Skokie solo practice serving Skokie, Evanston, Niles, Glenview, Rogers Park, and Chicago’s north side. Handles estate administration and uncontested probate after a death, referring contested matters out, alongside Medicaid and long-term-care planning and special needs trusts. Attorney Zisl Edelson makes house and hospital calls for an additional charge.
Chicago is in Cook County.
More Special Needs Planning Firms in Cook County
Two-attorney practice in historic downtown Oak Park serving Cook County families. Handles probate estate administration, small estate affidavits, bond in lieu of probate, trust administration, wills, special needs trusts, and elder law. Attorneys Jonathan Groll and Ruth Anne Brendemuhl offer evening and weekend appointments and Spanish-language service.
Tinley Park solo practice off Harlem Avenue and Interstate 80, serving clients from Will, Cook, DuPage, and Kankakee counties with more than 37 years in estate planning and probate. Advises executors on their duties and represents beneficiaries in estate disputes and probate litigation. Drafts wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, special needs trusts, and guardianship documents.
Wheaton firm serving DuPage and Cook County estates, with a second office in Glenview. Handles probate and estate administration and guardianships, and litigates contested estates, wills, and trusts, alongside wills, living trusts, and powers of attorney.
La Grange firm serving Cook, DuPage, and Lake counties, with a second office in Deerfield. Helps the person settling an estate secure property, send required notices, respond to creditor claims, prepare accountings, and communicate with beneficiaries, and represents beneficiaries and expected heirs. Also handles guardianship, Medicaid asset protection, and special needs planning. Founded in 1983.
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 →
Forms for Planning Your Estate in Illinois
Free forms for planning your estate in Illinois: will, living trust, pour-over will, powers of attorney and TOD deed. 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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Financial Power of Attorney
Illinois treats a power of attorney as durable by default755 ILCS 45/2-3, 45/2-5, 45/2-8, 45/2-10.6, 45/3-3, 45/3-3.6, 45/3-4; 765 ILCS 5/28; 755 ILCS 5/11-1Verified Sep 18, 2026View source, and it is signed before 1755 ILCS 45/2-3, 45/2-5, 45/2-8, 45/2-10.6, 45/3-3, 45/3-3.6, 45/3-4; 765 ILCS 5/28; 755 ILCS 5/11-1Verified Sep 18, 2026View source witness and a notary.
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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.
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Tools for Planning Your Estate in Illinois
Free tools for planning your estate in Illinois: will and trust costs, trust or TOD deed, and the signing rules. Run each tool for Illinois and read its answer.
How Much Does a Revocable Living Trust Cost?
An attorney-prepared revocable living trust in Illinois runs $3,680Estimate: 10 hours at $368, Clio's Illinois Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $5,520Estimate: 15 hours at $368, Clio's Illinois Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source for an individual, against $0 to $549 up front plus a subscription with an online service.
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How Much Life Insurance Do I Need?
In Illinois, four years at a public university cost about $108,856NCES Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 330.20, public 4-year in-state tuition, fees, room and board, academic year 2022-23Verified Oct 17, 2026View source and the cost of living is near the U.S. averageBEA Regional Price Parities, all items, by state, 2024Verified Oct 17, 2026View source; the state levies an estate tax35 ILCS 405/2Verified Sep 15, 2026View source above $4,000,00035 ILCS 405/2Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.
Calculate the Amount
What Does Estate Planning Actually Cost?
An attorney-prepared revocable trust in Illinois runs $3,680Estimate: 10 hours at $368, Clio's Illinois Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $5,520Estimate: 15 hours at $368, Clio's Illinois Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source and a simple will $1,002Estimate: 3 hours at $334, Clio's Illinois Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $2,004Estimate: 6 hours at $334, Clio's Illinois Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source, against $0 to $549 up front plus a subscription with an online service.
Calculate Costs
Are My Beneficiary Designations Protected?
Illinois automatically revokes an ex-spouse as beneficiary at divorce755 ILCS 5/4-7(b); 750 ILCS 5/503(b-5); 760 ILCS 3/605Verified Sep 15, 2026View source; employer plans under ERISA follow federal rules either way, so a 401(k) beneficiary changes only by a new designation.
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