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.
What to Do When Someone Dies in Bureau County, Illinois
How probate works in Bureau County: the Circuit Court record, what the process costs, and how to file there.
Probate Court Record
Bureau County Circuit Court
Bureau County · 13th Judicial Circuit
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM
Office
700 South Main Street, Room 100, Princeton, IL 61356
Website
E-filing
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
E-filing
Required for attorneysProbate filings are e-filed through eFileIL by attorneys and self-represented filers alike. An original will cannot be e-filed and is filed with the clerk on paper. A self-represented filer without home internet access, an email account, or a credit card or bank account can file on paper after filing the Certification for Exemption From E-filing. On paper: Original wills, which are filed with the clerk on paper (Ill. S. Ct. R. 9(c)(1)).
Self-represented filing
AllowedThe clerk keeps paper forms in the office for some case types and does not post forms online; the statewide standardized forms are on the Illinois Courts site.
Accepted payment
- At the counterCash, Money order, Check, Credit card.Checks must be certified. A card payment in the office has a $25 minimum and carries a 3% fee, and the office takes no card payments by phone.
Fax
1-815-872-0027
Departments
- Probate Division / Bookkeeping1-815-872-2001 ext. 561
About the court
- Probate is handled in the clerk's back office on the main floor of the courthouse, where probate records back to 1837 are kept. An e-filing kiosk is inside the clerk's office.
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
How Probate Works in Bureau County
Probate is the court-supervised process of settling someone's estate after they die — validating the will, paying debts and taxes, and transferring what's left to the heirs. In Bureau County, probate runs through the Circuit Court at 700 South Main Street, Room 100, Princeton. The court sits in the 13th Judicial Circuit. The same 13th Judicial Circuit also serves Grundy and LaSalle.
The personal representative opens the case, gives notice to heirs and creditors, files an inventory of the estate's assets, settles outstanding debts and taxes, and then distributes the remainder under the will — or under Illinois intestacy law when there is no will.
Most Illinois estates take 9 months to 14 months to move through this process. Creditors have 6 months755 ILCS 5/18-3, 5/18-10, 5/18-11, 5/18-12Verified Oct 18, 2026View source to present a claim, counted from the first publication of the notice to creditors.
What Probate Costs in Bureau County
What probate costs in Bureau County, Illinois comes down to a handful of line items — the court filing fee, attorney and executor compensation, publication, and sometimes a bond — scaled by the estate's size and whether the will is contested. The case itself runs through the Circuit Court at 700 South Main Street, Room 100, Princeton. The court is part of the 13th Judicial Circuit.
Illinois caps the clerk's filing fee for a decedent's estate at $266, or $362 in Cook County, with the amount set by each county board. The $100 guardianship and advocacy fee that counties added through June 2026 has been repealed. Most county schedules issued since then post totals from $256 to $314, and publication is paid to the newspaper directly705 ILCS 105/27.1b(a)(2) (Clerks of Courts Act, as last amended by P.A. 104-468, eff. 7-1-26); former 705 ILCS 105/27.3f repealed by P.A. 104-468, eff. 7-1-26Verified Oct 17, 2026View source. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.
Estimate the costs for this estate:
Attorney fees in Illinois are negotiated, typically 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 estate value. Flat-fee arrangements are common for straightforward estates.
Illinois allows executors 'reasonable compensation' — around 2.2%–3.8% of a $500,000 estate, judging by what the states with statutory schedules pay755 ILCS 5/27-1 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source. Family members who are also beneficiaries often waive the fee — executor pay is taxable income while inheritances are not.
Illinois requires publishing notice to creditors in a local newspaper, and the estate pays for it.
A surety bond may be required unless the will waives it or all beneficiaries consent. Premiums run roughly 0.5%Industry surety premium estimate; the bond itself under 755 ILCS 5/12-2 (bond required), 5/12-4 (security excused by will)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value annually.
Probate in Illinois typically runs 9 months to 14 months, and costs accrue throughout that period.
