Belleville firm serving the Metro East (St. Clair and Madison counties), with an Edwardsville office by appointment. Handles probate for executors and heirs — filing the will, appointing the representative, inventorying assets, creditor notice, tax filings, and distribution — plus will contests and estate mediation. Both founding partners are certified mediators.
O'Fallon is in St. Clair County.
More Probate Firms in St. Clair County
Belleville firm on South High Street handling St. Clair County probate for local and out-of-state executors, family members, and heirs, including sale of the family home, estate tax administration, and the valuation of family farms. Also represents heirs, trustees, and executors in will contests, trust litigation, and contested guardianships.
Belleville firm on South Charles Street serving St. Clair, Madison, and Monroe county families across the Metro East. Handles estate administration and guardianships after a death, and drafts wills, trusts, health care directives, living wills, and powers of attorney.
Edwardsville firm serving the Metro East and southern Illinois from additional offices in Swansea, Mt. Vernon, and Centralia. Handles probate and the administration of estates after a death, and prepares wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives alongside elder-law, special-needs, and veterans-benefits work. Founded by attorney Todd W. Sivia in 2006.
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.
Probate in St. Clair County
Probate Court Record
St. Clair County Circuit Court
St. Clair County · 20th Judicial Circuit
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM
Office
10 Public Square, Belleville, IL 62220
Website
E-filing
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
How to file probate in St. Clair County →
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
Do I need a lawyer for probate in St. Clair County? →Settling an estate in St. Clair 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
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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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