Probate in Illinois · 102 counties

Illinois Probate Courts

Estates here go through the Circuit Court (Probate Division). Pick a county on the map or search below — each record shows where to file and where every detail comes from.

Small-estate limit

$150,000

No statutory wait

Death taxes

Yes

Estate tax over $4 million

Executor fee

Reasonable

Reasonable fee set by the court

Handwritten wills

Witnesses required

Plate · IL

Every Illinois county, on one map

Population, low → high courthouse probate office checked

§ I

Illinois probate rules

Court: Circuit Court (Probate Division)In Illinois, probate cases are adjudicated in the Probate Division of the County Circuit Court (such as the Daley Center in Cook County). Circuit Courts oversee testate and intestate estates, minor guardianships, and disabled adults.
Small estates: $150,000 gross personal estate (deaths on/after Aug 15, 2025; was $100,000); motor vehicles excluded from the cap; not available if decedent owned Illinois real estate755 ILCS 5/25-1 (as amended by P.A. 104-0346, SB 83, eff. Aug 15, 2025)
Filing the will: Immediately upon death, custodian must file original will with the circuit court clerk (755 ILCS 5/6-1); willful concealment for 30 days after learning of death is a Class 3 felony
Creditor claims: 6 months from the date of first publication of notice, or 3 months from direct mail notice755 ILCS 5/18-3
Executor fees: Reasonable compensation based on hours spent, complexity, and estate size; typically 2% to 4% or $50-$150/hr755 ILCS 5/27-1 · calculator
Estate tax: Yes — exemption $4 millionIllinois imposes an estate tax on estates exceeding $4 million with graduated rates up to 16%. No inflation adjustment.
Inheritance tax: NoneNo state inheritance tax in Illinois.
Typical duration: 9 to 14 months
Official courts site: illinoiscourts.govCase search: Illinois Court Records Online (re:SearchIL / Cook County Clerk of Court)

Re-checked Sept 2026 against: mtvernonlaw.com (statute) · faegredrinker.com · ilga.gov · law.justia.com (statute)

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§ II · Register

All 102 counties

Sorted by population. office checked = probate office address/phone confirmed on the court's own website. courthouse mapped = located in OpenStreetMap.

