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Hancock County, IL Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Hancock County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Circuit Court of the Ninth Judicial Circuit, Hancock County |
| Filing office | Clerk of the Circuit Court of Hancock County, also called the Hancock County Circuit Clerk |
| Courthouse address | Hancock County Courthouse, 500 Main Street, Room 7, Carthage, IL 62321 |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 189, Carthage, IL 62321 |
| Phone | (217) 357-2616. No separate probate line is published. |
| Fax | (217) 357-2231 |
| [email protected] | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. No lunch closure or filing cutoff is published. |
| Filing fee | Hancock County does not publish an online decedent-estate fee schedule. Ask the Circuit Clerk for the current opening and appearance amounts. Probate is a Schedule 2 filing category and probate appearances are Schedule 1 under 705 ILCS 105/27.1b. Filing an original will alone is $0, effective July 1, 2019, under 755 ILCS 5/6-1 and 705 ILCS 105/27.1b. |
| Local forms | No Hancock County decedent-estate packet, cover sheet or local probate form is published online. |
| E-filing | Civil probate filings use eFileIL under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9. An original will cannot be e-filed under Rule 9(c)(1) and should be delivered or mailed to the Circuit Clerk. A self-represented filer may use the Rule 9(d) exemption certification when eligible. |
| E-filing access | An e-filing computer station is listed on the second floor of the courthouse. |
| Case search | Hancock County appears on Judici. Use the Hancock County Judici case-search page, and call the Circuit Clerk if an estate case does not appear. |
| Remote appearance | Routine non-evidentiary probate matters are generally eligible for remote attendance under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 45. The Ninth Judicial Circuit publishes county courtroom Zoom links, and the assigned judge can require in-person attendance for a particular matter. |
| Website | Hancock County Circuit Clerk |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before filing in Hancock County, first identify what the decedent owned, how each asset was titled, whether there are debts, and whether there is an original will. That asset picture determines whether you need letters of office under 755 ILCS 5, whether an out-of-court option might work, and what information belongs in the first court packet.
Sunset helps families start estate settlement by searching more than 2,300 financial institutions for accounts and assets, then organizing what was found into a practical filing checklist for the Hancock County Circuit Clerk or an Illinois probate attorney.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Circuit Court of the Ninth Judicial Circuit, Hancock County, serves all communities in Hancock County through the courthouse in Carthage. Hancock County has no separate probate division. A decedent's estate is filed as a probate case on the Circuit Clerk's general civil docket.
Illinois venue is county-specific. Probate or administration is filed in the county of the decedent's known residence, or if there is no known Illinois residence, in the county with the greater part of the decedent's Illinois real estate, and if neither applies, in the county with the greater part of the personal estate (755 ILCS 5/5-1). For a Hancock County decedent, that means filing with the Hancock County Circuit Clerk, not with another county in the Ninth Judicial Circuit.
The jurisdiction process
- Gather the original will, death certificate, heir and legatee information, asset list, debt list and any documents needed to show who should serve as executor or administrator.
- Choose the correct local filing path. Hancock County has no published decedent-estate packet, so prepare the petition and related documents using Illinois Probate Act requirements, Ninth Judicial Circuit probate rules and any attorney-prepared forms.
- File the probate petition through eFileIL under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9. If there is an original will, deliver it to the Hancock County Circuit Clerk at 500 Main Street, Room 7, Carthage, or mail it to P.O. Box 189, Carthage, IL 62321, because Rule 9(c)(1) does not allow an original will to be e-filed.
- Ask the Circuit Clerk for the current decedent-estate opening and appearance amounts before submitting payment. Hancock County does not publish an online decedent-estate fee schedule. Probate is a Schedule 2 filing category and probate appearances are Schedule 1 under 705 ILCS 105/27.1b. Filing an original will alone is $0, effective July 1, 2019, under 755 ILCS 5/6-1 and 705 ILCS 105/27.1b.
- Serve or publish required notices after the case is opened. Creditor notice is handled under 755 ILCS 5/18-3, and proof of publication is filed with the Circuit Clerk when publication is required.
- Follow the clerk's and judge's scheduling instructions for the first hearing. Routine non-evidentiary probate matters are generally eligible for remote attendance under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 45, but the assigned judge can require in-person attendance. If a setting is otherwise in person and you want it changed to remote, Ninth Judicial Circuit Rule 1.80 requires a written or in-person request at least 3 business days before the proceeding.
