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Alexander County, IL Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Alexander County detail |
|---|---|
| Court | Circuit Court of the First Judicial Circuit, Alexander County |
| Filing office | Clerk of the Circuit Court of Alexander County, also called the Alexander County Circuit Clerk |
| Courthouse address | Alexander County Courthouse, 2000 Washington Avenue, Cairo, IL 62914 |
| Mailing address | Use the courthouse address. No separate mailing address is published for the Circuit Clerk. |
| Phone | (618) 734-0107. There is no separate probate line. |
| Fax | (618) 734-7003. First Judicial Circuit Rule 1.14 says fax filing is not authorized. |
| [email protected] for questions. Do not use email to file unless the clerk instructs you to do so. | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The counter closes over the lunch hour. |
| Filing fee | No Alexander County decedent estate filing amount is posted online. Probate filings are Schedule 2 and probate appearances are Schedule 1 under 705 ILCS 105/27.1b; call the Circuit Clerk for the current total before filing. Filing a will under 755 ILCS 5/6-1 is Schedule 4, $0, current statutory framework reviewed August 2026. The First Judicial Circuit adds a $2.00 Dispute Resolution Fund fee to the first pleading in civil cases under Administrative Order 22-3-31, entered March 31, 2022. |
| Local forms | No Alexander County probate packet, cover sheet or local decedent estate forms are posted. |
| E-filing | Use eFileIL for the petition and other estate filings unless an Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9 exemption applies. An original will is not e-filed. |
| Original will | Deliver the paper original to the Circuit Clerk in Cairo in person or by mail. Call before mailing an irreplaceable original. |
| Case search | Alexander County participates in Judici at court code IL002015J. If an estate does not appear, call the Circuit Clerk. Filings themselves are not viewable online. |
| Remote appearance | Illinois Supreme Court Rule 45 treats Probate, case type PR, as a civil matter. The First Judicial Circuit posts an Alexander County video court entry for Judge Jeffery B. Farris, all dockets, Meeting ID 369 692 5200, updated February 1, 2023. Always check your notice or order. |
| Court website | First Judicial Circuit Alexander County page and Alexander County Circuit Clerk contact page |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Alexander County, identify what the decedent owned, how each asset is titled, whether there are debts, and whether any real estate must be sold or transferred. That asset picture drives whether you need letters of office under 755 ILCS 5, whether a small estate affidavit under 755 ILCS 5/Art. XXV may be enough for personal property, and what information must go into the petition.
Sunset's estate settlement workflow includes asset discovery across more than 2,300 financial institutions, then helps organize the information an Illinois probate attorney or family filer needs. In Alexander County, preparation is especially important because the clerk does not post a local probate packet or fee schedule online.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Alexander County estates are filed at one courthouse: the Alexander County Courthouse, 2000 Washington Avenue, Cairo, IL 62914. The filing office is the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Alexander County.
Alexander County is in the First Judicial Circuit with Jackson, Johnson, Massac, Pope, Pulaski, Saline, Union and Williamson Counties. That shared circuit does not let you file an Alexander County estate in another county. Illinois venue for probate or administration is the county of the decedent's known residence, then the county holding the greater part of the real estate, then the county holding the greater part of the personal estate (755 ILCS 5/5-1).
Cairo is the courthouse city. The circuit's local legal self-help listing also places public library self-help centers in Cairo and Olive Branch for Alexander County residents.
The jurisdiction process
- Identify the proper county. File in Alexander County only if venue belongs there under 755 ILCS 5/5-1, based first on the decedent's known residence, then the county with the greater part of the real estate, then the county with the greater part of the personal estate.
- Handle the original will. A person who has the will must file it immediately with the clerk of the proper county under 755 ILCS 5/6-1. In Alexander County, the original will is delivered to the Circuit Clerk in Cairo in person or by mail, not through eFileIL and not by fax. Filing a will under 755 ILCS 5/6-1 is Schedule 4, $0, current statutory framework reviewed August 2026.
- Prepare the petition and supporting papers. For a will, the petition to admit the will or issue letters names the heirs and legatees under 755 ILCS 5/6-2. Without a will, the petition to issue letters names the heirs and the facts showing the right to act or nominate an administrator under 755 ILCS 5/9-4.
