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Champaign County, IL Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Champaign County detail |
|---|---|
| Court | Circuit Court of the Sixth Judicial Circuit, Champaign County |
| Filing office | Champaign County Circuit Clerk, Champaign County Courthouse |
| Courthouse address | 101 East Main Street, Urbana, IL 61801 |
| Mailing address | Champaign County Circuit Clerk, 101 East Main Street, Urbana, IL 61801 |
| Phone | (217) 384-3725. The Circuit Clerk publishes no separate probate line. |
| Fax | (217) 384-3879 |
| [email protected] | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The clerk publishes no lunch closure or probate filing cutoff. |
| Filing fee | $348 for a new decedent's estate case, effective January 1, 2026. The entry of appearance or answer fee is $181, effective January 1, 2026. Confirm the current amount with the Circuit Clerk. |
| Will deposit | $0 to file a will, effective January 1, 2026. The county fee ordinance also states that a will cannot be filed electronically. |
| Local probate forms | No local decedent-estate petition packet. The Circuit Clerk posts a probate practice guide, a letters request form, and a small estate affidavit form among its commonly used forms. |
| E-filing | Required in civil cases, including probate, through eFileIL for attorneys and self-represented filers, with the Rule 9(d) exemption process. Original wills cannot be e-filed under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(c)(1). |
| Case search | Champaign County Circuit Clerk public court case record search, reached from the clerk's website. Champaign County is not on Judici. |
| Remote appearance | Generally available in civil matters at no charge, subject to the judge. Decedent's estate cases are not on Champaign County's in-person list. |
| Website | https://champaigncircuitclerk.org/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything in Urbana, make a working list of the decedent's accounts, vehicles, real estate, debts, tax documents, beneficiaries and co-owners. Champaign County's local guide expects petitions to identify heirs, legatees and devisees, and bond questions can depend on the value of the personal estate.
Sunset's estate settlement platform helps families search for accounts across more than 2,300 financial institutions, organize assets and liabilities, and decide whether a Champaign County court case is needed before paying the filing fee or asking a lawyer to draft the packet.
Which court handles jurisdiction
One courthouse serves all Champaign County probate matters: the Champaign County Courthouse at 101 East Main Street in Urbana. A reader in Champaign, Urbana, Rantoul, Mahomet, Savoy, St. Joseph, Tolono or another Champaign County community files with the Champaign County Circuit Clerk, not with the Champaign County Clerk and Recorder and not with another county in the circuit.
Champaign County is part of the Sixth Judicial Circuit with DeWitt, Douglas, Macon, Moultrie and Piatt Counties. The circuit shares local rules and court administration, but each county keeps its own filing counter. Illinois venue for probate is the county of the decedent's known place of residence, then the county where the greater part of the real estate is located, then the county where the greater part of the personal estate is located (755 ILCS 5/5-1).
The jurisdiction process
- File the original will if there is one. Anyone holding the will must file it with the proper Circuit Clerk immediately after death (755 ILCS 5/6-1). In Champaign County, bring or mail the original will to the Circuit Clerk at 101 East Main Street in Urbana. Original wills cannot be e-filed under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(c)(1), and Champaign County charges $0 to file a will, effective January 1, 2026.
- Prepare the petition and local supporting papers. A will case generally uses a petition to admit the will and issue letters of office under 755 ILCS 5/6-2. An intestate case uses the Article IX petition framework. Champaign County expects a petition, an order appointing the representative, an order finding heirship, and an order approving oath and bond.
- Include the Champaign County heirship detail. File an affidavit of heirship with every petition for letters of office under 755 ILCS 5. The county guide says the affidavit must trace the relationship between the decedent and all potential heirs, identify minors or people with disabilities, and state whether the decedent was ever party to a marriage or civil union.
- E-file the probate petition and paper-file the original will. E-file the petition and supporting documents through eFileIL under the probate case category. If you cannot e-file, use the statewide Certification for Exemption From E-filing under Rule 9(d). If there is a will, the original will still goes physically to the Circuit Clerk.
- Pay the filing fee or request a fee waiver. The new case filing fee for administration of a decedent's estate is $348, effective January 1, 2026. An entry of appearance or answer is $181, effective January 1, 2026. Confirm current fees with the Champaign County Circuit Clerk or file the statewide civil fee waiver application if you qualify.
