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Lee County, IL Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Lee County detail |
|---|---|
| Court | Circuit Court of the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit, Lee County |
| Filing office | Clerk of the Circuit Court of Lee County, also called the Lee County Circuit Clerk |
| Courthouse address | Lee County Courts Building, 309 South Galena Avenue, Suite 320, Dixon, IL 61021. The Circuit Clerk is on the third floor. |
| Mailing address | 309 South Galena Avenue, Suite 320, Dixon, IL 61021. The Circuit Clerk publishes no separate post office box. |
| Phone | 815-284-5234. This is the Civil and Criminal Department line used for probate filings. |
| Fax | 815-288-5615. Fax is not a filing channel unless a rule or court order allows it. |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except court holidays. |
| Filing fee | Probate filing fee is $351.00, effective October 1, 2025. Probate appearance fee is $181.00, effective October 1, 2025. |
| Local forms | No Lee County decedent-estate form packet is published. The county does publish guardianship forms for adults with disabilities and minors. |
| E-filing | Estate petitions and later papers are e-filed through eFileIL unless an exemption applies. Original wills cannot be e-filed under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(c)(1) and Fifteenth Judicial Circuit Local Rule 2.2(b). |
| Case search | Use the Lee County Circuit Court public access portal at http://162.220.157.131/fullcourtweb/start.do. Open the portal and press Log In. No account is needed. |
| Remote appearance | Routine, non-evidentiary probate matters may be attended by Zoom without advance approval under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 45 and Fifteenth Judicial Circuit Local Rule 4.4. The assigned judge may still require in-person attendance in a specific case. |
| Website | https://www.leecountyil.com/183/Circuit-Clerk |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before filing in Lee County, identify the assets, debts, beneficiaries and whether there is an original will. The right path depends on what is in the estate, what passed by beneficiary designation or joint ownership, and whether a court order is needed to collect or sell property.
Sunset's asset discovery searches more than 2,300 financial institutions and helps families organize the estate settlement picture before paying the Lee County filing fee or asking an attorney to prepare a petition.
Which court handles jurisdiction
A Lee County estate is filed with the Lee County Circuit Clerk at the Lee County Courts Building, 309 South Galena Avenue, Suite 320, Dixon. Dixon is the courthouse city and county seat for Lee County. No branch probate filing counter is published for Lee County.
Lee County shares the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit with Carroll, Jo Daviess, Ogle and Stephenson Counties, but venue is county based. Under 755 ILCS 5/5-1, probate or administration proceeds in the circuit court of the county of the decedent's known Illinois residence, or if there is no known Illinois residence, where the greater part of the Illinois real estate is located, or if neither applies, where the greater part of the Illinois personal estate is located.
The jurisdiction process
- Gather the original will, death certificate, known asset information, creditor information, heir and beneficiary names, and any facts needed to show why Lee County is the proper venue under 755 ILCS 5/5-1.
- Choose the local path. If court authority is needed, prepare a petition for probate and for letters of office under 755 ILCS 5. If the estate can be handled without court, a small estate affidavit under 755 ILCS 5/Art. XXV may be used outside the courthouse.
- Prepare the Lee County filing. Illinois does not publish a decedent-estate petition packet for Lee County, and Lee County publishes no local decedent-estate forms. Use attorney-prepared papers or other proper pleadings, plus any needed Appearance, fee waiver or e-filing exemption form.
- E-file the petition and estate papers through eFileIL unless an exemption applies. Do not e-file the original will. Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(c)(1) and Fifteenth Judicial Circuit Local Rule 2.2(b) require the original will to stay on paper.
- Pay the Lee County probate filing fee of $351.00, effective October 1, 2025, or file an Application for Waiver of Court Fees. A probate appearance fee of $181.00, effective October 1, 2025, may also apply.
- Arrange notice. In a formal estate, creditor notice is published and known or reasonably ascertainable creditors receive mailed or delivered notice under 755 ILCS 5/18-3. The claim date is tied to the first publication and mailing rules in that section.
- Use the Lee County public access portal to watch the case and calendar. The portal uses Lee County probate case numbers in PR format and shows probate call settings when they are posted.
- Attend the hearing. Routine non-evidentiary probate hearings may be attended by Zoom without advance approval under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 45 and Fifteenth Judicial Circuit Local Rule 4.4, unless the assigned judge orders otherwise. Evidentiary hearings, settlement conferences and trials need the judge's approval for remote attendance.
