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Greene County, IL Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Greene County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Circuit Court of the Seventh Judicial Circuit, Greene County |
| Filing office | Greene County Circuit Clerk, 519 North Main Street, Carrollton, IL 62016 |
| Mailing address | No separate mailing address is listed. Mail probate papers to the courthouse street address. |
| Phone | (217) 942-3421. No separate probate line is listed. |
| Fax | (217) 942-5431 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
| Filing fee | Greene County does not post a probate fee schedule online. Confirm the current amount with the Circuit Clerk before filing. Illinois circuit clerk fees are set under 705 ILCS 105/27.1b. |
| Local probate forms | No Greene County decedent-estate probate packet or local cover sheet is posted online. |
| E-filing | Probate petitions are filed through eFileIL. E-filing applies to self-represented filers and attorneys unless an exemption applies under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(d). |
| Original will | An original will cannot be e-filed and must be delivered or mailed to the Greene County Circuit Clerk under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(c)(1). |
| Case search | Judici for Greene County: https://www.judici.com/courts/index.jsp?court=IL031015J |
| Remote appearance | No Greene County probate remote-appearance policy is posted online. Ask the Circuit Clerk about the judge's instructions for a specific hearing. |
| Website | https://greenecountyil.org/circuit-clerk/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Greene County, list the assets, debts, real estate, vehicles, accounts, and likely heirs. That inventory tells you whether the family needs court authority, whether an original will must be sent to the Circuit Clerk, and what information the petition should include.
Sunset's 2,300-institution asset discovery helps families find accounts and policies before choosing an estate settlement path. In Greene County, it is also practical to call the Circuit Clerk before filing because no probate fee schedule or local decedent-estate packet is posted online.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Greene County Courthouse at 519 North Main Street in Carrollton serves probate filings for Greene County. The page covers Carrollton, the county seat, and the surrounding rural townships of Greene County.
Greene County is in the Seventh Judicial Circuit with Sangamon, Macoupin, Morgan, Scott, and Jersey Counties. That shared circuit does not mean a Greene County estate is filed in another county. Illinois venue starts with the county where the decedent had a known place of residence, then moves to the county with the greater part of the Illinois real estate, then to the county with the greater part of the Illinois personal estate if the earlier tests do not apply (755 ILCS 5/5-1).
The jurisdiction process
- Find the correct county. File in Greene County only if venue belongs there under Illinois's residence, real-estate, or personal-property rule (755 ILCS 5/5-1).
- File the original will if one exists. Anyone holding the will must file it with the Greene County Circuit Clerk immediately after death (755 ILCS 5/6-1). The original will cannot be e-filed under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(c)(1), so deliver or mail it to 519 North Main Street, Carrollton, IL 62016.
- Prepare the petition. The probate petition asks the Circuit Court of the Seventh Judicial Circuit, Greene County, to admit the will if there is one, determine heirship as needed, and issue letters of office under 755 ILCS 5 to the proper executor or administrator.
- E-file the petition through eFileIL unless you have an exemption. Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(a) requires civil e-filing, and Rule 9(d) provides the Certification for Exemption From E-filing for qualifying self-represented filers.
- Confirm and pay the filing fee. Greene County does not post a probate fee schedule online, so call the Circuit Clerk at (217) 942-3421 before filing. Illinois circuit clerk fees are set under 705 ILCS 105/27.1b.
- Complete the court's first-hearing requirements. Greene County does not post a probate hearing calendar or remote-appearance policy online, so ask the Circuit Clerk how the judge schedules the first hearing and whether remote attendance is allowed in your case.
- Qualify the representative. The court may require proof of heirship under 755 ILCS 5/5-3, an oath, and bond under 755 ILCS 5/12-2. If the estate qualifies, the court grants independent administration under Article XXVIII unless the will forbids it or an interested person objects.
- Receive authority from the clerk. After the order is entered and the representative qualifies, the clerk issues letters of office under 755 ILCS 5. Letters issued on a will are commonly letters testamentary, and letters issued without a will are letters of administration.
- Give required notices. Mail the required notice to heirs and legatees after the order under 755 ILCS 5/6-10. Publish the creditor notice once each week for three successive weeks in a newspaper in the county of administration, then file proof of publication. The claims deadline is at least six months from first publication, or three months from mailing to a known creditor if later (755 ILCS 5/18-3).
- Administer and close the estate. The representative gathers assets, prepares the inventory required by Article XIV of the Illinois Probate Act of 1975, pays allowed claims and expenses, distributes property, and closes by the court process that fits the estate's level of supervision under Article XXIV or Article XXVIII.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Greene County
Greene County does not post a local decedent-estate probate packet, local cover sheet, petition, order, oath, inventory, or account form online. The Circuit Clerk's page links to statewide Illinois Courts forms, but Illinois does not publish a statewide standardized decedent-estate probate form set.
