Estate Planning & Probate in Lee County, Illinois
Most Lee County estate questions come down to one fork: avoid probate before a death, or work through it after one. Start with your situation below; both paths use Lee County's actual court and recording details.
Someone died — settling an estate
Filing probate at the Circuit Court, what it costs, transferring property, and local attorneys.
What to do when someone dies in Lee County→Planning ahead as a property owner
Keep a Lee County home out of probate with a transfer-on-death deed or a living trust.
Estate planning in Lee County→The Probate Process in Lee 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 Lee County, probate runs through the Circuit Court at 309 S. Galena Suite 320, Dixon. The court sits in the 15th Judicial Circuit. The same 15th Judicial Circuit also serves Carroll, Jo Daviess, Ogle and Stephenson.
Full Lee Countyprobate guide: cost, how to file & attorneys →Probate Court Record
Circuit Court
Lee County · 15th Judicial Circuit
Address
Phone
Hours
Recording Deeds & Property Documents
Recording Office Record
County Clerk & Recorder
Lee County · Clerk & Recorder · Nancy Petersen
Address
Phone
Fax
Hours
E-recording
$50 flat, regardless of page count; required form fees may include PTAX-203 Illinois Real Estate Transfer Declaration (MyDec / PTAX-203) ($0); TOD deeds are generally transfer-tax exempt.
Full recording details →Verified July 13, 2026 · Source
Frequently Asked Questions
The Circuit Court for Lee County is located in Dixon, Illinois. Full address, phone, hours, and e-filing details are listed on this page.
E-filing is mandatory for attorneys in Lee County, but families handling probate without an attorney are exempt. Self-represented filers can submit paper documents at the Circuit Court in person or by mail.
No. Illinois allows estates under $150,000 to use a Small Estate Affidavit and skip formal probate. There is no statutory waiting period. Use the Illinois probate decision tool to see if the estate qualifies.
When there is no will, Illinois' intestate succession rules decide who inherits. Spouses, children, and parents are prioritized in that order. The Lee County probate court applies the state rules without variation. See who inherits in Illinois for the exact order.
A revocable living trust is the cleanest way for most families to skip probate entirely. Assets titled to the trust pass to beneficiaries without court involvement, filing fees, or the Lee County probate docket. Create a revocable trust online to avoid putting your family through this process later.
Illinois Estate Planning Articles
Articles about estate planning, probate, and trusts relevant to families in Lee County.
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