Free Illinois forms for planning an estate or settling one: a will, trust, powers of attorney, TOD deed, and the probate forms an executor files.
Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.
In Illinois, a will is signed before 2755 ILCS 5/4-3Verified Oct 18, 2026View source witnesses, and the witnesses sign an affidavit at probate instead of a self-proving affidavit755 ILCS 5/4-3Verified Oct 18, 2026View source.
Illinois requires 1755 ILCS 45/4-10Verified Oct 15, 2026View source witness for a healthcare power of attorney; notarization is not required755 ILCS 45/4-10Verified Oct 15, 2026View source.
Illinois treats a power of attorney as durable by default755 ILCS 45/2-3, 45/2-5, 45/2-8, 45/2-10.6, 45/3-3, 45/3-3.6, 45/3-4; 765 ILCS 5/28; 755 ILCS 5/11-1Verified Sep 18, 2026View source, and it is signed before 1755 ILCS 45/2-3, 45/2-5, 45/2-8, 45/2-10.6, 45/3-3, 45/3-3.6, 45/3-4; 765 ILCS 5/28; 755 ILCS 5/11-1Verified Sep 18, 2026View source witness and a notary.
In Illinois, a pour-over will is signed before 2755 ILCS 5/4-3Verified Oct 18, 2026View source witnesses and moves anything left outside the trust into it through probate.
In Illinois, a transfer on death instrument is signed before a notary755 ILCS 27/1 to 27/95Verified Oct 18, 2026View source and 2755 ILCS 27/1 to 27/95Verified Oct 18, 2026View source witnesses, then recorded with the county before the owner's death755 ILCS 27/1 to 27/95Verified Oct 18, 2026View source.
Free calculators and checklists for planning or settling an estate in Illinois: will and trust costs, probate, executor pay, and inheritance taxes.
In Illinois, a will-based plan pays probate attorney fees of typically 1.9%755 ILCS 5/27-2 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3%755 ILCS 5/27-2 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate; a funded revocable trust keeps those assets out of probate and off that fee.
Probate in Illinois takes 6 months to 9 months for a simple estate and charges attorney fees of typically 1.9%755 ILCS 5/27-2 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3%755 ILCS 5/27-2 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate; assets held in a revocable trust skip both.
An attorney-prepared revocable trust in Illinois runs $3,680Estimate: 10 hours at $368, Clio's Illinois Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $5,520Estimate: 15 hours at $368, Clio's Illinois Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source and a simple will $1,002Estimate: 3 hours at $334, Clio's Illinois Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $2,004Estimate: 6 hours at $334, Clio's Illinois Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source, against $0 to $549 up front plus a subscription with an online service.
Probate on a $500,000 estate in Illinois costs an estimated $25,745755 ILCS 5/27-2 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source. Attorney fees run 1.9%755 ILCS 5/27-2 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3%755 ILCS 5/27-2 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate under a reasonable-compensation standard.
Illinois automatically revokes an ex-spouse as beneficiary at divorce755 ILCS 5/4-7(b); 750 ILCS 5/503(b-5); 760 ILCS 3/605Verified Sep 15, 2026View source; employer plans under ERISA follow federal rules either way, so a 401(k) beneficiary changes only by a new designation.
Probate on a $500,000 estate in Illinois costs an estimated $25,745755 ILCS 5/27-2 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source and takes 6 months to 9 months for a simple estate, with attorney fees of typically 1.9%755 ILCS 5/27-2 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3%755 ILCS 5/27-2 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate. Estates under $150,000755 ILCS 5/25-1Verified Sep 8, 2026View source can use a small-estate procedure instead.
129 estate planning firms in Illinois, by county and firm type.
Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to discuss your situation and verify their current practice areas and availability.
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129 firms
FirmMount Vernon, IL
Mount Vernon firm on Broadway Street representing individuals and families from Jefferson County and the surrounding southern Illinois communities. Handles estate planning and probate alongside family law, criminal defense, business law, and civil litigation, with more than 60 years of combined experience.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbate
FirmChampaign, IL
Champaign firm in the Trade Centre building serving east-central Illinois since 1946. Advises executors named under a will and trustees on the performance of their duties, and drafts wills, living trusts, special needs and credit shelter trusts, and advance directives. Works regularly with family farmers, layering estate, gift, and generation-skipping tax planning into the work.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 4 more
FirmLincoln, IL
Rural central Illinois firm handling probate and estate administration through the Logan County courts in Lincoln, with satellite offices in Delavan and Petersburg. Settles testate and intestate estates from gathering assets and paying debts through distribution to beneficiaries, administers trusts, and handles adult and minor guardianships. Also covers farmland sales and wind and solar leases.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 6 more
FirmJoliet, IL
Joliet firm focused on Will County probate, trust, and estate matters. Represents trustees, executors, administrators, guardians, heirs, and beneficiaries in contested and uncontested probate, in trust and estate administration, and in guardianship proceedings. Founded in 2010 by attorney Colleen Wengler, who has practiced in the Joliet area since 2005.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 4 more
Solo PracticeChicago, IL
Loop practice on N. La Salle Street serving Cook County and the northern suburbs, primarily a family-law practice that also handles probate and guardianships. Opens estates to pay a decedent’s final bills, expenses, and taxes and distribute what remains to beneficiaries or intestate heirs, and prepares basic wills, powers of attorney, and living wills.
PracticesProbateProbate LitigationConservatorshipGuardianshipWills Trusts
FirmLa Grange, IL
La Grange firm serving Cook, DuPage, and Lake counties, with a second office in Deerfield. Helps the person settling an estate secure property, send required notices, respond to creditor claims, prepare accountings, and communicate with beneficiaries, and represents beneficiaries and expected heirs. Also handles guardianship, Medicaid asset protection, and special needs planning. Founded in 1983.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 4 more
FirmBelleville, IL
Belleville firm serving St. Clair, Monroe, Clinton, Madison, and Randolph counties, with a by-appointment satellite office in Waterloo. Identifies and secures estate assets, orders property appraisals, manages estate bank accounts, files probate court documents, satisfies estate tax obligations, and transfers assets to beneficiaries. Primarily a family-law and mediation practice.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateWills Trusts
Solo PracticeOrland Park, IL
Orland Park solo practice serving south suburban Cook, DuPage, and Will counties. Guides executors, administrators, and heirs through probate and estate administration — will interpretation, asset identification and distribution, real-estate sales, and account closure — with particular depth on the tax side of settling an estate.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateWills Trusts
Solo PracticeOlney, IL
Olney practice on South Kitchell Avenue in Richland County, serving southeastern Illinois. Settles estates and prepares wills, trusts, and powers of attorney, and handles guardianships and adoptions. Attorney Bartley Zuber is a certified mediator and guardian ad litem, and the practice also covers real estate transactions and title insurance.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateConservatorshipGuardianshipWills Trusts