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Jasper County, IL Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Jasper County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Circuit Court of the Fourth Judicial Circuit, Jasper County |
| Filing office | Jasper County Circuit Clerk, the Clerk of the Circuit Court |
| Courthouse address | Jasper County Courthouse, 100 W. Jourdan Street, Newton, IL 62448-1973 |
| Mailing address | Jasper County Circuit Clerk, 100 W. Jourdan Street, Newton, IL 62448 |
| Phone | (618) 783-2524. No separate probate line is published. |
| Fax | (618) 783-8626 |
| [email protected] | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
| Filing fee | The Jasper County fee schedule, effective July 1, 2019, lists Probate (PR) administration at $371.00, effective July 1, 2019, and an appearance fee of $196.00, effective July 1, 2019. Confirm the current amount with the Circuit Clerk. |
| Local forms | No Jasper County decedent-estate probate forms are posted. The Circuit Clerk links the Illinois statewide forms and the Fourth Judicial Circuit rules. |
| E-filing | Probate filings are e-filed through eFileIL. Self-represented filers use the same system unless they qualify for and file the Certification for Exemption From E-filing. An original will cannot be e-filed and must be delivered or mailed to the Circuit Clerk under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(c)(1). |
| Case lookup | Jasper County uses Judici at https://www.judici.com/courts/index.jsp?court=IL040015J. If an estate does not appear there, contact the Circuit Clerk. |
| Remote appearance | Fourth Judicial Circuit Rule 10-8 permits remote appearances to the extent allowed by Illinois Supreme Court Rule 45. The rule names Zoom as the current vendor, with links on Fourth Circuit or county websites. |
| Website | https://jaspercountyillinois.gov/circuit-clerk/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Jasper County, make a working list of the decedent's assets, debts, beneficiaries, land, vehicles, accounts and known creditors. Probate is easier to plan when you know which assets pass outside court and which assets may require letters of office under the Illinois Probate Act of 1975 (755 ILCS 5).
Sunset's 2,300-institution asset discovery helps families look for accounts and policies before choosing the right estate settlement path. That preparation also helps you avoid paying a filing fee in Newton before you know whether a court estate is actually needed.
Which court handles jurisdiction
One courthouse serves probate matters filed in Jasper County: the Jasper County Courthouse at 100 W. Jourdan Street in Newton. Jasper County is part of the Fourth Judicial Circuit with Clinton, Marion, Clay, Fayette, Effingham, Montgomery, Shelby and Christian Counties, but a Jasper County estate is filed with the Jasper County Circuit Clerk in Newton, not at another county's counter.
Illinois venue is county-specific. Probate or administration belongs in the county where the decedent had a known place of residence; if there is no known Illinois residence, venue moves to the county with the greater part of the Illinois real estate; if there is no known residence and no Illinois real estate, venue is where the greater part of the personal estate is located (755 ILCS 5/5-1).
The jurisdiction process
- Collect the death certificate, the original will if one exists, a preliminary asset and debt list, names and addresses of heirs and legatees, and information about any Jasper County real estate.
- File the original will with the Jasper County Circuit Clerk immediately after death if you have it (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 100 W. Jourdan Street, Newton, IL 62448.
- E-file the petition to admit the will and issue letters of office, or the petition for administration if there is no will, with the Jasper County Circuit Clerk. If you cannot e-file, use the statewide Certification for Exemption From E-filing. The Jasper County fee schedule, effective July 1, 2019, lists Probate (PR) administration at $371.00, effective July 1, 2019, and an appearance fee of $196.00, effective July 1, 2019, subject to current confirmation.
- Follow Fourth Judicial Circuit Rule 13-2 if the will is handwritten, in a language other than English, or otherwise being attached to a petition. A handwritten will needs a typewritten copy and accuracy affidavit; a non-English will needs a typewritten English copy with a qualified translator's certification.
- Prove heirship. Fourth Judicial Circuit Rule 13-3 allows heirship proof by testimony in open court or by affidavit under Section 5-3 of the Probate Act, and requires a proposed Order Declaring Heirship when the affidavit is filed.
- Ask the court to enter the probate or administration order and issue letters of office. Illinois courts grant independent administration under Article XXVIII of the Probate Act unless the will forbids it or an interested person objects under the statute (755 ILCS 5/28-2).
- File the representative's oath and bond. In the Fourth Judicial Circuit, Rule 13-4(b) requires the bond to be in writing and signed by the representative, even when security is excused by the will or Probate Act. Letters of office then show the representative's authority under 755 ILCS 5.
- Give required notice to heirs and legatees after the order (755 ILCS 5/6-10). If an address is missing, publication may be required in a county newspaper.
- Publish the creditor 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. The claims date must be at least six months from first publication, or 3 months from mailing or delivery to a known creditor, whichever is later (755 ILCS 5/18-3).
