Probate in DuPage County

Probate Court Record

DuPage County Circuit Court

DuPage County · 18th Judicial Circuit

Hours

Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM

Office

505 North County Farm Road, Wheaton, IL 60187

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 Firms Serving DuPage County

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.

Solo PracticeServes 5 countiesFree consultationEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationConservatorshipGuardianshipWills Trusts

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.

Serves 2 countiesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationConservatorship+2

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.

Solo PracticeServes 3 countiesFree consultationEstate PlanningProbateWills Trusts

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.

Serves 7 countiesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationTax Planning+4

Geneva practice on North 1st Street serving Kane and DuPage County families in St. Charles, Batavia, Aurora, and Elgin. Guides families through probate and decedent estate administration, including intestate estates, plus wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and adult guardianships. Attorney Deanna L. Aguinaga Walker offers free consultations.

Solo PracticeServes 3 countiesFree consultationEstate PlanningProbateConservatorshipGuardianshipWills Trusts

All 35 Illinois probate 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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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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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.

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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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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.

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