- Set a hearing only if one is needed. The Champaign County Probate Court Guide says a named executor in a will does not need a hearing for letters of office under 755 ILCS 5 if the requirements are met. If there is no will or no available named executor, file written waivers from all people with an equal or greater right to act or set the matter for hearing with 14 days notice under Sixth Judicial Circuit Local Rule 2.1(f).
- Handle remote appearance instructions. Civil participants are generally allowed to appear remotely at hearings, except evidentiary hearings, settlement conferences and trials, subject to the judge. If the notice permits a remote appearance, include the information needed to appear in person or remotely.
- Qualify the representative. The representative takes the oath and addresses bond under 755 ILCS 5/12-2. In a Champaign County intestate estate or administration with the will annexed, the county guide says the court generally requires two Illinois-resident personal sureties or a corporate surety unless the testator waived surety.
- Obtain letters of office. After the court enters the appointment order, request letters of office under 755 ILCS 5 from the Circuit Clerk using the local letters request form. Letters cost $5 per letter, effective January 1, 2026, and the clerk offers a digital-seal email option or bond paper with a raised seal.
- Give required notices and administer the estate. Send statutory notices to heirs and legatees, publish the claims notice once each week for 3 successive weeks in a newspaper published in the county where the estate is administered, and file proof of publication with the Circuit Clerk. The claims date must be at least six months from first publication or 3 months from mailing, whichever is later (755 ILCS 5/18-3).
- Inventory, resolve claims and close. If asset values are unknown, the Champaign County guide says the court will likely require an inventory within 90 days even in independent administration under Article XXVIII. Resolve filed claims before closing. The estate cannot close until six months have passed after notice under 755 ILCS 5/18-3 or 2 years have passed since death under 755 ILCS 5/18-12, and then closing may proceed by receipts and waivers, 42 days notice, or a hearing if needed.
Executor duties
- File an affidavit of heirship with every petition for letters of office under 755 ILCS 5, tracing the genealogy needed to establish descent rather than only listing names.
- List every heir, legatee and devisee in the petition with addresses, and identify anyone who is a minor or has a disability.
- Arrange surety before seeking letters of administration in an intestate estate or administration with the will annexed. Champaign County's guide states that the court generally requires two Illinois-resident personal sureties or a corporate surety authorized to do business in Illinois unless the testator waived surety (755 ILCS 5/12-5).
- If the will is handwritten, file a typewritten copy with an affidavit that the copy is true and correct. If the will is not in English, file a typewritten English copy with a qualified translator's certification under Sixth Judicial Circuit Local Rules 5.1(a) and 5.1(b).
- If the proposed representative lives outside Illinois and no co-petitioner lives in Illinois, name an Illinois agent for service of process before the court enters the appointment order.
- Resolve every claim filed with the Circuit Clerk before asking for approval of a final report or discharge of the representative.
- After the appointment order is entered, order letters of office under 755 ILCS 5 from the Circuit Clerk using the clerk's letters request form.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Champaign County
Illinois does not publish statewide standardized decedent-estate probate forms, and Champaign County does not publish a local petition to admit a will, petition for letters of office under 755 ILCS 5, heirship form, inventory form, account form or decedent-estate order packet. Those probate papers are drafted for the estate.
| Form or guide | How it is used |
|---|---|
| Guide to Champaign County Probate Practice | The county's probate practice guide explains local expectations for opening, administering and closing decedents' estates, including heirship affidavits, surety, hearing settings and closing orders. |
| Request for letters of testamentary, administration or guardianship | Use this clerk form after the appointment order is entered to order letters of office under 755 ILCS 5. Letters can be prepared with a digital seal and emailed or prepared on bond paper with a raised seal. The charge is $5 per letter, effective January 1, 2026. |
| Small estate affidavit form | The Circuit Clerk posts a small estate affidavit template among its commonly used forms. That affidavit is presented to the bank or other asset holder rather than filed as a probate case; use the current statutory version and check current limits before relying on it. |
| Certification for exemption from e-filing | A statewide form for a self-represented filer who cannot e-file under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(d). |
| Application for waiver of court fees | A statewide civil fee waiver form that Illinois courts must accept. |
| Appearance and jury request | A statewide civil appearance form that may be relevant when an interested person appears in the case. |
Fees
Champaign County publishes its probate fees in Champaign County Board Ordinance No. 2025-18, effective January 1, 2026. Illinois circuit clerk filing fees are set under 705 ILCS 105/27.1b through a county board ordinance or resolution, which is why there is no single statewide Illinois probate filing fee.
