will contest exception (Illinois) · Go Syfert
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will contest exception in Illinois

9 Illinois opinions name it 2 courts 1995–2026 2 in the last five years

The cases below were cited by Illinois courts in a sentence that names this issue. Sides come from how each citing opinion treated the case (Syfertize flag on that citation), so a case can appear on both: that is where the law is contested. A red or yellow chip is the case's own overall treatment.

Followed or applied (5)

CaseFollowedCited
Hitt v. Stephensgreen
illappct · 1997 · cited in 2 Illinois opinions naming this issue, 2023–2026
2 sentences

2026App. 3d 687, 693-94 (1984); DeHart, 2013 IL 114137, ¶ 69 ); see also DeHart, 2013 IL 114137, ¶ 73 (finding “this is indisputably a will contest,” and so “plaintiff will be able to make out a prima facie case on remand that the attorney-client privilege does not apply because it is subject to the will-contest exception”); Hitt, 285 Ill.

2023Absent a showing of some appropriate exception, such as the will contest exception, it will remain intact.” Hitt, 285 Ill.

12
DeHart v. DeHartgreen
ill · 2013 · cited in 2 Illinois opinions naming this issue, 2023–2026
2 sentences

2026App. 3d 687, 693-94 (1984); DeHart, 2013 IL 114137, ¶ 69 ); see also DeHart, 2013 IL 114137, ¶ 73 (finding “this is indisputably a will contest,” and so “plaintiff will be able to make out a prima facie case on remand that the attorney-client privilege does not apply because it is subject to the will-contest exception”); Hitt, 285 Ill.

2026App. 3d 687, 693-94 (1984); DeHart, 2013 IL 114137, ¶ 69 ); see also DeHart, 2013 IL 114137, ¶ 73 (finding “this is indisputably a will contest,” and so “plaintiff will be able to make out a prima facie case on remand that the attorney-client privilege does not apply because it is subject to the will-contest exception”); Hitt, 285 Ill.

12
Morrow v. Pappasgreen
illappct · 2017 · cited in 1 Illinois opinions naming this issue, 2023–2023
2 sentences

2023App. 3d 300, 306 (2004) (“When an agent communicates with the principal’s attorney, the agent speaks as the client, or principal, and his or her communications are protected to the same extent as though the principal was speaking.”); 755 ILCS 45/2-1 (West 2020) (stating purpose for durable powers of attorney). ¶ 36 The failure of petitioner to contest the existence of the attorney-client privilege in the parties’ pleadings and only contest whether the will contest exception applied resulted in depriving respondent of a meaningful opportunity to attempt to establish the necessary facts 2 “Infor

2023See Morrow, 2017 IL App (3d) 160393, ¶ 29 .

11
Consolidation Coal Co. v. Bucyrus-Erie Co.green
ill · 1982 · cited in 1 Illinois opinions naming this issue, 2023–2023
1 sentence

2023The Court ruled that none of the documents produced for in camera inspection are protected by the attorney-client privilege as articulated by (Consolidation Coal Co. v. Bucyrus-Erie Co., 89 Ill. 2d 103, 119 (1982))” 1, a case not argued or cited by either party in their dispute whether the will contest exception applied to this case.

11
In Re Marriage of Deckergreen
ill · 1992 · cited in 1 Illinois opinions naming this issue, 2023–2023
1 sentence

2023See Decker, 153 Ill. 2d at 328 .

11

Distinguished, questioned or overruled (0)

CaseNegativeCited
No negative-treatment citations attached to this issue in Illinois. Read the followed side critically anyway.

Also cited on this issue (5)

CaseCitedYears
Eizenga v. Unity Christian School of Fulton, Illinois green
illappct · 2016
2 sentences

2026App. 3d at 717 (“The only context in which a client’s death might affect the viability of the privilege is a will contest.”). ¶ 17 The first and only time a court applied the testamentary exception outside a will contest occurred in Eizenga v. Unity Christian School of Fulton, Illinois, 2016 IL App (3d) 150519 , a case involving a challenge to an inter vivos trust.

2018Nothing in the DeHart case supports the plaintiffs’ contention that the exception applies outside of will contest cases. ¶ 30 The plaintiffs cite this court’s decision in Eizenga v. Unity Christian School of Fulton, Illinois, 2016 IL App (3d) 150519 , when they posit that the exception to the privilege applies to non-will contest cases.

32017–2026
Briscoe v. LaHue green
scotus · 1983
2 sentences

1998The doctrine of absolute privilege from civil suit for statements made in judicial proceedings has been described by the U.S. Supreme Court as "well established" ( Briscoe v. Lahue , 460 U.S. 325, 330-31 , 75 L.

1998The doctrine of absolute privilege from civil suit for statements made in judicial proceedings has been described by the U.S. Supreme Court as "well established" ( Briscoe v. Lahue , 460 U.S. 325, 330-31 , 75 L.

21998–1998
In Re Estate of Donovan green
ill · 1951
2 sentences

1995At this point it is appropriate to refer to the expressions of the supreme court in In re Estate of Donovan (1951), 409 Ill. 195 , 98 N.E.2d 757 , in which the surviving husband, who was an executor and trustee under the will, also renounced the will.

1995At this point it is appropriate to refer to the expressions of the supreme court in In re Estate of Donovan (1951), 409 Ill. 195 , 98 N.E.2d 757 , in which the surviving husband, who was an executor and trustee under the will, also renounced the will.

21995–1995
Adler v. Greenfield green
illappct · 2013
1 sentence

2023In Adler v. Greenfield, 2013 IL App (1st) 121066, ¶ 61 , this court held that the exception to the privilege for a will contest does not apply where the action was not a will contest but was “a separate action in the law division and not in the probate division, for legal malpractice.” ¶ 39 The will contest exception to the attorney-client privilege does not apply in actions that do not directly contest a testamentary instrument where the separate action involves what could arguably be categorized as testamentary issues.

12023–2023
Shriners Hospitals for Children v. Bauman green
ill · 2009
2 sentences

2013Ellis, 236 Ill. 2d at 48-49 . ¶ 27 This court explained: “Our holding in Robinson was limited to not recognizing the tort action where plaintiffs have an opportunity to contest a probated will but choose not to do so, and subsequently enter into an agreement to take no further court action.” Id. at 54 .

2013Ellis, 236 Ill. 2d at 48-49 . ¶ 27 This court explained: “Our holding in Robinson was limited to not recognizing the tort action where plaintiffs have an opportunity to contest a probated will but choose not to do so, and subsequently enter into an agreement to take no further court action.” Id. at 54 .

12013–2013

Statutes the citing opinions construe

IL § 755 ILCS 5/8-1 (3)

Counted by distinct opinions that both name this issue and are annotated to the section; sections every opinion cites regardless of issue are not filtered here, so read the counts against the total above.

Where else courts name it

IL 9 (1995–2026) CA 4 (1943–2026) TX 2 (2016–2024) OH 2 (2007–2020) AL 2 (2012–2023) IA 2 (2017–2019) WA 2 (1933–1944)

Opinions by the citing court's state. A doctrine retained in one state and abandoned in another shows up here as a year span that stalls.

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