Estate Planning & Probate in St. Clair County, Illinois
Most St. Clair 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 St. Clair 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 St. Clair County→Planning ahead as a property owner
Keep a St. Clair County home out of probate with a transfer-on-death deed or a living trust.
Estate planning in St. Clair County→The Probate Process in St. Clair 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 St. Clair County, probate runs through the Circuit Court at 10 Public Sq, Belleville. The court sits in the 20th Judicial Circuit.
Full St. Clair Countyprobate guide: cost, how to file & attorneys →Probate Court Record
Circuit Court
St. Clair County · 20th Judicial Circuit
Recording Deeds & Property Documents
Recording Office Record
County Recorder
St. Clair County · Recorder of Deeds · Michael Crockett
Address
Phone
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 St. Clair County is located in Belleville, Illinois. Full address, phone, hours, and e-filing details are listed on this page.
E-filing is mandatory for attorneys in St. Clair 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 St. Clair 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 St. Clair 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 St. Clair County.
Is this your situation?
Get a complete guide for your specific circumstances.
