in the Marital Trust).
By using this structure, a married couple can effectively and safely shield a total of $8 million from the Illinois estate tax, double what a simple will would allow.10
To see the staggering financial impact of this one strategic choice, let’s revisit the Miller family’s $8 million estate and see how their story could have been different.
Table 2: The Miller Family’s $8M Estate: A Tale of Two Plans
| Action | Plan A: The Simple Will (What Happened) | Plan B: The Bypass Trust (What Could Have Been) |
| At First Spouse’s Death | All $8M passes to surviving spouse. Deceased’s $4M IL exemption is lost. | $4M funds the Bypass Trust. $4M passes to the surviving spouse. Deceased’s $4M IL exemption is used. |
| Tax at First Death | $0 | $0 |
| At Second Spouse’s Death | Surviving spouse dies with an $8M estate. | Surviving spouse dies with a $4M estate. (The Bypass Trust is not included). |
| Tax at Second Death | $680,634 (Tax on an $8M estate) 10 | $0 (The $4M estate is fully covered by the survivor’s $4M exemption). |
| Net Amount to Heirs | ~$7,319,366 | $8,000,000 |
This table is the logical and emotional heart of the matter.
It quantifies the cost of ignorance and the immense, tangible value of proper, Illinois-specific planning.
It proves that with the right map, the river is navigable.
The Bypass Trust is not merely a “nice to have” tool; it is the foundational and mandatory strategy for any Illinois couple with a combined estate over $4 million.
Pillar 2: Advanced Navigation – The Illinois QTIP Trust
While the Bypass Trust solves the primary tax problem, estate planning is rarely just about Math. It’s also about family dynamics, control, and flexibility.
For this, our map includes a more advanced tool: the Qualified Terminable Interest Property (QTIP) Trust.20
A QTIP Trust allows assets to be passed into a trust for the benefit of a surviving spouse while still qualifying for the unlimited marital deduction, meaning no estate tax is due at the first death.20
To qualify, the trust must meet specific requirements, chiefly that the surviving spouse is the sole beneficiary for their entire life and receives all income from the trust at least annually.20
What makes this tool particularly powerful in Illinois is a unique provision that allows for a state-level QTIP election that can be separate and distinct from any federal QTIP election.9
This opens the door for highly sophisticated planning.
For instance, in an estate larger than the combined exemptions, an executor can make a partial Illinois QTIP election.
They can elect to treat a portion of the assets as QTIP property (deferring the tax on that portion until the second death) while using the deceased’s $4 million exemption on the non-elected portion.
This allows for precise optimization of both spouses’ exemptions to minimize the overall tax bill across both estates.20
Beyond the tax mechanics, the QTIP Trust offers a crucial non-tax benefit often described as “control from the grave.” With a Bypass Trust or an outright gift, the surviving spouse often has significant control over the assets.
In a QTIP Trust, the first spouse to die dictates the ultimate destiny of the trust principal.
The surviving spouse receives the income and benefits for their lifetime, but upon their death, the remaining assets pass to beneficiaries chosen by the first spouse—not the survivor’s new spouse or other heirs.21
This makes the QTIP Trust an indispensable tool for blended families, ensuring that children from a prior marriage are protected and will ultimately inherit as intended.
It addresses both the complex tax code and complex family structures, making it a vital second-level solution on our map.
Pillar 3: Shielding Key Assets – The Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust (ILIT)
One of the most common ways a seemingly “safe” estate gets pushed over the $4 million cliff is through life insurance.
The death benefit from a life insurance policy is fully includable in your taxable estate if you possess any “incidents of ownership” at the time of your death.4
A $2 million policy can instantly turn a $2.5 million estate into a $4.5 million taxable estate, triggering a significant tax liability.
The definitive solution is the Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust (ILIT).
An ILIT is a special type of irrevocable trust created for the sole purpose of owning one or more life insurance policies.
The trust, not the insured person, is the owner and beneficiary of the policy.24
Because the insured individual gives up all incidents of ownership—such as the right to change the beneficiary, borrow against the policy, or cancel it—the death benefit is paid directly to the trust upon their death.
As a result, the proceeds are
not included in their taxable estate.24
Creating and funding an ILIT is a technical process.