| Probate fee item | Amount |
|---|---|
| New case filing, administration of a decedent's estate | $348, effective January 1, 2026 |
| Entry of appearance or answer | $181, effective January 1, 2026 |
| Filing a will | $0, effective January 1, 2026 |
| Letters of office | $5 per letter, effective January 1, 2026 |
| Estate yearly accounting, except final report | $25, effective January 1, 2026 |
| Estate final report | $0, effective January 1, 2026 |
| Estate claim from $0 to $149 | $0, effective January 1, 2026 |
| Estate claim from $150 to $499 | $25, effective January 1, 2026 |
| Estate claim from $500 to $9,999 | $40, effective January 1, 2026 |
| Estate claim of $10,000 or more | $60, effective January 1, 2026 |
| Certified copy fee stated on the clerk's court file page | $2 for the first page, $0.50 for each later page up to 20 pages, $0.25 for each page after that, and $5 per certification, effective January 1, 2026 |
Publication costs, certified mail, service costs and other third-party expenses are not included in the Circuit Clerk's probate filing fee. Confirm the current fee total with the Champaign County Circuit Clerk before filing.
Timeline
- Before filing. If there is an original will, deliver or mail it to the Champaign County Circuit Clerk because original wills cannot be e-filed. Champaign County assigns a deposited will a WI file number that the later petition should reference.
- Appointment without a hearing in some will cases. The Champaign County Probate Court Guide says a petitioner named as executor in the will does not need to set a hearing for letters of office under 755 ILCS 5 if the other requirements are satisfied.
- Appointment with waivers or notice in other cases. In an intestate case or administration with the will annexed, file written waivers from everyone with an equal or greater right to act or set the matter for hearing with 14 days notice under Sixth Judicial Circuit Local Rule 2.1(f).
- Unknown asset values. If the petition lists real or personal property values as unknown, the county guide says the court will likely order an inventory within 90 days, even in independent administration under Article XXVIII.
- Claims period and closing floor. A Champaign County estate cannot close until six months have passed after notice to heirs, legatees and creditors under 755 ILCS 5/18-3, or 2 years have passed since the date of death under 755 ILCS 5/18-12.
- Closing without a hearing. After the timing requirement is met, a closing order can be entered without a hearing if receipts and waivers from all interested parties are on file under 755 ILCS 5/28-11(c), or on 42 days prior notice with the documentation described in 755 ILCS 5/28-11(e). Otherwise, closing requires a hearing with notice.
Local nuance
Champaign County-specific considerations
- Deposited wills get a WI file number. Champaign County's Probate Court Guide tells petitioners to attach a copy of the will to the petition and include the will file number. The original will is delivered or mailed to the Circuit Clerk because original wills cannot be e-filed.
- Some appointments can proceed without a hearing. The county guide says a petitioner named executor in the will does not have to set a hearing for letters of office under 755 ILCS 5 if the other requirements are satisfied. Intestate cases and administration with the will annexed require waivers from people with an equal or greater right to act or a hearing with notice.
- Heirship must be detailed. The county guide requires an affidavit of heirship with every petition for letters, and says the affidavit must trace the family relationship enough to establish descent rather than merely list names.
- Surety is a practical local hurdle. The county guide states that requests for letters of administration or administration with the will annexed generally require two Illinois-resident personal sureties or a corporate surety, unless the testator waived surety (755 ILCS 5/12-5).
- Current local rules replaced old probate rules. The Sixth Judicial Circuit Rules of Practice effective August 1, 2025 repealed prior circuit rules. Current decedent-estate local rule material is in Rule 5.1, with notice and remote appearance rules in Rules 2.1 and 2.8.