- After appointment, obtain certified copies of letters of office under 755 ILCS 5. Lee County charges $2.00 for a certified copy of a letter of office, effective October 1, 2025, under the county schedule and 705 ILCS 105/27.1b.
- Administer and close the estate. Collect assets, address claims, handle any sale authority needed for real estate, account as required, complete distributions and request discharge. Supervised estates must follow the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit local probate rules for inventories, accounts and discharge documentation.
Executor duties
Lee County follows the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit local probate rules. In a supervised administration, Local Rule 9.8 requires the first inventory to be filed with the Clerk within 60 days after letters of office issue under 755 ILCS 5 unless the court excuses it. Local Rule 9.12 requires periodic accounts in supervised estates, and Local Rule 9.11 requires documentation before discharge showing that estate taxes have been paid or that the estate is not subject to estate taxes.
Local Rule 9.10 also allows the court to place an inactive estate on a docket call and, after a long period with no action of record and no good cause, remove the representative or dismiss the case. These Lee County duties matter most in supervised estates. Independent administration under 755 ILCS 5/Art. XXVIII has fewer routine court filings.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Lee County
Lee County does not publish a local decedent-estate packet. There is no Lee County petition to admit a will, petition for letters of office under 755 ILCS 5, oath, inventory, accounting or closing form for a decedent's estate.
The Circuit Clerk's forms page links to Illinois Courts standardized forms that may still matter in a probate case, including Appearance, Application for Waiver of Court Fees and Certification for Exemption From E-filing. The county's probate-labeled forms page is for guardianships of adults with disabilities and minors, not for opening a decedent's estate.
If the original will is in hand, keep it on paper. Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(c)(1) and Fifteenth Judicial Circuit Local Rule 2.2(b) say original wills and other testamentary documents cannot be e-filed. Call the Circuit Clerk before mailing an original will.
Fees
| Fee item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Probate new case filing fee | $351.00, effective October 1, 2025 |
| Probate appearance fee | $181.00, effective October 1, 2025 |
| Each account other than the final account | $25.00, effective October 1, 2025 |
| Probate claim filing | $25.00, effective October 1, 2025 |
| Claim, petition or supplemental proceeding seeking equitable relief | $60.00, effective October 1, 2025 |
| Jury demand in a probate case | $137.50, effective October 1, 2025 |
| Certified copy of a letter of office | $2.00, effective October 1, 2025, under the county schedule and 705 ILCS 105/27.1b |
| Certification with seal of office | $6.00, effective October 1, 2025 |
| Exemplification | $2.00 plus the certification fee, effective October 1, 2025 |
| Copies | $2.00 for the first page, $0.50 for each page from page 2 through page 19, and $0.25 for each page 20 and after, effective October 1, 2025 |
| Record search by the clerk | $6.00 per year searched, effective October 1, 2025 |
| Mailing fee | $10.00, effective October 1, 2025 |
The published Lee County schedule is the local payment source for these amounts. Publication of creditor notice is paid to the newspaper, not to the Circuit Clerk. A filer who cannot afford court fees uses the Illinois Courts Application for Waiver of Court Fees.