The trust is typically funded through annual gifts from the insured person, which the trustee then uses to pay the policy premiums.
To ensure these gifts qualify for the annual federal gift tax exclusion ($19,000 per beneficiary in 2025), the trust must contain special provisions, known as “Crummey powers,” which give the beneficiaries a temporary right to withdraw the gifted amount each year.26
Furthermore, planners must be aware of the “three-year lookback rule.” If an existing life insurance policy is transferred to an ILIT and the insured dies within three years of the transfer, the IRS will “pull back” the death benefit into the taxable estate.
To avoid this, the best practice is often for the trust to be created first, and for the trustee to apply for and purchase a new policy from the outset.24
The ILIT does more than just avoid estate tax; it provides a profound secondary benefit: liquidity.
When an estate tax is due, the heirs often face a difficult choice.
If the estate’s main assets are illiquid—like a family farm or a closely-held business—they may be forced into a fire sale to raise the cash needed to pay the tax bill.
An ILIT provides a pool of tax-free cash outside the estate.
The trustee can use this cash to lend money to the estate to pay taxes or, even more strategically, to purchase the illiquid assets from the estate at a fair price.
This infuses the estate with the cash it needs to satisfy its tax obligations while keeping the core family asset—the farm, the business—intact and under family control.
This function transforms the ILIT from a simple tax-saving device into a powerful tool for legacy preservation.
Pillar 4: Proactive Pruning – Strategic Gifting & Other Techniques
The final pillar of our framework involves proactively and systematically reducing the size of a taxable estate during one’s lifetime through strategic wealth transfer.
Annual Exclusion Gifting
This is the simplest and most accessible strategy.
As of 2025, federal law allows an individual to gift up to $19,000 to any number of people each year without filing a gift tax return or using any lifetime exemption.4
A married couple can combine their exclusions to give $38,000 per recipient.
Over many years, a consistent program of annual gifting can significantly reduce the value of a taxable estate, keeping it below the $4 million Illinois threshold.
Direct Payments for Education and Medical Expenses
In addition to the annual exclusion, an individual can make unlimited payments directly to an educational institution for tuition or to a medical provider for qualifying medical expenses on behalf of someone else.
These payments are not considered taxable gifts and do not count against the annual exclusion, providing another powerful, tax-free avenue for wealth transfer and family support.3
Navigating the Illinois “Add-Back” Rule
While Illinois has no gift tax, it has a peculiar and complex rule regarding prior taxable gifts (gifts made in excess of the annual exclusion amount).
These gifts are “added back” to the value of the decedent’s estate for the purpose of calculating the Illinois estate tax.10
This might suggest that lifetime gifting is pointless, but a deeper analysis reveals a non-obvious planning opportunity.
The calculation is not a simple addition.
The formula is complex, and crucially, the impact of the add-back diminishes and eventually disappears at higher estate values.
Detailed analysis shows that gifts that bring the total of the “tentative taxable estate” plus “adjusted taxable gifts” into the range of roughly $4,000,000 to $5,360,000 are factored into the tax calculation.
However, once that combined total exceeds approximately $5,360,000, any additional gifts are effectively ignored by the Illinois estate tax formula.10
This creates a “sweet spot” for high-net-worth individuals.
While it is always more tax-efficient to gift assets during life than to die with them, this rule means that for very large estates, aggressive gifting strategies can move significant wealth out of the estate with a diminishing and ultimately capped impact on the final Illinois tax calculation.
Understanding this quirk of the law is a hallmark of truly advanced, expert-level Illinois estate planning.
Part III: The Practical Field Guide – Execution and Administration
Having a map is essential, but you also need to know how to read it, how to avoid the marked shoals, and how to file your plan with the right authorities.
This final part moves from strategy to action, providing a clear, practical roadmap for implementing your plan and avoiding common errors.
Charting the Shoals: Top 5 Illinois Estate Planning Mistakes to Avoid
Navigating the Illinois estate tax river requires avoiding several common and costly mistakes.
These are the sandbars where most plans run aground.
