Free Illinois forms for planning an estate or settling one: a will, trust, powers of attorney, TOD deed, and the probate forms an executor files.
Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.
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.
Free calculators and checklists for planning or settling an estate in Illinois: will and trust costs, probate, executor pay, and inheritance taxes.
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%755 ILCS 5/27-2 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3%755 ILCS 5/27-2 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate under a reasonable-compensation standard.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
125 probate firms in Illinois, by county and firm type.
Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to discuss your situation and verify their current practice areas and availability.
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125 firms
FirmBloomington, IL
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.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationWills Trusts
FirmSycamore, IL
Sycamore firm whose attorneys appear in the DeKalb County probate court regularly, handling will administration, will contests, creditor claims, and the recovery of estate assets. Also files adult and minor guardianships and prepares estate and gift tax returns, alongside wills and trusts for farmers, business owners, educators, and blended families. More than fifty years serving DeKalb County.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationElder Lawand 6 more
FirmBelleville, IL
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.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateConservatorshipGuardianshipWills Trusts
FirmHavana, IL
Havana practice on West Market Street in the Mason County seat, where William H. Knuppel and Blake L. Lindner handle estate planning and probate, wills and trusts, and elder law for local families, alongside agricultural law and tax work. The firm says it has been in existence for over 100 years.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawTax Planningand 2 more
Solo PracticeRock Island, IL
Rock Island solo practice serving Rock Island County and the Quad Cities. Attorney Philip Koenig handles wills, trusts, probate, and estate administration, including estate-tax, property, and litigated estate issues. Recognized as an Illinois Leading Lawyer every year since 2003.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationElder Lawand 3 more
FirmChicago, IL
Chicago litigation firm on North LaSalle Street representing executors and heirs in Cook County probate and estate litigation — estate administration, will validity and contests, asset discovery, creditor and heir notice, and intestate-succession disputes. Over 40 years of civil litigation experience.
PracticesProbateProbate Litigation
FirmNaperville, IL
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.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateTax Planningand 4 more
Solo PracticeChicago, IL
Loop firm on West Wacker Drive with a settlement-heavy practice, guiding executors and heirs through Cook County independent and supervised administration, contested estates, heirship disputes, and challenges to a will’s validity. Also drafts revocable, dynasty, and special needs trusts and handles trust administration after a death.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 2 more
Solo PracticeEdwardsville, IL
Edwardsville solo practice at Club Centre Court serving Madison County and the Metro East since 1995. Assists executors through probate — filing the will, transferring assets to the estate, valuing and liquidating property, paying taxes and debts, and locating beneficiaries — and litigates probate and will disputes. Also drafts wills, codicils, living wills, and living trusts.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationTax Planningand 3 more
Solo PracticeMetropolis, IL
Metropolis practice serving Massac County and the neighboring far southern Illinois counties along the Ohio River. Drafts wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and living wills, and helps families resolve the estate of a deceased relative. Licensed in Illinois and Kentucky, with family law and personal injury work alongside the estate practice.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateWills Trusts
FirmMarion, IL
Marion firm on West Main Street serving Williamson County and southern Illinois. Guides executors through probate and estate administration — closing the estate, filing the paperwork, and corresponding with interested parties — and litigates will contests, trust disputes, and breach-of-fiduciary-duty claims for beneficiaries, trustees, banks, and trust companies.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationWills Trusts
Solo PracticeGlenview, IL
Glenview practice on Patriot Boulevard serving Cook and Lake county families across the North Shore. Supports beneficiaries and fiduciaries through probate and trust administration and takes contested estates to court when they arise. Also drafts wills, trusts, and powers of attorney, and files guardianships.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 3 more
Solo PracticeBiggsville, IL
Biggsville solo practice serving Henderson County and the surrounding western Illinois farm communities. Handles probate administration and drafts wills, living trusts, powers of attorney, and Medicaid plans. Pairs estate work with farm and business succession planning, and practices in both Illinois and Iowa.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawAgricultural LawWills Trusts
Solo PracticeRockford, IL
Rockford practice on Weaver Road handling probate for executors and heirs across northern Illinois, from Jo Daviess County east to Cook. Walks personal representatives through letters of office, certified copies, the six-month creditor claim period, and out-of-state real estate, and drafts wills and trusts.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateWills Trusts
Solo PracticeChampaign, IL
Champaign practice on South Prospect Avenue serving Champaign County and central Illinois. Mark Ingersoll guides clients seeking appointment as executor or administrator through each step Illinois probate requires, and drafts wills and trusts. Every matter stays with him rather than passing to an associate or paralegal.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateWills Trusts
FirmRockford, IL
Rockford firm serving Winnebago County and the surrounding northern Illinois counties of Stephenson, Ogle, DeKalb, Boone, Lee, and Whiteside. Handles probate and guardianship representation, and drafts the wills, living wills, trusts, and powers of attorney behind an estate plan. Pairs its estate work with real estate and business law.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateConservatorshipGuardianshipWills Trusts
FirmChicago, IL
Chicago firm on North Western Avenue handling Cook County estate administration — deciding whether probate is needed, using the small estate affidavit or a title-insurance bond in lieu of probate where it fits, collecting life insurance and retirement benefits, and contesting improper claims against the estate. Also guides trustees named in testamentary and inter vivos trusts.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateWills Trusts
FirmFreeport, IL
Freeport firm on South Hance Drive serving Stephenson County and northwest Illinois into southern Wisconsin, in practice for over 70 years. Guides executors and trustees through probate estate and trust administration, including estate tax compliance, and litigates contested estate and trust matters. Also handles contested and uncontested guardianships.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 6 more
FirmNorthbrook, IL
Northbrook firm on Skokie Boulevard serving Cook and Lake county families. Supports trustees, executors, guardians, and agents after a death — inventorying assets, settling debts, preparing estate accountings and estate and inheritance tax returns — and litigates inheritance disputes and trustee misconduct. Six attorneys, led by managing partners Johannah K. Hebl and Mary E. Vanek.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 4 more
FirmMacomb, IL
Macomb firm on East Jackson Street serving McDonough County and western Illinois since 1979, with a second office in Roseville. Handles probate matters and estate tax planning for farm families, farm owners, and local businesses, and prepares wills, trusts, and health care and property powers of attorney.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawTax Planningand 2 more