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Crawford County, IL Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Crawford County probate information |
|---|---|
| Court | Circuit Court of the Second Judicial Circuit, Crawford County |
| Filing office | Crawford County Circuit Clerk, 100 S. Douglas Street, second floor, Robinson, IL 62454 |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 655, Robinson, IL 62454 |
| Phone | (618) 544-3512 |
| Fax | (618) 546-5628 |
| [email protected] | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
| Filing fee | Crawford County does not list a probate fee schedule online. Circuit clerk filing fees are set under 705 ILCS 105/27.1b and county board action, so call the Circuit Clerk to confirm the current amount before filing. |
| Local forms | No Crawford County-specific decedent-estate probate forms are listed by the Circuit Clerk. |
| E-filing | Required for Illinois civil cases, including probate, through eFileIL. A self-represented filer may use the statewide Certification for Exemption From E-filing when Rule 9(d) applies. An original will cannot be e-filed and must be delivered or mailed to the Circuit Clerk under Rule 9(c)(1). |
| Case search | Judici entry point for Crawford County: https://www.judici.com/courts/index.jsp?court=IL017015J. If an estate case is not listed there, call the Circuit Clerk. |
| Remote appearance | Second Judicial Circuit Rule 24 allows remote appearance by Zoom without prior approval for civil case management conferences, pre-trial conferences, and argument-only hearings. Evidentiary hearings and settlement conferences are in person unless the judge allows remote attendance. |
| Website | https://crawfordcountyil.org/circuit-clerk/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Crawford County, make a working list of the decedent's assets, debts, beneficiaries, real estate, and any will. The filing path and whether the court must issue letters of office under 755 ILCS 5 depend on what exists in the estate, who has authority to act, and whether an asset can transfer outside probate.
Sunset can help with that estate settlement inventory by searching more than 2,300 financial institutions for accounts and assets. Having that picture first makes it easier to decide what to e-file, what must be mailed or delivered to the Circuit Clerk, and whether you need a Crawford County probate attorney.
Which court handles jurisdiction
One courthouse serves Crawford County probate filings: the Crawford County courthouse in Robinson, where the Circuit Clerk's filing counter is listed at 100 S. Douglas Street, second floor. Mail for the Circuit Clerk goes to P.O. Box 655, Robinson, IL 62454.
Crawford County is part of the Second Judicial Circuit with Hardin, Gallatin, White, Hamilton, Franklin, Wabash, Edwards, Wayne, Jefferson, Richland, and Lawrence Counties (705 ILCS 35/1). That shared circuit structure does not move a Crawford County estate to another county. A Crawford County estate is filed with the Crawford County Circuit Clerk in Robinson.
Illinois venue is based first on the decedent's known place of residence, then on the county holding the greater part of the Illinois real estate, and then on the county holding the greater part of the Illinois personal estate (755 ILCS 5/5-1).
The jurisdiction process
- Find the will, if there is one, and file the original with the Crawford County Circuit Clerk immediately after death. Illinois requires anyone holding the will to file it with the proper clerk immediately (755 ILCS 5/6-1). The original will cannot be e-filed under Rule 9(c)(1), so deliver it to 100 S. Douglas Street or mail it to P.O. Box 655, Robinson, IL 62454.
- Prepare the petition to admit the will, if any, and to issue letters of office under 755 ILCS 5. If you are named as executor, Illinois gives you 30 days after learning of the appointment to open the case or decline to act (755 ILCS 5/6-3).
- E-file the petition and supporting documents through eFileIL unless you qualify for and file the statewide Certification for Exemption From E-filing. The Crawford County Circuit Clerk's e-filing page directs filers to certified e-file service providers.
- Call the Crawford County Circuit Clerk before filing to confirm the current probate filing fee. Crawford County does not list a probate fee schedule online, and circuit clerk fees are set under 705 ILCS 105/27.1b and county board action.
- Prove heirship. Second Judicial Circuit Rule 20 allows proof by testimony in open court, affidavit under 755 ILCS 5/5-3, or deposition, and requires an order declaring heirship.
- Attend the first hearing or follow the judge's scheduling instructions. Under Second Judicial Circuit Rule 24, some civil appearances may be by Zoom for case management, pre-trial, or argument-only settings, but evidentiary hearings are in person unless the judge allows remote attendance.
