Estate Planning & Probate in McDonough County, Illinois
Most McDonough 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 McDonough 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 McDonough County →Planning ahead as a property owner
Keep a McDonough County home out of probate with a transfer-on-death deed or a living trust.
Estate planning in McDonough County →The Probate Process in McDonough 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 McDonough County, probate runs through the Circuit Court at 1 Courthouse Square, Macomb. The court sits in the 9th Judicial Circuit. The same 9th Judicial Circuit also serves Fulton, Hancock, Henderson, Knox and Warren.
Full McDonough County probate guide: cost, how to file & attorneys →Probate Court Record
McDonough County Circuit Court
McDonough County · 9th Judicial Circuit
Phone
Hours
Office
Website
E-filing
Self-represented filing
Self-help forms
How to file probate in McDonough County →
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
Recording Office Record
County Clerk and Recorder
McDonough County
Phone
Hours
Office
Website
Recording fee
E-recording
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
Vital Records Office Record
County Clerk
McDonough County · McDonough County Clerk & Recorder
Phone
Hours
Office
Website
Order online
Certified copy fee
Full death certificate details →
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Coroner or Medical Examiner Record
Coroner
McDonough County · McDonough County Coroner
Phone
Office
Website
Full coroner or medical examiner details →
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
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.
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.
Revocable Living Trust
Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.
Pour-Over Will
In Illinois, a pour-over will is signed before 2755 ILCS 5/4-3Verified Oct 18, 2026View source witnesses and moves anything left outside the trust into it through probate.
Healthcare Power of Attorney
Illinois requires 1755 ILCS 45/4-10Verified Oct 15, 2026View source witness for a healthcare power of attorney; notarization is not required755 ILCS 45/4-10Verified Oct 15, 2026View source.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
Who Inherits Without a Will?
Without a will in Illinois, a surviving spouse takes half of the estate755 ILCS 5/2-1Verified Oct 21, 2026View source when a child or other descendant survives, and descendants divide what passes to them per stirpes755 ILCS 5/2-1Verified Oct 21, 2026View source.
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.
Illinois Estate Planning Articles
Articles about estate planning, probate, and trusts relevant to families in McDonough County.
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