I am wondering, is Illinois a community property state? If one spouse passes on, does the other gain all rights to what was left behind from the deceased spouse?

I a curve ball was thrown at me this weekend.

From a web search

Found this:

"In Illinois, the intestate laws are as follows: Deceased person is survived by spouse and descendants: the spouse receives half the property and the children split the remaining half. Deceased person is survived by spouse and no descendants: the spouse receives the entire probate property."

I went out to do a surprise inspection/visit at the Pizza Hut to see how business was doing. I saw some issue.

I was then surprised.

I didn't expect the owner to have died seven weeks earlier.

Uh Oh!

At least you have some warning now.

Its all good - or it should be.

This lease expires on 1/1/23. The store generates seven figures in revenue annually. I was counting on this family renewing, but hey the poor widow is overwhelmed now. She operates two stores and four shifts with a limited amount of help.