- Administer the estate. Gather assets, handle real estate sale steps if needed, address claims, maintain accounts, and meet Fourth Judicial Circuit status and accounting requirements, including the 14-month accounting and independent administration status dates under Rule 13-8 and Rule 13-9.
- Close the estate by filing the required account, receipts, report or closing papers under the Probate Act, or by completing the closing steps available to an independent representative under Article XXVIII.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Jasper County
The Jasper County Circuit Clerk does not post a Jasper County-specific decedent-estate petition, order, oath, inventory, account or small-estate template. The clerk's page links the Fourth Judicial Circuit Rules of Practice and the Illinois approved statewide forms.
Illinois has no statewide standardized decedent-estate probate packet. The statewide forms that still matter in a Jasper County estate are the Certification for Exemption From E-filing, the Application for Waiver of Court Fees for civil cases, and the Appearance. Every Illinois court must accept the approved statewide forms.
If you are filing a will, remember the Illinois e-filing exception: the petition and supporting papers are e-filed when required, but the original will is delivered or mailed to the Jasper County Circuit Clerk because original wills may not be e-filed under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(c)(1).
Fees
Jasper County publishes its own fee schedule for the Circuit Clerk. Illinois filing fees are set under the circuit clerk fee framework in 705 ILCS 105/27.1b, with county-board action setting the local amount, so there is no single statewide probate filing fee.
| Fee item | Amount and date |
|---|---|
| Probate (PR), administration of estate of a decedent or missing person | $371.00, effective July 1, 2019 |
| Probate (PR), appearance fee | $196.00, effective July 1, 2019 |
| Letters of office, court orders and certifications per page | $2.00, effective July 1, 2019 |
| Estate claim filing tiers | $25.00, effective July 1, 2019; $40.00, effective July 1, 2019; or $60.00, effective July 1, 2019, depending on the claim amount |
| Accounting other than a final accounting | $25.00, effective July 1, 2019 |
| Copy fees | First page $2.00, effective July 1, 2019; pages 2 to 19 $0.50 per page, effective July 1, 2019; each additional page $0.25 per page, effective July 1, 2019 |
| Record search per year searched | $6.00, effective July 1, 2019 |
Because the posted schedule is dated effective July 1, 2019, call the Jasper County Circuit Clerk before filing to confirm the current amount and accepted payment method.
Local nuance
Jasper County-specific considerations
Jasper County follows the Fourth Judicial Circuit Rules of Practice, including Rule 13, special rules pertaining to probate cases. Rule 13-2 adds filing details for wills: a handwritten will requires a typewritten copy and an affidavit that the copy is true and correct, a will in a language other than English requires a typewritten English copy with a qualified translator's certification, and other petitions to admit a will must attach a copy of the will believed to be valid.
Rule 13-3 allows proof of heirship by testimony in open court or by affidavit under Section 5-3 of the Illinois Probate Act of 1975, and requires a proposed Order Declaring Heirship when the affidavit is filed. Rule 13-4(b) requires the representative's bond to be in writing and signed by the representative, even when security is excused by the will or by the Probate Act.
Rule 13-8 requires every executor and administrator to present the account required by Section 24-1 within 14 months after letters issue, annually after the first account, and at other times ordered by the court. Rule 13-9 requires a status date 14 months after an order granting independent administration under Article XXVIII of the Illinois Probate Act of 1975. Rule 13-7 allows the court to set a status call after at least one year of no estate activity.
Rule 10-8 allows remote appearances to the full extent authorized by Illinois Supreme Court Rule 45. The rule identifies Zoom as the current vendor and directs users to the Fourth Circuit or county website for remote-appearance links.