- Using a Federal “Ocean Chart.” This is the fundamental error the Millers made. Relying on federal rules, especially the concept of portability, and creating a simple will for an estate over $4 million is the surest way to trigger an unnecessary tax bill. Illinois has its own rules, and they must be followed.29
- Ignoring Asset Titling. Creating a sophisticated trust is useless if your assets are not properly titled in the trust’s name. Assets held in joint tenancy with right of survivorship, for example, pass automatically to the surviving joint owner by operation of law, completely bypassing the terms of a will or trust.3 A comprehensive plan involves a thorough review and retitling of all major assets.
- Forgetting to Update the Map. An estate plan is a snapshot of your life, finances, and wishes at a moment in time. Life changes—marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, the death of a beneficiary, a significant change in wealth—can render an old plan obsolete or even counterproductive. A plan should be reviewed every few years and after any major life event to ensure it still reflects your wishes and the current legal landscape.31
- Misunderstanding the Non-Resident Rules. A non-resident owning a vacation home in Galena or a condo in Chicago might assume it’s a non-issue. They fail to understand that if their total worldwide estate exceeds $4 million, the Illinois property will trigger the complex apportionment tax. This is a classic blind spot for out-of-state families with Illinois ties.12
- Procrastinating. The most common mistake is also the simplest: doing nothing at all. More than half of Americans do not have a will, let alone a comprehensive estate plan.30 Dying without a plan (intestate) means your assets will be distributed according to a rigid state formula, and your estate will be exposed to the maximum potential tax liability. The best time to plan was yesterday; the second-best time is today.31
Filing the Plan: Your Step-by-Step Administrative Guide
Once a plan is in place, the executor of an estate has specific administrative duties.
The process in Illinois involves two separate state agencies, a common point of confusion.
- The Key Players:
- Filing: The Illinois estate tax return (Form 700) and all supporting documents must be filed with the Illinois Attorney General’s Office.34
- Payment: Any estate tax due must be paid directly to the Illinois State Treasurer.35 Sending the payment to the Attorney General or the filing to the Treasurer can cause delays and potential penalties.
- The Forms:
- Form 700 (Illinois Estate and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Return): This is the primary state filing. It must be filed for the estate of any Illinois resident whose gross estate exceeds $4 million, even if deductions reduce the tax liability to zero.2
- Federal Form 706: A copy of the federal estate tax return is typically attached to the Illinois Form 700. If a federal return is not required, the estate can provide the necessary information in an alternative format, but it must include all the details needed to calculate the tax.2
- Form 700-EXT: This form is used to request an extension of time to file the return or pay the tax. Illinois generally recognizes federal extensions as well.2
- The Timeline:
- The Form 700 and any tax payment are due nine months after the decedent’s date of death.2
- The Essential Tool: The Online Calculator:
- The Illinois estate tax calculation is notoriously complex, involving an interrelated formula that can be difficult to compute by hand.2 In a tacit acknowledgment of this complexity, the Illinois Attorney General’s website provides an official online estate tax calculator.34 This tool is not merely a convenience; it is an essential part of the preparation and filing process for executors and their professional advisors.
Conclusion – Becoming the Architect of Your Own Legacy
The story of the Miller family is a cautionary tale.
They were good people who followed conventional wisdom and ended up with a disastrous, entirely avoidable outcome.
Their legacy was diminished by a tax they never knew existed, simply because they were using the wrong map.
But for every such story, there is another—a story of a family that took the time to understand the local landscape.
A family that, with proper guidance, implemented a Bypass Trust to preserve both spouses’ exemptions.
A family that used an ILIT to provide tax-free liquidity to preserve their family business.
A family that used strategic gifting to reduce their estate’s size while supporting their children and grandchildren during their lifetime.
For that family, the second death was not a moment of financial panic, but a smooth transition that honored their parents’ hard work and preserved their legacy intact.
The Illinois estate tax is a serious and complex threat.
Its cliff exemption, lack of portability, and confusing rules for non-residents make it a formidable obstacle.
But it is not an insurmountable one.
It is a river that can be navigated safely.
With proactive planning, a clear understanding of the state-specific rules, and the guidance of a qualified Illinois estate planning attorney, you can shift from being a passive passenger, vulnerable to the river’s hidden currents, to becoming the confident architect of your own legacy.
You can create a map that ensures your life’s work is protected and preserved for the people and causes you care about most, long after you are gone.
