Steagall v. People ex rel. Fahner

The issue here — simply put— is whether the guarantee agreements executed by the decedent are debts deductible from the value of her estate for the purpose of determining the net value of the estate subject to Illinois inheritance tax.

The guarantees are contingent liabilities.

They are not deductible.

We affirm.

There is no need for a detailed recitation of facts here. After Joyce Steagall died, her husband and executor, Charles Steagall, filed an Illinois inheritance tax return. The Attorney General filed objections to the return, which challenge the listing — as deductions from the estate’s…