Tools for When Someone Dies in Illinois

After a death in Illinois, the estate either qualifies for the simplified procedure for estates under $150,000 or goes through probate, where creditors have 6 months to file claims after notice.

All Planning ahead Settling an estate

13 tools for Illinois

How Many Death Certificates Do I Need?

In Illinois, certified death certificates come from the Illinois Department of Public Health - Division of Vital Records; the first copy costs $19, additional copies $4 each.

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Do I Need Probate?

In Illinois, estates with personal property of $150,000 or less skip probate with the Small Estate Affidavit.

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What Taxes Apply to My Inheritance?

In Illinois, beneficiaries owe no inheritance tax and the estate pays any estate tax above $4,000,000; probate assets arrive when the estate closes, 6 months to 9 months for a simple estate.

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What Are the Burial and Cremation Laws in My State?

Illinois allows you to name your own agent in a signed, written document, and that designation takes priority over the statutory order of next of kin who otherwise control disposition of the remains.

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Can I Self-File Probate?

In Illinois, informal probate is not available, so self-filing means a formal court petition rather than a registrar filing.

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How Do I Get Appointed as Executor?

In Illinois, the Circuit Court appoints the personal representative and the Clerk of the Circuit Court issues Letters of Office; every appointment goes through the court.

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What Are the Creditor Claim Deadlines?

In Illinois, creditors have 6 months from first publication of the creditor notice to present claims; late claims are barred.

Check Deadlines

What Happens When an Estate Is Insolvent?

When an estate owes more than it holds, Illinois pays the claims in 7 classes in statutory order, beginning with funeral and burial expenses, expenses of administration, statutory custodial claims, and final guardianship fees and costs as determined by the court.

Check the Payment Order

How Do I Open an Estate Account When Someone Dies?

Compare estate-account opening requirements bank by bank: channels, required documents, and steps.

See Bank Requirements

When Do I Have to Withdraw an Inherited IRA?

See which federal withdrawal rules apply to an inherited IRA, Roth IRA, or employer plan, the deadline year, and the missed-withdrawal tax.

Check Withdrawal Rules

What Is the Estate's Personal Property Worth for Probate?

Estimate the fair market value of household items for probate and see how it affects fees.

Estimate Value

How Do I Settle an Estate?

Settling an estate in Illinois: the personal representative files the estate inventory within 60 days of appointment; creditors have 6 months to present claims; a simple estate closes in 6 months to 9 months.

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What Do I Do When Someone Dies?

After a death in Illinois, the estate either qualifies for the simplified procedure for estates under $150,000 or goes through probate, where creditors have 6 months to file claims after notice.

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In Illinois, the first certified copy costs $19, and each additional copy ordered at the same time $4. Copies ordered together cost less than separate orders placed later. The Illinois estate settlement plan lists the accounts and institutions that each want a certified copy.

Standard processing in Illinois takes Approximately 12 weeks. Expedited service takes 5-7 business days with overnight delivery and proof of immediate need. A funeral home's order at the time of death usually arrives first.

Illinois sets a statutory order for who controls the disposition of remains: surviving spouse at time of death, then sole surviving competent adult child, or majority of surviving competent adult children, then surviving competent parent. The state allows you to name your own agent in a signed, written document, and that designation takes priority over the default order. Those wishes can be recorded alongside the rest of an estate plan when you create a revocable living trust.

Illinois imposes a 24-hour minimum waiting period before cremation. A medical examiner or coroner authorizes the cremation before it proceeds. Cremation authorization form executed by an authorizing agent (person with disposition authority per 755 ILCS 65/5) plus a cremation permit from the coroner or medical examiner of the county where death occurred (410 ILCS 18/35).

Illinois allows estates with personal property of $150,000 or less to use the Small Estate Affidavit, which avoids full probate administration. The Small Estate Affidavit is presented directly to the bank, employer, or other holder of the property — it is not filed with a court. There is no statutory waiting period.

Tools for When Someone Dies in Illinois

The first weeks after a death are a short list of practical tasks: certified copies of the death certificate, the burial or cremation arrangements the state allows, and finding out whether the estate needs a court process at all. The What to Do When Someone Dies Checklist puts them in order for your state, split by whether the person left a will, a trust, or nothing.

Certified death certificates in Illinois come from the Illinois Department of Public Health - Division of Vital Records; the first copy costs $19. In Illinois, probate on a $500,000 estate costs about $25,745, and a simple estate closes in 6 months to 9 months.

SimplyTrust Editorial·Updated October 15, 2026

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Data sourced from Illinois statutes and official state code. How we research.