- After the court appoints the representative, take the required oath and address bond as ordered by the court (755 ILCS 5/12-2). Illinois commonly issues letters of office under 755 ILCS 5 to show the representative's authority.
- Send required notices to heirs and legatees after the order, and publish when an address is not stated as required by 755 ILCS 5/6-10.
- Publish the creditor notice once each week for three successive weeks in a newspaper published in the county where the estate is administered, then file proof of publication. The claims date must be at least six months from first publication, or three months from mailing or delivery to a known creditor, whichever is later (755 ILCS 5/18-3).
- Collect assets, inventory the estate, handle claims and expenses, sell property if the court process requires it, distribute what remains, and close the estate by the procedure that fits the court's orders and the Illinois Probate Act of 1975.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Crawford County
The Crawford County Circuit Clerk does not list any Crawford County-specific probate packet, decedent-estate petition, will form, or small-estate form. Its forms page points users to statewide form resources and notes that Circuit Clerk staff cannot give legal advice.
Illinois also does not have a statewide standardized decedent-estate probate form set. The statewide forms that commonly matter around a probate filing are the Appearance, the Fee Waiver for Civil Cases application, and the Certification for Exemption From E-filing.
| Form resource | How it fits Crawford County probate |
|---|---|
| Crawford County Circuit Clerk forms page | Points to statewide and circuit resources, but does not list a local decedent-estate probate packet. |
| Illinois Courts approved statewide standardized forms | Includes the Appearance, civil fee waiver application, and e-filing exemption certification that Illinois courts accept. |
| Second Judicial Circuit forms page | Use only for forms that apply to your filing. Call the Crawford County Circuit Clerk before assuming a form is required for an estate. |
Local nuance
Crawford County-specific considerations
| Local rule | What it means in Crawford County |
|---|---|
| Second Judicial Circuit Rule 20 | Heirship can be proved by witness testimony in open court, by affidavit under Section 5-3 of the Illinois Probate Act of 1975, or by deposition. The affidavit must address the decedent's death, surviving spouse, children, descendants of deceased children, and how the affiant is related to the decedent. An order declaring heirship must be filed, and a changed family circumstance can require amended proof and a new order. |
| Second Judicial Circuit Rule 24 | Zoom may be used in civil matters for case management conferences, pre-trial conferences, and argument-only hearings without prior approval. Hearings with evidence and settlement conferences are in person unless the judge allows a remote request. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Crawford County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Assets held in joint tenancy or with a beneficiary designation may pass outside the estate. If accounts or real estate were in the decedent's sole name, the spouse usually e-files the petition, delivers or mails the original will to the Circuit Clerk in Robinson, and confirms the current filing fee before filing. | Sunset helps identify which accounts and assets may already have transfer paths and which ones may require letters of office under 755 ILCS 5. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | Much of the work may be handled without repeated travel because e-filing is available and Rule 24 allows remote attendance for some civil settings. The original will still must be mailed or delivered to Robinson, and the child should call the Circuit Clerk if a case does not appear on Judici. | Sunset organizes the asset list, debts, family details, and contact points so the out-of-state child can manage estate settlement steps more efficiently. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | Selling real estate usually requires court-issued authority. In Crawford County, heirship proof may be handled under Second Judicial Circuit Rule 20 by affidavit under 755 ILCS 5/5-3 in a straightforward case, or by testimony or deposition if needed. The creditor notice period still follows 755 ILCS 5/18-3 before final distribution. | Sunset helps locate accounts, organize the home-sale probate file, and connect the parent with a vetted Illinois probate attorney serving Crawford County when a sale or heirship issue needs legal work. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Crawford County Circuit Clerk | Filing office for Crawford County estates. Clerk staff can provide filing and access information, but cannot give legal advice. | 100 S. Douglas Street, second floor, Robinson, IL 62454. P.O. Box 655, Robinson, IL 62454. (618) 544-3512. [email protected]. https://crawfordcountyil.org/circuit-clerk/ |
| Legal Self-Help Centers, Second Judicial Circuit | Crawford County self-help center locations include Robinson Public Library, Oblong Public Library, Hutsonville Public Library, Susan Wesley Memorial Library in Flat Rock, and Palestine Public Library. | https://illinoissecondcircuit.info/community-directory/legal-self-help-centers/ |