How to File Probate at the Circuit Court
Probate cases in Bureau County, Illinois are filed at the Circuit Court. The court sits in the 13th Judicial Circuit.
Beside the filing office, the court lists a separate line for Probate Division / Bookkeeping.
Can You File Without an Attorney?
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.
For a full cost comparison and filing checklist, see the Bureau County Self-Filing Assessment.
Bureau County Filing Requirements
These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.
Document Requirements
A handwritten will or a will not in English is filed with a typewritten copy.
A handwritten will goes in with a typewritten copy and an affidavit that the copy is true; a will in another language goes in with a typewritten copy and a qualified translator's certification of the translation (Thirteenth Circuit Rule 11.1).
SourceService Requirements
A claimant mails or delivers the claim to the representative and files proof within 10 days.
The claim goes to the representative and the estate attorney unless they waive it in writing, proof of mailing is filed with the clerk within 10 days, and the claim is set for hearing at least 35 days after the proof; an objection is due within 30 days of the proof (Thirteenth Circuit Rule 11.8).
SourceOther Requirements
An executor gives an individual bond even when the will waives bond.
The court can require security on the bond on motion, and a nonresident executor needs a surety or a deposit of the personal assets with a trust company unless the judge excuses it (Thirteenth Circuit Rule 11.3).
SourceWhat to Bring
Filed with the opening petition at the Circuit Court: Copy of the death certificate, which the Cook County Clerk asks for when the will is filed; the Probate Act and the court rules do not require one, and a plain copy serves; Original will and any codicils, filed with the clerk on paper (755 ILCS 5/6-1 "Immediately upon the death of the testator any person who has the testator's will in his possession shall file it with the clerk of the court of the proper county"; Ill. S. Ct. R. 9(c)(1) excepts original wills from e-filing entirely — they "may not be electronically filed")755 ILCS 5/6-2, 5/6-8 (admit will & issue letters testamentary); 755 ILCS 5/9-3, 5/9-4 (letters of administration & preference); 755 ILCS 5/12-2 to 12-5 (oath & bond); 755 ILCS 5/28-2 (independent administration); 755 ILCS 5/6-13, 5/9-1 (who may act)Verified Aug 24, 2026View source.
Death Certificates and the Coroner in Bureau County
In Illinois a death is registered locally, and in Bureau County certified copies of the death certificate are issued by Office of the Bureau County Clerk as well as by Illinois Department of Public Health - Division of Vital Records.
Vital Records Office Record
County Clerk
Bureau County · Office of the Bureau County Clerk
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM
Office
700 South Main Street, Room 104, Princeton, IL 61356
Website
Certified copies
At the counter
Order online
Fax
1-815-879-4803
Local rule
- The Clerk holds death records from 1878 and mails the copies to the address on the requester's identification. A different address needs a recent bill showing it.
Certified copy fees
| First certified copy | $31 |
| Each additional copy ordered at the same time | $9 |
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Coroner or Medical Examiner Record
Coroner
Bureau County · Bureau County Coroner's Office
Phone
Office
700 South Main Street, Princeton, IL 61356
Website
Cremation authorization
Signed by this office
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Transferring Property in Bureau County
Clearing title to real estate after a death, whether by a personal representative’s deed, an affidavit of survivorship, or a court order, happens at the County Clerk and Recorder.
Deeds and other real property documents for Bureau County are recorded with the County Clerk and Recorder at 700 South Main Street, Room 104, Princeton, IL 61356. Phone: 1-815-875-2014. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM.
The County Clerk and Recorder charges $91 flat, regardless of page count.
Bureau County accepts electronic recording through CSC, Simplifile and ePN.
