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.
Probate in Cook County
Probate Court Record
Circuit Court of Cook County
Cook County · Circuit Court of Cook County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-4:30 PM
Office
50 West Washington Street, Room 1202, Chicago, IL 60602
Website
E-filing
Self-represented filing
This court requires an attorney
Self-help forms
How to file probate in Cook County →
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
Do I need a lawyer for probate in Cook County? →Settling an estate in Cook County →
Probate Firms Serving Cook County
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.
Oakbrook Terrace firm serving DuPage, Cook, Will, and Kane counties. Represents trustees and named beneficiaries in opening, administering, and closing estates — probate court appearances, property management, final tax returns, small estates, and will contests. Attorneys Ausaf Farooqi and Naveed Husain also draft Islamic wills and trusts.
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.
Naperville firm on South Washington Street serving DuPage County and Chicagoland since 1978. Handles estate administration, small estate administration with bond in lieu of surety, guardianships, and trust administration after a death, and drafts wills, revocable and special needs trusts, and transfer-on-death instruments.
Lisle practice on Warrenville Road serving DuPage County families, where Cindy Hutchins has twice chaired the DuPage County Bar Association Estate Planning and Probate Committee. Represents executors, administrators, and beneficiaries in probate and handles will contests and contested trusts and estates. Adds Medicaid planning, special needs trusts, and adult and minor guardianships.
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.
$12/month
Revocable Living Trust
Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.
Get Started
Free
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.
Get Started
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.
Calculate Costs
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.
See the Steps
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.
Calculate the Fee
Do I Need Probate?
In Illinois, estates with personal property of $150,000755 ILCS 5/25-1Verified Sep 8, 2026View source or less skip probate with the Small Estate Affidavit755 ILCS 5/25-1Verified Sep 8, 2026View source.
Get the Answer
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.
Check the Rules
Can I Self-File Probate?
In Illinois, informal probate is not available755 ILCS 5/6-4, 5/9-4 (court admits the will and issues letters; no registrar/clerk informal appointment)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, so self-filing means a formal court petition rather than a registrar filing.
Get the Answer