| Land of Lincoln Legal Aid, Eastern Regional Office | Free civil legal help for eligible low-income people in a service area that includes Crawford County. Ask whether the office can help with the estate issue before relying on it. | 302 North First Street, Champaign, IL 61820. (217) 356-1351. Toll free (800) 747-5523. https://lincolnlegal.org/ |
| Illinois Legal Aid Online, estate guide | Plain-language statewide guide to settling an estate after someone dies. | https://www.illinoislegalaid.org/legal-information/how-do-i-settle-estate-after-someone-dies |
| Illinois Courts approved statewide standardized forms | Includes the Appearance, Fee Waiver for Civil Cases application, and Certification for Exemption From E-filing. Illinois courts accept these statewide forms. | https://www.illinoiscourts.gov/documents-and-forms/approved-forms/ |
| eFileIL | Statewide electronic filing system for Illinois circuit courts. | https://efile.illinoiscourts.gov/ |
When to hire an attorney
A lawyer is useful in a Crawford County estate when farmland or a home must be sold, heirs disagree, a creditor files a claim, a will contest is possible, or heirship under Second Judicial Circuit Rule 20 needs testimony or a deposition instead of a straightforward affidavit. Sunset connects families with a vetted Illinois probate attorney serving Crawford County.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions to help families find bank accounts, investment accounts, insurance, and other assets that can shape the Crawford County probate plan.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset helps organize the estate settlement information families need before preparing filings, including the family tree, asset list, debts, and court-contact details for the Crawford County Circuit Clerk.
Find a local probate attorney. When a full probate case, real estate sale, creditor issue, or heirship problem needs legal help, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Illinois probate attorney serving Crawford County.
Sunset is free for families. Sunset's estate settlement tools are free to use, and families can decide whether they want attorney help after they understand the assets, debts, and local filing path.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file for probate in Crawford County?
File with the Crawford County Circuit Clerk at 100 S. Douglas Street, second floor, Robinson, IL 62454. Venue usually belongs in the county where the decedent had a known place of residence, then the county with the greater part of the Illinois real estate, then the county with the greater part of the Illinois personal estate (755 ILCS 5/5-1).
Do I have to e-file a Crawford County probate case?
Yes. Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9 requires e-filing in civil cases, including probate, and Crawford County links filers to eFileIL. A self-represented filer who cannot e-file may use the statewide Certification for Exemption From E-filing when Rule 9(d) applies. The original will is different: Rule 9(c)(1) says an original will may not be e-filed, so deliver or mail it to the Circuit Clerk.
How much does probate cost in Crawford County?
Crawford County does not list a probate fee schedule online. Probate filing fees are set under 705 ILCS 105/27.1b and county board action, so call the Crawford County Circuit Clerk at (618) 544-3512 before filing.
Can I appear remotely in a Crawford County probate matter?
Often, yes, for limited hearing types. Second Judicial Circuit Rule 24 allows remote appearance by Zoom without prior approval for civil case management conferences, pre-trial conferences, and argument-only hearings. Evidentiary hearings and settlement conferences are in person unless the judge allows remote attendance. Contact the Circuit Clerk for Zoom credentials.
Are there Crawford County probate forms?
No Crawford County-specific decedent-estate probate forms are listed by the Circuit Clerk. Illinois does not publish a statewide standardized decedent-estate probate form set, although statewide forms such as the Appearance, civil fee waiver application, and e-filing exemption certification may be relevant.
How do I look up a Crawford County probate case?
Start with Crawford County's Judici entry point at https://www.judici.com/courts/index.jsp?court=IL017015J. Judici is a private case-search vendor. If you do not find the estate there, call the Circuit Clerk because the public index may not show every probate matter.
Is the Circuit Clerk the same as the County Clerk in Crawford County?
No. Probate filings go to the Crawford County Circuit Clerk, the Clerk of the Circuit Court. The County Clerk is a different office and its fee schedule is not a probate filing fee schedule.
Do I have to travel to Robinson for every Crawford County probate step?
Not always. Petitions and most supporting papers are e-filed, and Rule 24 allows some civil appearances by Zoom. The original will still must be delivered or mailed to the Circuit Clerk, and hearings with evidence are in person unless the judge grants a remote request.
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.