Recording Office Record
County Clerk and Recorder
Bureau County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM
Office
700 South Main Street, Room 104, Princeton, IL 61356
Website
E-recording
Fax
1-815-879-4803
Recording fees
| Flat fee (any length) | $91 |
| Transfer tax on a TOD deed | TOD deeds are exempt from transfer tax |
55 ILCS 5/3-5018.2; Bureau County Recording Fees (effective May 1, 2025)
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
Forms that put a death on the title
- Free forms: Affidavit of Death Form
Probate Attorneys Serving Bureau County
Illinois allows independent administration755 ILCS 5/28-1, 5/28-2 (independent administration granted unless the will forbids it or an interested person objects)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, so the personal representative manages, pays and distributes the estate without returning to the court for approval at each step. A probate attorney earns the fee when the estate is contested, includes a business or out-of-state real estate, has unclear or insolvent debts, or when beneficiaries disagree.
Probate attorney fees in Illinois are based on reasonable compensation, billed hourly or as a flat fee. Ask a Bureau County firm to quote a structure up front.
A probate attorney files the petition with the Circuit Court, publishes the required creditor notices, prepares the inventory and accounting, handles creditor claims and tax filings, and guides the final distribution. They represent the personal representative — not the beneficiaries — a distinction that matters if a dispute develops.
Princeton firm in the Bureau County seat, representing fiduciaries and administering estates through probate across north-central Illinois. Also handles trust administration, guardianship proceedings, revocable and special needs trusts, wills, and transfer on death instruments, alongside a long-standing farm and agricultural law practice.
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.
Geneseo firm tracing its origins to 1857, with a second office in Silvis, serving western Illinois and eastern Iowa. Represents trustees, executors, and heirs in probate and trust administration — filing the will and inventory, collecting assets, filing tax returns, selling real estate and businesses, and settling creditor claims — alongside estate planning and elder law.
Rural central Illinois firm handling probate and estate administration through the Logan County courts in Lincoln, with satellite offices in Delavan and Petersburg. Settles testate and intestate estates from gathering assets and paying debts through distribution to beneficiaries, administers trusts, and handles adult and minor guardianships. Also covers farmland sales and wind and solar leases.
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.
Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to verify their current practice areas and availability.
Legal Sources
(10)·
- 705 ILCS 105/27.1b(a)(2) (Clerks of Courts Act, as last amended by P.A. 104-468, eff. 7-1-26); former 705 ILCS 105/27.3f repealed by P.A. 104-468, eff. 7-1-26
- 755 ILCS 5/18-3, 5/18-10, 5/18-11, 5/18-12
- 755 ILCS 5/27-1 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)
- 755 ILCS 5/28-1, 5/28-2 (independent administration granted unless the will forbids it or an interested person objects)
- 755 ILCS 5/6-2, 5/6-8 (admit will & issue letters testamentary); 755 ILCS 5/9-3, 5/9-4 (letters of administration & preference); 755 ILCS 5/12-2 to 12-5 (oath & bond); 755 ILCS 5/28-2 (independent administration); 755 ILCS 5/6-13, 5/9-1 (who may act)
- 755 ILCS 5/6-4, 5/9-4 (court admits the will and issues letters; no registrar/clerk informal appointment)
- 55 ILCS 5/3-5018.2; Bureau County Recording Fees (effective May 1, 2025)
- Bureau County Circuit Court, official page
- Bureau County Clerk and Recorder, official page
- Bureau County vital records and death investigation offices, official page
Data sourced from Illinois statutes and official state code. Fee percentages are modeled estimates; each figure's note says how. How we research.
Tools for Settling an Estate in Illinois
Free tools for settling an estate in Illinois: whether probate is needed, executor and trustee pay, creditor deadlines and taxes. Run each tool for Illinois.
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.
See the Steps
How Do I Settle a Trust?
Settling a trust in Illinois happens outside court: the trustee acts under the state's Uniform Trust Code760 ILCS 3/101 et seq.Verified Oct 17, 2026View source, notifies the beneficiaries within 90 days760 ILCS 3/813.1Verified Oct 10, 2026View source, then pays the debts and distributes under the trust's terms.
See the Steps
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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