IL SB2904

Amends Section 15-1 of the Probate Act to establish the surviving spouse's award from a deceased resident's estate administered in Illinois.

Surviving spouse receives a court-determined reasonable sum for their 9-month support after the decedent's death, with a minimum award of $20,000, plus an additional minimum of $10,000 per minor or developmentally disabled adult child residing with the spouse at death.

Award is exempt from judgment enforcement, garnishment, and attachment, and paid in no more than 3 installments as directed by the court.

If the surviving spouse dies before full payment, unpaid amounts go to their estate; if the spouse dies or abandons a child before that child's award is paid, the unpaid amount is paid for the child's benefit as the court directs.

Surviving spouse is entitled to the award unless the decedent's will expressly provides otherwise and the spouse does not renounce the will; applies to decedents whose death date is on or after the effective date.