- E-file the estate petition. Use eFileIL for the petition and other civil filings unless an Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9 exemption applies. First Judicial Circuit Rule 1.14 allows paper filing in person or by mail for papers that are not e-filed and says fax filing is not authorized.
- Confirm and pay the filing amount. Alexander County does not post a decedent estate filing amount online. Probate filings are Schedule 2 and probate appearances are Schedule 1 under 705 ILCS 105/27.1b, and the Circuit Clerk quotes the current total. The First Judicial Circuit adds a $2.00 Dispute Resolution Fund fee to the first pleading in civil cases under Administrative Order 22-3-31, entered March 31, 2022.
- Give required notice. After the court order admitting a will, notice is mailed within the time required by 755 ILCS 5/6-10. For creditor claims, publish notice once each week for three successive weeks and mail or deliver notice to known or reasonably ascertainable creditors; the claim date must be not less than 6 months from first publication or 3 months from mailing or delivery, whichever is later, under 755 ILCS 5/18-3.
- Follow the hearing setting. Alexander County does not post probate hearing days or filing to hearing time frames. Watch the e-file notices, court order or clerk communication for the date, judge and remote appearance instructions.
- Use remote appearance when allowed. Probate, case type PR, is a civil matter under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 45. Routine matters may generally be attended remotely, but evidentiary hearings, settlement conferences and trials may need approval, and the judge may require in-person attendance for case-specific reasons. Check the First Judicial Circuit video court page and your notice or order.
- Qualify and receive authority. After the required oath and any bond under 755 ILCS 5/12-2, the court may issue letters of office under 755 ILCS 5, including letters testamentary for an executor or letters of administration for an administrator. Independent administration under 755 ILCS 5/Art. XXVIII is granted unless the will forbids it or supervision is required.
- Administer and close the estate. Collect assets, manage claims, pay allowed expenses, distribute property and complete the closing steps required for the type of administration. Keep the case moving, because First Judicial Circuit Rule 1.6 allows an inactive decedent estate to be called and moved to an inactive docket.
Executor duties
Alexander County has one local duty point that is easy to miss: First Judicial Circuit Rule 1.6 allows a judge to place an inactive probate matter, including a decedent estate, on a docket call. If the case cannot be conveniently ended at that call, it can be moved to an inactive docket and returned to the active docket only by motion and order. For an executor or administrator, that means estate settlement should keep moving after letters of office under 755 ILCS 5 issue, even in an independent administration under 755 ILCS 5/Art. XXVIII.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Alexander County
Alexander County does not publish local probate forms, a decedent estate packet, a probate cover sheet, a petition to admit a will, a petition for letters of office, an inventory, an accounting form or a closing form.
Illinois Courts approved standardized forms that may matter in an Alexander County estate include Exemption from E-Filing for Good Cause, Fee Waiver for Civil Cases, and Appearance and Jury Request. Those are not a decedent estate petition packet. Illinois Legal Aid Online also offers a small estate affidavit under 755 ILCS 5/Art. XXV for qualifying personal property.
If you have the original will, do not e-file it. Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(c)(1) excepts original wills from e-filing, and First Judicial Circuit Rule 1.14 allows paper filing in person or by mail and bars fax filing.
Fees
Alexander County does not post a decedent estate fee schedule online. The Circuit Clerk must quote the current total before you file. The governing framework is 705 ILCS 105/27.1b: probate filings are Schedule 2, probate appearances are Schedule 1, and filing a will under 755 ILCS 5/6-1 is Schedule 4, $0, current statutory framework reviewed August 2026.
The First Judicial Circuit adds a $2.00 Dispute Resolution Fund fee to the first pleading in civil cases under Administrative Order 22-3-31, entered March 31, 2022. Do not add that amount to an online estimate. Ask the Circuit Clerk for the total that will be charged for the filing you are making.
Publication for creditor notice under 755 ILCS 5/18-3 is paid to the newspaper, not to the Circuit Clerk.