#	County	Seat	Population	Record
1	Cook County	Chicago	5,087,072	courthouse mapped
2	DuPage County	Wheaton	921,213	courthouse mapped
3	Lake County	Waukegan	708,760	courthouse mapped
4	Will County	Joliet	700,728	office checked
5	Kane County	Geneva	514,982	courthouse mapped
6	McHenry County	Woodstock	312,800	courthouse mapped
7	Winnebago County	Rockford	280,922	courthouse mapped
8	Madison County	Edwardsville	262,752	courthouse mapped
9	St. Clair County	Belleville	251,018	county site
10	Champaign County	Urbana	205,644	courthouse mapped
11	Sangamon County	Springfield	193,491	courthouse mapped
12	Peoria County	Peoria	177,513	courthouse mapped
13	McLean County	Bloomington	170,441	county site
14	Rock Island County	Rock Island	141,236	courthouse mapped
15	Kendall County	Yorkville	139,976	courthouse mapped
16	Tazewell County	Pekin	129,541	courthouse mapped
17	LaSalle County	Ottawa	108,309	courthouse mapped
18	Kankakee County	Kankakee	105,940	courthouse mapped
19	Macon County	Decatur	100,591	courthouse mapped
20	DeKalb County	Sycamore	100,288	courthouse mapped
21	Vermilion County	Danville	71,652	courthouse mapped
22	Williamson County	Marion	66,706	courthouse mapped
23	Adams County	Quincy	64,441	courthouse mapped
24	Whiteside County	Morrison	54,498	courthouse mapped
25	Grundy County	Morris	53,578	courthouse mapped
26	Boone County	Belvidere	53,202	courthouse mapped
27	Jackson County	Murphysboro	52,141	courthouse mapped
28	Ogle County	Oregon	51,265	courthouse mapped
29	Henry County	Cambridge	48,448	county site
30	Knox County	Galesburg	48,411	courthouse mapped
31	Coles County	Charleston	46,060	courthouse mapped
32	Macoupin County	Carlinville	44,018	courthouse mapped
33	Stephenson County	Freeport	43,105	courthouse mapped
34	Woodford County	Eureka	38,285	courthouse mapped
35	Franklin County	Benton	37,138	courthouse mapped
36	Clinton County	Carlyle	36,785	courthouse mapped
37	Marion County	Salem	36,673	courthouse mapped
38	Jefferson County	Mount Vernon	36,320	courthouse mapped
39	Livingston County	Pontiac	35,320	courthouse mapped
40	Monroe County	Waterloo	34,957	courthouse mapped
41	Effingham County	Effingham	34,331	courthouse mapped
42	Lee County	Dixon	33,654	courthouse mapped
43	Christian County	Taylorville	33,228	courthouse mapped
44	Bureau County	Princeton	32,729	courthouse mapped
45	Fulton County	Lewistown	32,541	courthouse mapped
46	Morgan County	Jacksonville	32,140	courthouse mapped
47	Randolph County	Chester	29,815	courthouse mapped
48	Montgomery County	Hillsboro	27,663	courthouse mapped
49	Logan County	Lincoln	27,590	courthouse mapped
50	McDonough County	Macomb	26,839	courthouse mapped
51	Iroquois County	Watseka	26,136	courthouse mapped
52	Saline County	Harrisburg	22,873	courthouse mapped
53	Jo Daviess County	Galena	21,756	courthouse mapped
54	Fayette County	Vandalia	21,164	courthouse mapped
55	Jersey County	Jerseyville	21,091	courthouse mapped
56	Shelby County	Shelbyville	20,568	courthouse mapped
57	Perry County	Pinckneyville	20,503	courthouse mapped
58	Douglas County	Tuscola	19,629	courthouse mapped
59	Crawford County	Robinson	18,300	courthouse mapped
60	Hancock County	Carthage	17,186	courthouse mapped
61	Piatt County	Monticello	16,714	courthouse mapped
62	Union County	Jonesboro	16,667	county site
63	Bond County	Greenville	16,450	courthouse mapped
64	Edgar County	Paris	16,334	courthouse mapped
65	Warren County	Monmouth	16,185	courthouse mapped
66	Wayne County	Fairfield	15,761	courthouse mapped
67	Carroll County	Mount Carroll	15,526	county site
68	Richland County	Olney	15,488	courthouse mapped
69	Mercer County	Aledo	15,487	courthouse mapped
70	De Witt County	Clinton	15,365	courthouse mapped
71	Clark County	Marshall	15,088	courthouse mapped
72	Lawrence County	Lawrenceville	14,813	courthouse mapped
73	Moultrie County	Sullivan	14,342	courthouse mapped
74	Pike County	Pittsfield	14,342	courthouse mapped
75	Massac County	Metropolis	13,661	courthouse mapped
76	Washington County	Nashville	13,536	courthouse mapped
77	White County	Carmi	13,401	courthouse mapped
78	Johnson County	Vienna	13,326	courthouse mapped
79	Ford County	Paxton	13,250	courthouse mapped
80	Clay County	Louisville	12,999	courthouse mapped
81	Cass County	Virginia	12,596	courthouse mapped
82	Mason County	Havana	12,523	courthouse mapped
83	Menard County	Petersburg	11,954	courthouse mapped
84	Marshall County	Lacon	11,683	courthouse mapped
85	Greene County	Carrollton	11,543	courthouse mapped
86	Wabash County	Mount Carmel	10,942	courthouse mapped
87	Cumberland County	Toledo	10,261	courthouse mapped
88	Jasper County	Newton	9,144	courthouse mapped
89	Hamilton County	McLeansboro	7,911	courthouse mapped
90	Schuyler County	Rushville	6,733	courthouse mapped
91	Brown County	Mount Sterling	6,294	county site
92	Henderson County	Oquawka	6,088	county site
93	Edwards County	Albion	5,968	courthouse mapped
94	Putnam County	Hennepin	5,561	courthouse mapped
95	Stark County	Toulon	5,218	courthouse mapped
96	Pulaski County	Mound	4,911	courthouse mapped
97	Scott County	Winchester	4,710	county site
98	Alexander County	Cairo	4,695	courthouse mapped
99	Gallatin County	Shawneetown	4,670	county site
100	Calhoun County	Hardin	4,317	courthouse mapped
101	Pope County	Golconda	3,707	county site
102	Hardin County	Elizabethtown	3,569	courthouse mapped

§ III

Illinois probate questions

What is the small estate affidavit limit in Illinois?

$150,000 gross personal estate (deaths on/after Aug 15, 2025; was $100,000); motor vehicles excluded from the cap; not available if decedent owned Illinois real estate (755 ILCS 5/25-1 (as amended by P.A. 104-0346, SB 83, eff. Aug 15, 2025)). There is no statutory waiting period. Under Illinois Public Act 103-0857, the small estate threshold is increased to $150,000 in personal property. Real estate CANNOT be transferred by Small Estate Affidavit in Illinois.

How are executor and administrator fees calculated in Illinois?

Reasonable compensation based on hours spent, complexity, and estate size; typically 2% to 4% or $50-$150/hr (755 ILCS 5/27-1). Courts can award more for extraordinary services, such as running a business or litigation.

What is the creditor claim deadline for estates in Illinois?

6 months from the date of first publication of notice, or 3 months from direct mail notice (755 ILCS 5/18-3). Claims filed after the deadline are generally barred.

Does Illinois recognize handwritten (holographic) wills?

No — witnesses are required. Illinois does NOT recognize unwitnessed handwritten wills. All wills must be witnessed by 2 or more credible witnesses (755 ILCS 5/4-3).

Does Illinois have a state estate tax or inheritance tax?

Yes, Illinois taxes estates above $4 million. Illinois imposes an estate tax on estates exceeding $4 million with graduated rates up to 16%. No inflation adjustment. There is no inheritance tax.