Schaumburg practice serving northwest suburban Cook County and neighboring DuPage, Lake, and Kane counties. Represents clients on both sides of probate litigation, including will contests and disputes over executor or trustee conduct, and handles guardianships, wills, trusts, and powers of attorney. Free initial consultation.
Probate in DuPage County
Probate Court Record
DuPage County Circuit Court
DuPage County · 18th Judicial Circuit
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM
Office
505 North County Farm Road, Wheaton, IL 60187
Website
E-filing
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
How to file probate in DuPage County →
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
Do I need a lawyer for probate in DuPage County? →Settling an estate in DuPage County →
Probate Litigation Firms Serving DuPage County
South Elgin and Huntley firm serving Kane, McHenry, DuPage, DeKalb, Kendall, and Cook counties. Handles wills and trusts, probate, trust administration, guardianships, and special needs trusts, and represents executors and beneficiaries in will contests and estate litigation.
Park Ridge firm of more than 40 years, with a by-appointment Chicago office, serving Cook and DuPage County families. Guides executors, administrators, and trustees through Illinois probate and trust administration — asset valuation, debt and tax resolution, distribution — and represents clients in will contests and heirship disputes. Also handles guardianships of adults and minors.
Aurora firm on West Galena Boulevard probating estates in Kane, Kendall, DuPage, Will, DeKalb, and Cook counties. Advises executors, administrators, and trustees through independent administration, trust reformation petitions, and estate and gift tax issues, and represents clients in will contests. Brings nearly 50 years of estate and farm succession planning.
La Salle firm serving the Illinois Valley, traced to a sole practice James Eugene Malone opened in La Salle circa 1909 and formerly Herbolsheimer, Duncan, Eiten & Hintz. Handles probate administration, will and trust contests, and guardianships. John S. Duncan counsels on advanced estate tax planning, marital and bypass trusts, and estate tax return preparation.
Tinley Park solo practice off Harlem Avenue and Interstate 80, serving clients from Will, Cook, DuPage, and Kankakee counties with more than 37 years in estate planning and probate. Advises executors on their duties and represents beneficiaries in estate disputes and probate litigation. Drafts wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, special needs trusts, and guardianship documents.
All 22 Illinois probate litigation firms serving DuPage County →
Forms for Planning and Settling an Estate in Illinois
Free Illinois forms to plan or settle an estate: a will, trust, powers of attorney, TOD deed and the probate forms. Prepare each form for Illinois.
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Revocable Living Trust
Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.
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Last Will and Testament
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.
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Tools for Planning and Settling an Estate in Illinois
Free calculators and checklists to plan or settle an estate in Illinois: will and trust costs, probate, executor pay and taxes. Run each tool for Illinois.
How Much Does Probate Cost?
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%Modeled estimate under 755 ILCS 5/27-2 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3%Modeled estimate under 755 ILCS 5/27-2 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate under a reasonable-compensation standard.
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Who Inherits Without a Will?
Without a will in Illinois, a surviving spouse takes half of the estate755 ILCS 5/2-1Verified Oct 21, 2026View source when a child or other descendant survives, and descendants divide what passes to them per stirpes755 ILCS 5/2-1Verified Oct 21, 2026View source.
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What Are the Creditor Claim Deadlines?
In Illinois, creditors have 6 months755 ILCS 5/18-3 (claim date not less than 6 months from first publication, or 3 months from mailing, whichever is later); 5/18-12(b) (2-year outer bar from death)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source from first publication of the creditor notice to present claims; late claims are barred.
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How Do I Settle an Estate?
Settling an estate in Illinois: the personal representative files the estate inventory within 60 days755 ILCS 5/14-1Verified Oct 10, 2026View source of appointment; creditors have 6 months755 ILCS 5/18-3, 5/18-10, 5/18-11, 5/18-12Verified Oct 18, 2026View source to present claims; a simple estate closes in 6 months to 9 months.
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How Much Can an Executor Charge?
Illinois pays executors reasonable compensation755 ILCS 5/27-1 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, typically 2.2%Estimated from the 16 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.8%Estimated from the 16 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate.
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