Local nuance
Alexander County-specific considerations
| Local point | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Lunch closure | The Circuit Clerk is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. If you are bringing an original will to Cairo, avoid the noon hour. |
| No fax filing | The clerk publishes a fax number, but First Judicial Circuit Rule 1.14 says fax filing is not authorized. |
| Original will on paper | Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(c)(1) excepts original wills from e-filing. Bring or mail the original will to the Circuit Clerk, and call before mailing an irreplaceable document. |
| Inactive probate matters | First Judicial Circuit Rule 1.6 allows an inactive decedent estate to be placed on a docket call and moved to an inactive docket if it cannot be conveniently ended. |
| Online case listing limits | Judici is the Alexander County case lookup site, but filings are not viewable online. Contact the Circuit Clerk for copies. |
Recent updates
| Change | What it means for Alexander County probate |
|---|---|
| Illinois Supreme Court Rule 45 amended December 2, 2025, effective March 1, 2026 | Probate, case type PR, is listed as a civil matter. Routine civil appearances may generally be remote without advance approval, subject to the hearing type, local rules and the judge's case-specific direction. |
| Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9 amended May 29, 2026, effective immediately | Original wills are an express exception from e-filing. The rule also addresses automatic exemptions and good-cause exemptions for self-represented filers. |
| First Judicial Circuit judicial assignments effective October 2, 2025 | Judge Jeffery B. Farris was re-appointed Presiding Judge of the Circuit Court of Alexander County, and later 2026 assignment amendments left the Alexander County assignment in place. |
| First Judicial Circuit local rules updated January 10, 2025 | The current rules include the Alexander County hours framework, no fax filing, remote appearance procedures, e-filing procedures and inactive probate matter procedure. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Alexander County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start by confirming title to the home and whether any asset actually needs letters of office under 755 ILCS 5. If a court filing is needed, file the petition through eFileIL and deliver any original will to the Circuit Clerk in Cairo. | Sunset helps locate accounts, organize title and beneficiary information, and identify when a spouse should speak with an Illinois probate attorney. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | If the estate can be handled by a small estate affidavit under 755 ILCS 5/Art. XXV, there may be no Alexander County court filing. If court authority is needed, most filings can be e-filed, and routine hearings may have a remote option under Rule 45. | Sunset helps sort assets before travel is planned, prepare information for the affidavit or petition, and connect the child with local counsel if letters of office are needed under 755 ILCS 5. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | Real estate that must be sold usually requires an Alexander County estate case and letters of office under 755 ILCS 5. File in Cairo if venue belongs in Alexander County, confirm the fee with the Circuit Clerk, and plan for court authority before the sale. | Sunset helps assemble asset information, track creditor and notice steps, and find an Illinois probate attorney for the sale and court filings. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Alexander County Circuit Clerk | Filing office for Alexander County estates. Staff can answer filing, e-filing and public access questions, but cannot give legal advice or prepare documents. | 2000 Washington Avenue, Cairo, IL 62914. (618) 734-0107. [email protected]. Open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
| Land of Lincoln Legal Aid, Carbondale office | Free civil legal help for people who qualify financially. Alexander County is served by the Southern Regional Office. Call to ask whether it can help with a particular estate issue. | 509 South University Avenue, Third Floor, Carbondale, IL 62901. (618) 457-7800. Toll free (800) 642-5335. Intake (877) 342-7891. |
| First Judicial Circuit rules and administrative orders | Local rules for Alexander County, including Rule 1.6 on inactive probate matters, Rule 1.13 on clerk hours, Rule 1.14 barring fax filing, Rule 1.15 on remote court, and Rule 9.1 on e-filing. | First Judicial Circuit website, rules and administrative orders page. |
| First Judicial Circuit links to video court | County-by-county Zoom directory. The Alexander County entry lists Judge Jeffery B. Farris, all dockets, Meeting ID 369 692 5200, updated February 1, 2023. | Check the circuit video court page and the notice or order for the current appearance instructions. |
| Alexander County legal self-help centers | Internet-based legal information centers in public libraries. They provide legal information, not legal advice. | Cairo Public Library, 1609 Washington Avenue, Cairo, IL 62914, (618) 734-1840. Dodge Memorial Public Library, 22440 Railroad Street, Olive Branch, IL 62969, (618) 766-9200. |
| Illinois Legal Aid Online | Plain-language guides on settling an estate and the small estate affidavit under 755 ILCS 5/Art. XXV, plus an online interview for that affidavit. | illinoislegalaid.org |
| Illinois Courts approved standardized forms | Forms that may matter in an estate case include Exemption from E-Filing for Good Cause, Fee Waiver for Civil Cases, and Appearance and Jury Request. There is no decedent estate petition packet. | illinoiscourts.gov documents and forms page. |
| eFileIL | Electronic filing system for Alexander County estate petitions and later filings other than the original will. | efile.illinoiscourts.gov |
When to hire an attorney
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions to help identify accounts, insurance and other assets that may affect whether Alexander County probate is needed. Better asset information makes estate settlement faster and reduces the chance of reopening work later.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the family information, asset list and filing details needed for petitions, notices and supporting documents. In Alexander County, that preparation matters because the clerk does not publish a local probate packet.