| Form or resource | Where to get it | How it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Certification for Exemption From E-filing | Illinois Courts approved statewide standardized forms: https://www.illinoiscourts.gov/documents-and-forms/approved-forms/ | Use this if you qualify for an e-filing exemption under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(d). |
| Fee Waiver for Civil Cases | Illinois Courts approved statewide standardized forms: https://www.illinoiscourts.gov/documents-and-forms/approved-forms/ | Use this to ask the court to waive civil filing costs if you qualify. |
| Appearance | Illinois Courts approved statewide standardized forms: https://www.illinoiscourts.gov/documents-and-forms/approved-forms/ | Use this to identify a party or attorney appearing in the case. |
| Local probate filings | Greene County Circuit Clerk: https://greenecountyil.org/circuit-clerk/ | Call before filing to confirm the current fee and whether the judge requires any local format for your petition or proposed order. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Scenario | Local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Check which assets were co-owned and which stood in the decedent's sole name. If court authority is needed, e-file the petition through eFileIL and deliver or mail the original will to the Greene County Circuit Clerk in Carrollton. | Sunset helps identify accounts, title issues, and debts before the spouse spends time opening a court case that may not be needed for every asset. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | Call the Greene County Circuit Clerk at (217) 942-3421 before filing. If a court case is needed, the petition can usually be e-filed, but the original will cannot be e-filed. Ask the clerk whether any hearing can be handled remotely. | Sunset organizes the asset list, identifies institutions to contact, and helps the child decide what to ask the clerk before mailing anything to Carrollton. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home in the decedent's sole name usually requires court authority before sale. Follow the Illinois Probate Act inventory process in Article XIV and ask the Circuit Clerk whether the judge requires any local format not posted online. | Sunset helps gather account and property information, then can connect the family with a vetted Illinois probate attorney for the sale and court filings. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | Contact | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Greene County Circuit Clerk | 519 North Main Street, Carrollton, IL 62016. Phone: (217) 942-3421. Website: https://greenecountyil.org/circuit-clerk/ | Probate filing office, fee confirmation, original-will delivery, case-specific hearing instructions. |
| Land of Lincoln Legal Aid, Western Regional Office | 111 East Fourth Street, Suite 330, Alton, IL 62002. Phone: (618) 462-0029 or (800) 642-5570. Website: https://lincolnlegal.org/locations/ | Free civil legal help for eligible people in Greene County. Ask whether the office can help with the estate issue you have. |
| Land of Lincoln Legal Aid van at Greene County Courthouse | Greene County Circuit Clerk page: https://greenecountyil.org/circuit-clerk/ | The Circuit Clerk's page states that free legal help is periodically available outside the courthouse in a van on posted dates. |
| 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 guide to estate settlement concepts. |
| Illinois Courts approved statewide standardized forms | https://www.illinoiscourts.gov/documents-and-forms/approved-forms/ | Certification for Exemption From E-filing, Fee Waiver for Civil Cases, and Appearance. |
| eFileIL | https://efile.illinoiscourts.gov/ | Statewide electronic filing system for Illinois civil cases, including probate petitions. |
When to hire an attorney
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches for accounts, policies, and other assets so the family can understand what is in the estate before choosing a Greene County probate path. That asset picture makes estate settlement more organized from the first filing decision.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset helps assemble the information needed for a county-aware probate packet, including the courthouse, e-filing path, original-will delivery step, and questions to ask the Greene County Circuit Clerk when no local probate fee schedule is posted online.
Find a local probate attorney. When a Greene County estate includes real estate, creditor problems, conflict among heirs, or a possible contest, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Illinois probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate settlement, find assets, and decide what help they need without paying Sunset for the service.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Greene County?
File with the Greene County Circuit Clerk at the Greene County Courthouse, 519 North Main Street, Carrollton, IL 62016. Greene County is in the Seventh Judicial Circuit, but a Greene County estate is filed in Carrollton when venue belongs in Greene County under 755 ILCS 5/5-1.
Can I e-file a Greene County probate case?
Yes. Probate petitions are filed through eFileIL because Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(a) requires e-filing in civil cases. A self-represented filer who qualifies can use the Certification for Exemption From E-filing under Rule 9(d). An original will cannot be e-filed and must be delivered or mailed to the Circuit Clerk under Rule 9(c)(1).
How much does probate cost in Greene County?
Greene County does not post a probate fee schedule online. Call the Circuit Clerk at (217) 942-3421 before filing to confirm the current amount. Illinois circuit clerk fees are governed by 705 ILCS 105/27.1b, but each county's current total must come from that county's clerk.
Are there Greene County probate forms online?
No Greene County decedent-estate probate packet or local probate cover sheet is posted online. Illinois Courts statewide forms that may still matter include the Certification for Exemption From E-filing, the Fee Waiver for Civil Cases application, and the Appearance.
How do I look up a Greene County probate case?
Use Judici's Greene County entry point at https://www.judici.com/courts/index.jsp?court=IL031015J. If you cannot find the case there, contact the Greene County Circuit Clerk because online access may not answer every probate question.
Can I appear remotely in a Greene County probate hearing?
Greene County does not post a probate-specific remote-appearance policy online. Ask the Circuit Clerk what the judge requires for your hearing before assuming you can appear by phone or video.
Do I have to travel to Carrollton to start probate?
You may be able to e-file the petition through eFileIL, but the original will, if there is one, must still be delivered or mailed to the Greene County Circuit Clerk because Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(c)(1) bars e-filing original wills. For any hearing, call the Circuit Clerk to ask whether remote attendance is allowed in that specific case.
What should I do with the will after a death in Greene County?
Anyone holding the will must file it with the Circuit Clerk immediately after death under 755 ILCS 5/6-1. A person named as executor has 30 days after learning of that appointment to start the probate proceeding or decline under 755 ILCS 5/6-3.
Does a small estate affidavit get filed with the Greene County Circuit Clerk?
No. The Illinois small estate affidavit is presented to the bank, transfer agent, or other property holder rather than filed as a court case under 755 ILCS 5/25-1. If an estate needs court authority or letters of office under 755 ILCS 5, call the Greene County Circuit Clerk about opening a probate case.
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.