Recent updates
| Update | What changed |
|---|---|
| Fee ordinance effective January 1, 2026 | Champaign County Board Ordinance No. 2025-18 revised Circuit Clerk civil fees under 705 ILCS 105/27.1b. The probate new case filing fee for administration of a decedent's estate is $348, effective January 1, 2026, and the appearance or answer fee is $181, effective January 1, 2026. Letters of office are $5 per letter, effective January 1, 2026, and filing a will is $0, effective January 1, 2026. |
| Sixth Judicial Circuit rules effective August 1, 2025 | The Sixth Judicial Circuit adopted Rules of Practice for Champaign, DeWitt, Douglas, Macon, Moultrie and Piatt Counties, expressly repealing prior circuit rules. Current local rule material includes 14 days notice under Rule 2.1(f), remote proceedings under Rule 2.8, and probate provisions in Section 5. |
| Champaign County Probate Court Guide current as of May 7, 2025 | The county guide explains when letters of office under 755 ILCS 5 may issue without a hearing, what the affidavit of heirship must include, the county's surety expectations, and what must be on file before an estate can close. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Champaign County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | If the home was held in joint tenancy or passed by beneficiary designation, that asset may not need a probate transfer. If assets remain in the decedent's sole name and the will names the spouse as executor, the Champaign County guide says letters of office under 755 ILCS 5 can issue without a hearing if the requirements are met. The petition is e-filed, the original will is delivered or mailed to Urbana, the filing fee is $348, effective January 1, 2026, and letters are $5 per letter, effective January 1, 2026. | Sunset helps identify which accounts and assets are outside probate, organizes the estate settlement file, and prepares the family to request the documents a local attorney or title company will need. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | The Circuit Clerk posts a small estate affidavit form, but the affidavit is presented to the bank or other asset holder rather than filed as a probate case. If a court case is needed, the petition is e-filed, the original will must still reach the Circuit Clerk physically, remote appearances are generally available subject to the judge, and certified letters of office under 755 ILCS 5 can be ordered by form after appointment. The county guide says an out-of-state petitioner with no Illinois co-petitioner must name an Illinois agent for service before appointment. | Sunset helps locate accounts, sort which assets need court authority, and coordinate with a Champaign County attorney if the estate needs letters, surety or an Illinois service agent. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale of real estate usually requires an estate opened with the Champaign County Circuit Clerk. If there is no will, the petitioner follows the Illinois Probate Act of 1975 petition framework, obtains waivers from people with an equal or greater right to act or sets a hearing with 14 days notice, files a detailed affidavit of heirship, and arranges surety. Claims must be handled before closing, with the six months claims period under 755 ILCS 5/18-3 and the 2 years outside bar under 755 ILCS 5/18-12. | Sunset helps build the asset and debt inventory, flag real estate and title issues, and connect the family with a local probate attorney for the home sale and court filings. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps |
|---|---|
| Champaign County Circuit Clerk https://champaigncircuitclerk.org/ | The filing office for Champaign County estates. The site includes the fee schedule, commonly used forms, e-filing instructions, the letters request form and the public court case record search. The clerk does not provide legal advice or attorney referrals. |
| Champaign County fee schedule https://champaigncircuitclerk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2026-Fee-Schedule.pdf | Champaign County Board Ordinance No. 2025-18, effective January 1, 2026, lists probate filing fees, claim fees, letters of office fees and the $0 will filing fee. |
| Guide to Champaign County Probate Practice https://champaigncircuitclerk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Champaign-County-Probate-Court-Guide-Current-as-of-May-7-2025.pdf | The county's guide to opening, administering and closing decedents' estates. It explains local expectations for petitions, heirship affidavits, bond, hearing settings and closing orders. |
| Champaign County Legal Self-Help Center Champaign County Courthouse, first floor | Offers court forms, printed materials, help navigating legal information websites and referrals. It does not provide legal advice. Published hours differ, so check the schedule before going. |
| Land of Lincoln Legal Aid https://lincolnlegal.org/ | The legal aid program linked by local court resources for Champaign County. Contact the program to ask whether it can help with the specific probate or estate settlement issue. |
| Champaign County Law Library https://www.champaigncountyil.gov/CircuitCourt/LawLibrary.php | Located in the courthouse on the first floor. It provides access to legal research materials for the public, lawyers, judges and county officials. Research is done on the premises. |
| Illinois Legal Aid Online, how do I settle an estate after someone dies https://www.illinoislegalaid.org/legal-information/how-do-i-settle-estate-after-someone-dies | Statewide plain-language information about estate settlement after a death. |
| Illinois Courts approved statewide standardized forms https://www.illinoiscourts.gov/documents-and-forms/approved-forms/ | Includes the Certification for Exemption From E-filing, fee waiver forms and appearance forms that Illinois courts must accept. It does not include a decedent-estate probate petition packet. |
| eFileIL https://efile.illinoiscourts.gov/ | The statewide electronic filing system. Champaign County also links Odyssey eFileIL for registration and filing into new or existing Champaign County cases. |
| Sixth Judicial Circuit local rules https://www.sixthcircuitcourt.com/localrules.php | Rules for Champaign, DeWitt, Douglas, Macon, Moultrie and Piatt Counties, including notice, remote appearance and current probate rule provisions. |
When to hire an attorney
The Champaign County Probate Court Guide strongly encourages a self-represented person seeking appointment as executor or administrator to consult a licensed attorney because the court cannot give legal advice, and it says the court will require an attorney for a person seeking letters in any complex or contested proceeding. Counsel is especially useful when heirship must be traced through multiple generations, surety has to be arranged, the will is handwritten or not in English, a claim is filed, or a home must be sold. Sunset connects families with a vetted Illinois probate attorney serving Champaign County.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions so families can build a clearer inventory before deciding whether Champaign County probate is needed. That asset discovery is often the first practical step in estate settlement.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset helps organize the family information, asset list, debts, heirs and documents needed for a Champaign County probate filing, including the pieces a lawyer or representative will need to draft the petition and supporting orders.
