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.
Probate in Livingston County
Probate Court Record
Livingston County Circuit Court
Livingston County · 11th Judicial Circuit
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM
Office
110 North Main Street, Pontiac, IL 61764
Website
E-filing
Self-represented filing
Allowed
How to file probate in Livingston County →
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
Do I need a lawyer for probate in Livingston County? →Settling an estate in Livingston County →
Probate Firms Serving Livingston County
Serves McLean County estates through the Bloomington probate court, working with Bloomington-Normal families since 1990. Handles estate and trust administration, wills, powers of attorney, and contested estates. Carries a probate-litigation track for disputed administrations.
Serves McLean County estates through the Bloomington probate court near the county courthouse, with coverage extending across Logan, DeWitt, Livingston, Woodford, and Tazewell counties. Works with executors, administrators, and personal representatives to prepare and file probate documents and complete estate settlement from appointment through final distribution.
Taylorville firm practicing in Christian County since 1928. Guides executors and trustees through probate and estate administration and litigates disputes between heirs, estate challenges, trustee misconduct, and misappropriation of assets. Also drafts wills, trusts, and powers of attorney and handles guardianships for minors and incapacitated adults.
Macomb general-practice firm on West Side Square, serving McDonough, Hancock, Henderson, Fulton, Schuyler, Warren, and Knox county families. Estate administration work covers probate, small estate affidavits, will contests, and inheritance and estate tax returns. Farm estates and farm succession planning are a recurring emphasis.
Lake Forest office on S. Saunders Road serving Chicago, the North Shore, and clients throughout Illinois and Missouri. Guides executors and trustees through probate — validating the will, inventorying and valuing assets, creditor and beneficiary notice, court filings, and distribution — plus guardianship and digital-asset planning. Attorney Shanise Evans meets clients in person or virtually.
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
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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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