Works cited
- www.lewis.cpa, accessed on August 6, 2025, https://www.lewis.cpa/blog/how-to-avoid-illinois-estate-tax#:~:text=As%20of%202025%2C%20the%20Illinois,most%20current%20tax%20rate%20table.
- Important Notice Regarding Illinois Estate Tax and Fact Sheet, accessed on August 6, 2025, https://illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/Page-Attachments/EstateTaxInstructionFactSheet.pdf
- Your Guide to Estate Planning | Illinois State Bar Association, accessed on August 6, 2025, https://www.isba.org/public/guide/estateplanning
- How to Avoid Illinois Estate Tax in 2025? Lewis.cpa Explains!, accessed on August 6, 2025, https://www.lewis.cpa/blog/how-to-avoid-illinois-estate-tax
- Illinois Estate Taxes Explained Clearly, accessed on August 6, 2025, https://www.illinoisestatelaw.com/post/how-estate-taxes-work-in-illinois
- Illinois Estate Tax – Nolo, accessed on August 6, 2025, https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/illinois-estate-tax.html
- 2025 Estate Tax Exemptions and Planning Considerations | Publications – Faegre Drinker, accessed on August 6, 2025, https://www.faegredrinker.com/en/insights/publications/2025/1/2025-estate-tax-exemptions-and-planning-considerations
- The Role of Portability in Estate Tax Planning – Facer Law Office, accessed on August 6, 2025, https://www.facerlaw.com/blog/the-role-of-portability-in-estate-tax-planning/
- 2023 Important Notice Regarding Illinois Estate Tax and Fact Sheet, accessed on August 6, 2025, https://illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/Page-Attachments/InstructionFactSheet2023.pdf
- How the Illinois State Estate Tax Works – Strategic Wealth Partners, accessed on August 6, 2025, https://stratwealth.com/blog-how-the-illinois-state-estate-tax-works/
- Estate, Gift & Trust Tax Articles – Illinois CPA Society, accessed on August 6, 2025, https://www.icpas.org/information/technical-topics/tax/estate-gift-trust-tax-articles
- A Pop Quiz About the Illinois Estate Tax – Much Shelist, P.C., accessed on August 6, 2025, https://www.muchlaw.com/insights/a-pop-quiz-about-the-illinois-estate-tax/
- A Guide to the Federal Estate Tax for 2025 – SmartAsset.com, accessed on August 6, 2025, https://smartasset.com/taxes/all-about-the-estate-tax
- Illinois Estate Tax Explained 2025 – Valur Library, accessed on August 6, 2025, https://learn.valur.com/illinois-estate-tax/
- Illinois Estate Planning Bypass Trusts, accessed on August 6, 2025, https://www.lagrangelaw.com/illinois-estate-planning-bypas/
- 3 Benefits of An AB Trust – Estate and Probate Legal Group, accessed on August 6, 2025, https://estateandprobatelegalgroup.com/3-benefits-of-an-ab-trust/
- Bypass Trust Essentials in Illinois: A Primer for Protecting Your Estate | Heritage Law Office, accessed on August 6, 2025, https://www.heritagelawwi.com/bypass-trust-essentials-in-illinois-a-primer-for-protecting-your-estate
- Benefits of A-B Trusts | | , Schaumburg IL | Wells Fargo Advisors, accessed on August 6, 2025, https://fa.wellsfargoadvisors.com/verhulst-wm/Benefits-of-A-B-Trusts.c116.htm
- Illinois Residents May Face an Estate Tax Problem | Insights – Holland & Knight, accessed on August 6, 2025, https://www.hklaw.com/en/insights/publications/2008/04/illinois-residents-may-face-an-estate-tax-problem
- Illinois Estate Tax and the Illinois QTIP Trust | LP – Levenfeld Pearlstein, accessed on August 6, 2025, https://www.lplegal.com/content/illinois-estate-tax-illinois-qtip-trust/
- How a Family Trust and Marital Trust Work with a Living Trust in Illinois – Gateville Law Firm, accessed on August 6, 2025, https://www.gatevillelawfirm.com/blog/how-a-family-trust-and-marital-trust-work-with-a-living-trust-in-illinois