Find a local probate attorney. When a Champaign County estate is contested, complex, intestate, requires surety, includes a house sale, or needs court appearances, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Illinois probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to understand the estate settlement workflow, gather information and decide what help they need without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file for probate in Champaign County?
File with the Champaign County Circuit Clerk at the Champaign County Courthouse, 101 East Main Street, Urbana, IL 61801. Venue is the county of the decedent's known place of 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).
How much does it cost to open an estate in Champaign County?
The new case filing fee for administration of a decedent's estate is $348, effective January 1, 2026. The entry of appearance or answer fee is $181, effective January 1, 2026. Confirm the current amount with the Champaign County Circuit Clerk before filing.
Do I have to e-file probate papers in Champaign County?
Yes. E-filing is required in Illinois civil cases, including probate, through eFileIL, and Champaign County's own e-filing standards include probate. Self-represented filers who cannot e-file may use the statewide Certification for Exemption From E-filing under Rule 9(d). The clerk also provides e-filing terminals in the Circuit Clerk's office.
What do I do with the original will in Champaign County?
Bring or mail the original will to the Champaign County Circuit Clerk in Urbana. Original wills cannot be e-filed under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(c)(1), and Champaign County's fee ordinance says filing a will costs $0, effective January 1, 2026. The county gives a deposited will a WI file number, which the later petition to admit the will should reference.
Do I need a hearing to get letters of office in Champaign County?
If you are the executor named in the will, the Champaign County Probate Court Guide says a hearing is not required for letters of office under 755 ILCS 5 to issue if the other requirements are met. If there is no will or no available named executor, the petitioner must file waivers from everyone with an equal or greater right to act or set the matter for hearing with 14 days notice under Sixth Judicial Circuit Local Rule 2.1(f).
Can I appear remotely in a Champaign County probate case?
Generally yes, subject to the judge. Sixth Judicial Circuit Local Rule 2.8 allows civil case participants to appear remotely except for evidentiary hearings, settlement conferences and trials, and says there is no fee to appear remotely. Ask the court administrator or read the hearing notice for connection details.
Are there local probate forms in Champaign County?
There is no local decedent-estate petition packet and no statewide Illinois decedent-estate form set. The Circuit Clerk does publish a Probate Court Guide, a letters request form, a small estate affidavit form and e-filing instructions.
How do I get certified letters of office in Champaign County?
After the appointment order is entered, use the Circuit Clerk's letters request form. Letters of office under 755 ILCS 5 cost $5 per letter, effective January 1, 2026, and the clerk's form offers an emailed digital-seal option or bond paper with a raised seal.
How do I look up a Champaign County probate case?
Use the Champaign County Circuit Clerk's public court case record search through the clerk's website. If you cannot find the case, ask the Circuit Clerk or visit the file viewing room during regular courthouse hours. re:SearchIL is not a public family case lookup tool.
How long before a Champaign County estate can close?
The county Probate Court Guide says an estate cannot close until six months have passed after notice to heirs, legatees and creditors under 755 ILCS 5/18-3, or 2 years have passed since the death under 755 ILCS 5/18-12. After that, a closing order can be entered without a hearing if the required receipts and waivers are on file, or on 42 days notice with the required documentation.
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.