The Will County Probate Process in Joliet
A Will County probate is filed with the Circuit Clerk at the Will County Courthouse, 100 W Jefferson St, Joliet, IL 60432. A new estate case must be e-filed through an approved provider. The original will is the exception: the clerk says it must be filed on paper, even when it belongs to a probate case.
Choosing the right court
Illinois ties a probate to where the person lived. The Probate Act says the estate is administered in the county where the person had a known place of residence (755 ILCS 5/5-1). If the person had no Illinois home, the case goes to the county holding most of the real estate, and after that to the county holding most of the personal property.
Will County is part of the Twelfth Judicial Circuit. The Illinois Courts website has a directory of circuit courts if the person lived somewhere else and you need that county's clerk.
What the clerk accepts on paper and online
The Circuit Clerk of Will County answers the common filing questions on its probate page. Here is what it says:
- New estate cases must be filed electronically. A new estate cannot be opened by mail.
- The original will can be filed by mail. Make copies for yourself before it goes out. The clerk needs the original will and the date of death.
- Filing the will itself has no court fee.
- You do not call the clerk to set a court date. You may state the return date in your cover letter, or file a Notice of Motion with a date certain.
Since January 1, 2018, Illinois civil courts take filings only through eFileIL. Attorneys do not qualify for an exemption from e-filing, and the clerk does not accept filings by email. You register with an approved provider from the state's list. The Illinois Courts site has a how to e-file guide with videos and written steps.
Fees the clerk lists for probate
These come from the Will County fee schedule effective July 12, 2026 and updated September 3, 2026. Courts change fees, so check the current schedule before you file.
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| New probate case filing | $314.00 |
| Appearance fee that goes with a $314 filing | $244.00 |
| Filing a will | $0.00 |
| Letters of Office, each copy | $2.00 |
| Annual or current accounting | $25.00 |
| Claim of $149.99 or less | $0.00 |
| Claim of $150.00 to $499.99 | $20.00 |
| Claim of $500.00 to $9,999.99 | $40.00 |
| Claim of $10,000.00 or more | $60.00 |
These are only the court's charges. They do not include newspaper publication, a bond, or legal help. See what drives probate cost for the rest.
Get your plan done. Call Jeff.
Tell Jeff about your family, your home and what you want to happen. He'll explain the next step.Office hours: Monday to Friday 8:30 AM to 6 PM, Saturday 10 AM to noon. After hours, leave your name, number and the best time to call back.
Jeff McCarthy, Inspired Law Group, 136 E 9th St, Lockport, IL 60441
After the case is open
Once the court admits the will and issues letters of office, the representative has a list of tasks with dates attached. Within 14 days of the order, heirs and legatees get a mailed notice (5/6-10). An inventory is due within 60 days of the letters (5/14-1). Creditor notice runs in a newspaper published in the county where the estate is being administered (5/18-3).
For the full run of deadlines, read the probate overview and the page on executor duties.
Where to go in Joliet
The Will County Courthouse is the full service location. The clerk lists public parking in a garage one block north of the courthouse on Ottawa Street. Branch courts in Bolingbrook, Plainfield and Frankfort hear court matters only and offer no clerk services. The River Valley Justice Center window takes guardianship filings only, so an estate filing still goes through the main courthouse or e-filing. The Clerk's Office is open from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday, except court holidays. The Will County courthouse guide has more about the building.
Small estates and the court
Some families never need to open a case. When the personal property is small enough and the other conditions in the statute are met, a sworn small estate affidavit can move the property without the court. Details, including the dollar limit, are on the small estate affidavit page.
Sources
- Circuit Clerk of Will County, Probate
- Circuit Clerk of Will County, Fee Schedule (effective 07/12/2026, updated 09/03/2026)
- Circuit Clerk of Will County, e-file Court Documents
- Circuit Clerk of Will County, Court Locations
- Illinois Courts, Circuit Courts and Resources
- 755 ILCS 5/5-1, Illinois General Assembly
Reviewed by Jeff McCarthy, Attorney, Inspired Law Group, 136 E 9th St, Lockport, IL 60441.
Questions people ask about will county probate
Short answers first. Jeff McCarthy reviews every answer on this page.
File with the Circuit Clerk of Will County at 100 W Jefferson St, Joliet, IL 60432, if the person lived in Will County. New estates are filed electronically through an approved e-file provider. Only the original will is filed on paper.
No. The clerk says a new estate case must be filed electronically. The original will is the one item the clerk will accept by mail, and the clerk asks you to keep copies.
The fee schedule lists the filing of a will at $0.00. Opening the estate is a separate step, and the schedule shows a $314.00 probate filing fee and a $244.00 appearance fee for that.
The clerk says no. You may put the return date in your cover letter when the estate is filed, or file a Notice of Motion with a date certain.
No. The clerk does not accept emailed documents, and the River Valley window accepts guardianship filings only. Estate filings go through an approved e-file provider or the main courthouse in Joliet.
Letters of Office. They are the court's proof that you may act for the estate. The clerk lists copies at $2.00 each.
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- Avoid costly mistakes.
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