- Understanding Qualified Terminable Interest Property Trusts in Illinois | Heritage Law Office, accessed on August 6, 2025, https://www.heritagelawwi.com/understanding-qualified-terminable-interest-property-trusts-in-illinois
- Illinois Passes State QTIP Legislation—Does Your Estate Plan Need to Be Updated to Take Advantage?, accessed on August 6, 2025, https://katten.com/Illinois-Passes-State-QTIP-LegislationDoes-Your-Estate-Plan-Need-to-Be-Updated-to-Take-Advantage-09-28-2009
- Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts Explained | Illinois ILITs for Estate Tax Planning, accessed on August 6, 2025, https://www.oflaherty-law.com/learn-about-law/irrevocable-life-insurance-trusts-explained-illinois-ilits-for-estate-tax-planning
- Chicago Estate Lawyer – Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts, accessed on August 6, 2025, https://www.provenzalaw.com/chicago-estate-planning-lawyer-irrevocable-life-insurance-trusts/
- ILITs (Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts) – Jones, Kuriloff & Sargent, LLC, accessed on August 6, 2025, https://joneskuriloffsargentlaw.com/articles/ilits-irrevocable-life-insurance-trusts/
- Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts (ILIT) – Law Offices of Jeffrey R. Gottlieb, LLC, accessed on August 6, 2025, https://www.illinoisestateplan.com/estate-planning/estate-tax-planning/life-insurance-trusts-ilit/
- Paying Less Estate Tax Through Smart Estate Planning | IL – Lawyer, accessed on August 6, 2025, https://www.wshlaw.net/blog/paying-less-estate-tax-through-smart-estate-planning
- Do I Need to Be Concerned about the Illinois Estate Tax? – Chapman and Cutler LLP, accessed on August 6, 2025, https://www.chapman.com/publication-Illinois-Estate-Tax
- 4 Common Estate Planning Mistakes in Illinois – A. Traub & Associates, accessed on August 6, 2025, https://www.atclaw.com/divorce-lawyers-illinois/4-common-estate-planning-mistakes-in-illinois
- 5 mistakes to avoid when creating your estate plan | North Shore Estate Panning, accessed on August 6, 2025, https://www.northshore-ep.com/blog/2024/12/5-mistakes-to-avoid-when-creating-your-estate-plan/
- 5 Estate Planning Mistakes to Avoid – Stange Law Firm, accessed on August 6, 2025, https://www.illinoisdivorceattorneysblog.com/blog/5-estate-planning-mistakes-to-avoid/
- Illinois Estate Planning: The Basics You Need to Know – Tuohy Law Offices, accessed on August 6, 2025, https://tuohylawoffices.com/illinois-estate-planning-the-basics-you-need-to-know/
- Estate Taxes – Illinois Attorney General, accessed on August 6, 2025, https://illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/estate-taxes/
- illinoisattorneygeneral.gov, accessed on August 6, 2025, https://illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/estate-taxes/#:~:text=Filing%20Estate%20Taxes%20in%20Illinois&text=Estate%20taxes%20must%20be%20filed,to%20the%20Illinois%20State%20Treasurer.
- Estate Tax Payments – Illinois State Treasurer, accessed on August 6, 2025, https://www.illinoistreasurer.gov/Individuals/Estate_Tax
- STATE OF ILLINOIS ESTATE & GENERATION-SKIPPING TRANSFER TAX RETURN FOR DECEDENTS DYING ON OR AFTER JANUARY 1, 2023, accessed on August 6, 2025, https://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/Page-Attachments/form700.pdf
- pdfFiller: 2023-2025 Form IL 700 Fill Online, Printable, Fillable, Blank, accessed on August 6, 2025, https://illinois-700.pdffiller.com/
- REQUEST FOR EXTENSION OF TIME TO FILE A RETURN AND/OR PAY ILLINOIS ESTATE AND GENERATION-SKIPPING TRANSFER TAXES, accessed on August 6, 2025, https://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/Page-Attachments/Form700-EXT1.pdf
- Determining Illinois Estate Tax Rate is Surprisingly Difficult – The National Law Review, accessed on August 6, 2025, https://natlawreview.com/article/what-illinois-estate-tax-rate
