My question involves estate proceedings in the state of: Illinois
My aunt and her son (my cousin) were found dead at their home in Illinois 5 weeks ago. The coroner hasn't released the bodies for burial. My aunt had a will and died first, according to the autopsy. Her son didn't have a will. No executor has been appointed. Their are 14 heirs, all cousins of my aunt's son. Two live in Illinois, I'm in California, and the rest are in the West. I volunteered to be the executor because I'm the only one who had a relationship with my aunt. The estate attorney told me I had the right to go to their home and sort through their possessions so I took the time off work, made flight reservations, then sent him a follow up email. Now, 10 days later, he says he spoke "glibly" and that the court would have to approve me to go into the house. He's dithering and giving me a lot of double talk. My questions are: Do I have the right to enter the house even if I don't remove anything? Is he liable to reimburse my nonrefundable flight costs?