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Jasper County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Assets held in joint tenancy or with beneficiary designations may pass outside the probate case. If assets were in the decedent's sole name, the spouse files with the Jasper County Circuit Clerk, delivers or mails the original will if one exists, and should confirm the fee schedule, which lists Probate (PR) administration at $371.00, effective July 1, 2019, plus a $196.00 appearance fee, effective July 1, 2019. | Sunset helps identify which accounts and property need court authority and prepares the family for estate settlement before filing in Newton. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | Many steps can be handled from outside Illinois through eFileIL, phone and email. The original will still must physically reach the Jasper County Circuit Clerk. Fourth Judicial Circuit Rule 10-8 permits remote appearances to the extent Illinois Supreme Court Rule 45 allows. | Sunset helps gather account information, organize documents, and decide whether a court filing is needed before the child travels or mails documents. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale of real estate usually requires a representative with letters of office under 755 ILCS 5. If there is a handwritten will, Fourth Judicial Circuit Rule 13-2 requires a typewritten copy and affidavit. Certified letters of office cost $2.00 per page, effective July 1, 2019, under the Jasper County schedule, and a title company may want a recent set. | Sunset helps locate assets and liabilities, build the probate packet, and connect the parent with a Jasper County probate attorney when a home sale, claims or heirship questions make counsel important. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps |
|---|---|
| Jasper County Circuit Clerk | The filing office for probate cases: 100 W. Jourdan Street, Newton, IL 62448, (618) 783-2524, [email protected], Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
| Jasper County Circuit Clerk fee schedule | Lists the local Probate (PR) filing fee, appearance fee, claim fees and copy fees, with the schedule dated effective July 1, 2019. |
| Fourth Judicial Circuit Rules of Practice | Contains Rule 13 for probate cases and Rule 10-8 for remote appearances in Jasper County and the other Fourth Judicial Circuit counties. |
| Land of Lincoln Legal Aid, Eastern Regional Office | Serves Jasper County from 302 North First Street, Champaign, IL 61820, with phone numbers (217) 356-1351 and (800) 747-5523. It provides free civil legal help for eligible low-income, older and vulnerable people. Ask whether it can take your estate matter. |
| Illinois Legal Aid Online, how do I settle an estate after someone dies | Statewide plain-language guidance for Illinois estate settlement. |
| Illinois Courts approved statewide standardized forms | Includes the Certification for Exemption From E-filing, the fee waiver application for civil cases and the Appearance. Illinois courts must accept approved statewide forms. |
| eFileIL | The statewide e-filing system for Illinois civil cases, including probate. Jasper County's Circuit Clerk page links Odyssey E-File. |
When to hire an attorney
A lawyer is often helpful in Jasper County when the will is handwritten or in a language other than English, heirship is disputed, real estate must be sold, a creditor files a claim, or the representative needs help meeting Fourth Judicial Circuit accounting and status-report rules. Nothing here means every family must hire counsel to start a case, but an estate representative cannot safely treat probate as only paperwork when the estate has disputes, land, or court deadlines. When you need that help, Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset starts estate settlement by helping families identify accounts, policies and property that may need action. That gives you a clearer asset list before you decide whether a Jasper County probate case is needed.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset can help organize the information needed for an Illinois probate filing, including the will, heirs, assets, debts and proposed representative. In Jasper County, the petition is e-filed when required, while any original will must be delivered or mailed to the Circuit Clerk.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate has real estate, a handwritten will, a non-English will, creditor issues or contested heirship, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Illinois probate attorney serving Jasper County.
Sunset is free for families. Sunset helps families move through estate settlement without charging families for the core organizing and attorney-matching support.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Jasper County?
File with the Jasper County Circuit Clerk at the Jasper County Courthouse, 100 W. Jourdan Street, Newton, IL 62448. Venue is based first on the decedent's known Illinois residence, then on where the greater part of Illinois real estate is located, then on where the greater part of Illinois personal estate is located (755 ILCS 5/5-1).
Do I have to e-file a Jasper County probate case?
Yes. Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9 requires e-filing in civil cases, including probate. A self-represented filer who cannot e-file may use the standardized Certification for Exemption From E-filing. The original will is different: it cannot be e-filed and must be delivered or mailed to the Jasper County Circuit Clerk under Rule 9(c)(1).
How much does probate cost in Jasper County?
The Jasper County fee schedule, effective July 1, 2019, lists Probate (PR) administration at $371.00, effective July 1, 2019, and an appearance fee of $196.00, effective July 1, 2019. Estate claim filing tiers are $25.00, effective July 1, 2019; $40.00, effective July 1, 2019; or $60.00, effective July 1, 2019, depending on the claim amount. Confirm the current amount with the Circuit Clerk before filing.
Can I appear remotely in a Jasper County probate matter?
Fourth Judicial Circuit Rule 10-8 permits remote appearances to the extent Illinois Supreme Court Rule 45 allows. The rule names Zoom as the designated remote-appearance vendor and points users to Fourth Circuit or county websites for links.
Are there Jasper County probate forms?
No Jasper County-specific decedent-estate probate packet is posted by the Circuit Clerk. Illinois also does not publish a statewide standardized decedent-estate probate packet. The useful statewide forms are the e-filing exemption certification, civil fee waiver application and Appearance.
How do I look up a Jasper County probate case?
Start with Jasper County's Judici page at https://www.judici.com/courts/index.jsp?court=IL040015J. If the estate does not appear there, contact the Jasper County Circuit Clerk at (618) 783-2524 or [email protected].
What happens if a Jasper County estate sits with no activity?
Fourth Judicial Circuit Rule 13-7 allows the court to set an estate for a status call when there has been no activity for at least one year and to direct the clerk to give notice.
Is the Circuit Clerk the same as the county office that handles deeds and vital events?
No. Probate filings go to the Jasper County Circuit Clerk. The separate county office for vital events, elections and land filings does not open probate cases.
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.