Find a local probate attorney. When an estate needs letters of office under 755 ILCS 5, real estate work, creditor handling or court filings, Sunset can help connect the family with an Illinois probate attorney familiar with Circuit Court practice.
Sunset is free for families. Sunset's estate settlement tools help families understand assets, deadlines and next steps without adding another bill at the start of the process.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Alexander County?
File with the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Alexander County at the Alexander County Courthouse, 2000 Washington Avenue, Cairo, IL 62914. Alexander County is in the First Judicial Circuit, but venue is by county under 755 ILCS 5/5-1, so you do not file an Alexander County estate in another First Circuit county just because the circuit is shared.
Is there a separate probate division in Alexander County?
No. Outside Cook County, Illinois probate is handled as a case category on the general Circuit Court civil docket. In Alexander County, the Circuit Clerk receives estate filings and the case is assigned within the county court.
Can I e-file an Alexander County probate case?
Yes, the petition and ordinary estate filings are e-filed through eFileIL unless an Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9 exemption applies. An original will is different: Rule 9(c)(1) says an original will is not e-filed, so deliver the paper original to the Circuit Clerk in Cairo in person or by mail.
How much does it cost to open an estate in Alexander County?
Alexander County does not post a decedent estate filing amount online. Probate filings are Schedule 2 and probate appearances are Schedule 1 under 705 ILCS 105/27.1b, and the Circuit Clerk quotes the current total. Filing a will under 755 ILCS 5/6-1 is Schedule 4, $0, current statutory framework reviewed August 2026. The First Judicial Circuit also adds a $2.00 Dispute Resolution Fund fee to the first pleading in civil cases under Administrative Order 22-3-31, entered March 31, 2022.
Can I file an original will by fax or email in Alexander County?
No filing by fax. First Judicial Circuit Rule 1.14 says facsimile filing is not authorized. The clerk publishes an email address for questions, but no rule or court page says an original will may be filed by email.
Are Alexander County probate hearings remote?
Routine civil matters may generally be attended remotely under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 45, subject to the judge and the type of hearing. The First Judicial Circuit posts an Alexander County video court entry for all dockets. Check the video court page and your notice or order before the hearing, because evidentiary hearings, settlement conferences and trials may require approval or in-person attendance.
Can I look up an Alexander County estate online?
Alexander County participates in Judici under court code IL002015J. If you cannot find the estate, call the Circuit Clerk at (618) 734-0107. Even when a case listing appears, filings themselves are not viewable online.
Do I have to travel to Cairo for estate settlement?
You may need to deliver an original will to the Circuit Clerk in Cairo or mail it after calling the clerk. Many later filings are handled through eFileIL, and routine hearings may have a remote option under Rule 45 and First Judicial Circuit Rule 1.15. Plan around the lunch closure if you go in person.
Shaped by the families we've helped
Thank you to the thousands of families who have trusted Sunset to help settle their loved ones' estates. This page is shaped by the questions they actually asked and the obstacles they actually hit — and that hard-won experience is what keeps it accurate, current, and genuinely useful to the families who come next.