- After the judge appoints a representative, obtain letters of office under 755 ILCS 5 from the Circuit Clerk. These letters are the Illinois authority document used to collect estate assets, work with financial institutions and complete estate settlement tasks.
- Administer the estate by collecting assets, addressing claims, following Ninth Judicial Circuit inventory and account rules, distributing property only when legally allowed, and closing the case through the court process that applies to the estate.
Executor duties
Hancock County estates follow the Ninth Judicial Circuit probate rules in addition to the Illinois Probate Act. If the will is handwritten, file the original, a typewritten copy and an affidavit that the copy is true and correct. If the will is in a language other than English, file the original and a certified typewritten translation.
For supervised estates and other estates outside independent administration under 755 ILCS 5/Art. XXVIII, the first inventory is filed with the Circuit Clerk within 60 days after letters of office issue under 755 ILCS 5. The inventory must list any safe deposit box and its location. If a box is found later, the representative inventories it within 30 days after discovery under Ninth Judicial Circuit Rule 9.25.
The Ninth Judicial Circuit can call an inactive estate to show cause if no verified account is presented within 60 days after one year has passed from issuance of letters of office under 755 ILCS 5, or if the case has been inactive for a year. Notice of hearing on a final account is generally given at least 8 days before the hearing by personal delivery or mail, with longer timing when the address is outside the United States or Canada or when publication is needed.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Hancock County
Hancock County does not publish a county-specific decedent-estate probate packet, cover sheet or local form on the Hancock County Circuit Clerk site or the Ninth Judicial Circuit forms page. The Illinois Courts approved form library also does not include a standardized decedent-estate petition, inventory, accounting or closing packet.
That means a Hancock County estate packet is usually prepared from the Illinois Probate Act, Ninth Judicial Circuit local rules and attorney-drafted forms. If the estate may be handled outside court, Illinois Legal Aid Online offers a small estate affidavit tool for the small estate affidavit under 755 ILCS 5/Art. XXV.
An original will is handled separately from an e-filed petition. Under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(c)(1), an original will cannot be e-filed. Deliver it to the Hancock County Circuit Clerk at 500 Main Street, Room 7, Carthage, or mail it to P.O. Box 189, Carthage, IL 62321.
Local nuance
Hancock County-specific considerations
| Topic | Hancock County practice |
|---|---|
| Original wills | An original will cannot be e-filed under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(c)(1). Deliver it to 500 Main Street, Room 7, Carthage, or mail it to P.O. Box 189, Carthage, IL 62321. |
| Handwritten or non-English wills | Ninth Judicial Circuit Rule 9.10 requires a handwritten will to be filed with the original, a typewritten copy and an affidavit that the copy is true and correct. A will in another language must be filed with the original and a certified typewritten translation. |
| Supplemental probate actions | Will contests, will construction actions, trust contests and related matters are filed under the estate case number with a lettered suffix under Ninth Judicial Circuit Rule 9.15. |
| Safe deposit boxes | Ninth Judicial Circuit Rule 9.25 requires the inventory to list any safe deposit box and location. A box found after the initial inventory is inventoried within 30 days after discovery. |
| Remote hearing contact | Ninth Judicial Circuit Rule 1.80 lists the Hancock County Circuit Clerk at (217) 357-2616 for remote-hearing instructions. The circuit also publishes Hancock County courtroom Zoom links online. |
Recent updates
| Update | What it means in Hancock County |
|---|---|
| Illinois Supreme Court Rule 45 current remote-appearance rule, effective March 1, 2026 | Probate matters are civil matters under Rule 45. Routine non-evidentiary probate appearances are generally remote-eligible, subject to the assigned judge and Ninth Judicial Circuit procedures. |
| Ninth Judicial Circuit rules current version, effective September 1, 2025 and amended July 27, 2026 | Part 1.80 governs remote hearings, and Part 9.00 contains the circuit probate rules used in Hancock County. |
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Hancock County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start by checking the deed and account titles. If the home and accounts pass outside the estate, a full court case may not be needed. If the spouse needs authority to collect or sell estate property, file in Carthage with the Hancock County Circuit Clerk and request letters of office under 755 ILCS 5. | Sunset helps identify accounts, organize title information and prepare questions for a Hancock County filing or attorney review. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | Review whether the estate can be handled outside court with a small estate affidavit under 755 ILCS 5/Art. XXV. If a court case is needed, filings can often be submitted through eFileIL, while any original will must be mailed or delivered to the Hancock County Circuit Clerk. | Sunset helps locate assets before the child decides whether an affidavit, attorney help or a Carthage court filing is the right estate settlement path. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A court case is usually needed when estate real estate must be sold. File the petition in Hancock County if venue belongs there under 755 ILCS 5/5-1, follow Ninth Judicial Circuit probate rules, and obtain letters of office under 755 ILCS 5 before dealing with the sale. | Sunset organizes the asset list, family information and attorney handoff so the parent can move from uncertainty to a usable probate plan. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Hancock County Circuit Clerk | Filing office for Hancock County probate cases, original wills, fee questions, case scheduling questions and letters of office under 755 ILCS 5. | Circuit Clerk website 500 Main Street, Room 7, P.O. Box 189, Carthage, IL 62321 (217) 357-2616 [email protected] |
| Hancock County Legal Self-Help Center | Local access point listed by Illinois Legal Aid Online for self-help legal information. | Carthage Public Library, 500 Wabash Avenue, Carthage, IL 62321 (217) 357-3232 Hancock County Legal Self-Help Center |
| Lawyer in the Library, Hancock County | Free 20-minute consultations for Hancock County residents who are not already represented by counsel. Appointment required. Call before relying on a posted schedule. | (217) 357-2474 Program schedule and application |
| Land of Lincoln Legal Aid, Western Regional Office | Legal-aid provider serving Hancock County for eligible residents. | 111 East Fourth Street, Suite 330, Alton, IL 62002 (618) 462-0029 (800) 642-5570 Land of Lincoln locations |
| Illinois Legal Aid Online | Guides for settling an estate and a small estate affidavit tool for the small estate affidavit under 755 ILCS 5/Art. XXV. | How do I settle an estate after someone dies? |
| Illinois Courts approved forms library | State court form library. It does not include a decedent-estate petition, inventory, accounting or closing packet. | Illinois Courts forms |
| eFileIL | Electronic filing system for civil probate filings under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9. | eFileIL |
When to hire an attorney
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions so families can identify accounts, insurance, retirement assets and other estate property before choosing a Hancock County estate settlement path.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the information needed for a Hancock County filing, including the people involved, the asset list and the documents needed to request letters of office under 755 ILCS 5.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate needs court administration, a home or farmland sale, creditor work, contested heirship or Ninth Judicial Circuit probate-rule guidance, Sunset can help connect the family with Illinois probate counsel.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement tasks, locate assets and decide what help they need before paying a lawyer or opening a court case.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Hancock County?
File with the Hancock County Circuit Clerk at the Hancock County Courthouse, 500 Main Street, Room 7, Carthage, IL 62321. Mailing goes to P.O. Box 189, Carthage, IL 62321.
Does Hancock County have a separate probate division?
No. Hancock County probate is handled as case type P on the Circuit Clerk's general civil docket in the Circuit Court of the Ninth Judicial Circuit.
Can I e-file a Hancock County probate case?
Yes. Civil probate filings use eFileIL under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9. An original will cannot be e-filed under Rule 9(c)(1), so deliver or mail the original will to the Circuit Clerk. A self-represented filer may use the Rule 9(d) exemption certification when eligible.
How do I look up a Hancock County probate case?
Hancock County appears on Judici, and the county entry point is the Hancock County Judici case-search page. If you cannot find an estate case, call the Circuit Clerk at (217) 357-2616.
Does Hancock County publish local probate forms?
No Hancock County decedent-estate packet, cover sheet or local probate form is published online. The Illinois Courts approved form library also does not include a decedent-estate petition or closing packet.
What is the Hancock County probate filing fee?
Hancock County does not publish an online decedent-estate fee schedule. Ask the Circuit Clerk for the current opening and appearance amounts before filing. Probate is a Schedule 2 filing category and probate appearances are Schedule 1 under 705 ILCS 105/27.1b. Filing an original will alone is $0, effective July 1, 2019, under 755 ILCS 5/6-1 and 705 ILCS 105/27.1b.
Can I attend a Hancock County probate hearing remotely?
Routine non-evidentiary probate matters are generally eligible for remote attendance under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 45. The Ninth Judicial Circuit publishes courtroom Zoom links for Hancock County, including courtroom 301 and courtroom 201. Check the live Zoom page and your court notice, because the assigned judge can require in-person attendance for a particular matter.
Do I have to travel to Carthage for every probate step?
Not always. Many filings are submitted through eFileIL, and routine non-evidentiary appearances may be remote under Rule 45. You still may need to send the original will to the Circuit Clerk, and the judge can require in-person attendance for a particular hearing.
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.