If a resident of Illinois dies, which laws apply to her estate distribution when all property is in Illinois except for one account in Indiana?

When a resident of Illinois dies, their estate distribution primarily follows Illinois law. This is because the decedent had established residence in Illinois, which means that Illinois law governs the distribution of their assets.

The key factor here is domicile; the deceased individual's primary legal address determines which state law applies to the estate. Since all of the property is located in Illinois except for one account in Indiana, Illinois law will handle the distribution of the estate, including assets within that Indiana account. Typically, most states, including Indiana, acknowledge the primary state's laws regarding the deceased's estate and often defer to them unless particular circumstances necessitate separate proceedings.

In this scenario, Indiana may have its own rules regarding property held there, but because the deceased was an Illinois resident, Illinois law serves as the overarching framework for how and to whom the estate will be distributed. Therefore, it is accurate that all assets will be distributed under Illinois law, reflecting the general principle of domicile affecting estate administration.