Local nuance
Lee County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means in Lee County |
|---|---|
| Lee County has its own case portal | Lee County probate cases are searched in the Lee County Circuit Court public access portal. The portal also carries the court calendar and probate call entries. |
| The Circuit Clerk and County Clerk are different offices | Probate filings go to the Circuit Clerk at 309 South Galena Avenue, Suite 320. The County Clerk and Recorder is a separate office for vital records, elections and land records. |
| Original wills stay on paper | Fifteenth Judicial Circuit Local Rule 2.2(b) says wills and other testamentary documents are not accepted for e-filing. The estate petition is e-filed unless an exemption applies. |
| Remote appearance is built into the local rule | Local Rule 4.4 points Lee County participants to Zoom links on the county's Judicial Virtual Courtroom Links page. Routine non-evidentiary probate matters may be attended remotely without advance approval, subject to the judge's case-specific discretion. |
| Supervised estates have local filing duties | Local probate rules set inventory and account duties for supervised administrations and require estate-tax documentation before discharge. |
| Handwritten or non-English wills need extra papers | Local Rule 9.2 requires a typewritten copy of a handwritten will with an affidavit that the copy is true and correct. A will in another language needs a typewritten English copy and a qualified translator's certification. |
Recent updates
| Update | Effect for Lee County probate |
|---|---|
| Lee County Circuit Clerk fee schedule effective October 1, 2025 | The current schedule sets the probate filing fee at $351.00, effective October 1, 2025, and the probate appearance fee at $181.00, effective October 1, 2025. It also prices accounts, claims, jury demands, certified copies, copies and search fees. |
| Illinois Supreme Court Rule 45 amended effective March 1, 2026 | Remote appearance rules continue to cover civil probate matters. In Lee County, Fifteenth Judicial Circuit Local Rule 4.4 leaves routine non-evidentiary probate matters eligible for Zoom without advance approval, subject to judge-specific orders. |
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Lee County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Confirm how title is held and whether the home passes outside probate. If no court authority is needed, the spouse may not need a Lee County estate case. If estate assets need collection, file through the Lee County Circuit Clerk in Dixon. | Sunset helps identify accounts, debts and beneficiary designations before the family starts formal estate settlement. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | Start by checking whether a small estate affidavit under 755 ILCS 5/Art. XXV can collect the personal property without a court filing. If a Lee County case is needed, most papers can be e-filed and routine non-evidentiary hearings may be attended by Zoom. | Sunset organizes asset information and can help the child decide whether local counsel is needed before travel is planned. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A formal Lee County estate is usually needed if estate real estate must be sold. Letters of office under 755 ILCS 5 come first. An independent representative may have sale authority under 755 ILCS 5/Art. XXVIII, while supervised administration may require court approval under local practice and the Probate Act. | Sunset helps build the estate settlement inventory, locate financial accounts and connect the parent with a Lee County probate attorney. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Lee County Circuit Clerk | Filing office for Lee County probate cases. Staff can answer filing and case-status questions but cannot give legal advice. | 309 South Galena Avenue, Suite 320, Dixon, IL 61021. 815-284-5234. https://www.leecountyil.com/183/Circuit-Clerk |
| Lee County Circuit Court public access portal | Online case lookup and court calendar for Lee County. Open the portal and press Log In. | http://162.220.157.131/fullcourtweb/start.do |
| Lee County Judicial Virtual Courtroom Links | Zoom links for Lee County courtrooms and remote hearing information. | https://www.leecountyil.com/490/Judicial-Virtual-Courtroom-Links |
| Lee County Legal Self-Help Center, courts building | Legal information, court-form guidance, computer access and referrals. It does not provide legal advice. | 309 South Galena Avenue, Suite 320, Dixon, IL 61021. 815-284-5234. |
| Lee County Legal Self-Help Center, Dixon Public Library | Legal information, online court forms, computers, internet and printing access. | 221 South Hennepin Avenue, Dixon, IL 61021. 815-284-7261. |
| Prairie State Legal Services, Moline office | Free civil legal help for eligible Lee County residents, subject to income and case type. | 1515 5th Avenue, Suite 200, Moline, IL 61265. 309-794-1328. Toll free 800-322-9804. https://www.pslegal.org/our-offices |
| Illinois Legal Aid Online | Plain-language estate guides and a small estate affidavit tool under 755 ILCS 5/Art. XXV. | https://www.illinoislegalaid.org/legal-information/how-do-i-settle-estate-after-someone-dies |
| Illinois Courts standardized forms | Appearance, Application for Waiver of Court Fees, Certification for Exemption From E-filing and other non-estate-petition forms. | https://www.illinoiscourts.gov/documents-and-forms/approved-forms/ |
| eFileIL | Electronic filing system for Lee County estate petitions and later papers, unless an exemption applies. | https://efile.illinoiscourts.gov/ |
| Fifteenth Judicial Circuit local court rules | Local rules for Lee County, including probate proceedings, e-filing treatment of wills and remote appearances. | https://15thjudicialcircuit.com/local-court-rules/ |
| Lee County court disability coordinator | Courthouse accommodation contact under the Americans with Disabilities Act. | Bonnie Rodriguez, 309 South Galena Avenue, Dixon, IL 61021. 815-284-5258. [email protected] |
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 see what may need a Lee County probate filing, what may pass outside court and what belongs in the estate settlement plan.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the information needed for a petition, heirs, assets, debts and notices so the local filing is easier to prepare for the Lee County Circuit Clerk.
Find a local probate attorney. When a formal Lee County estate needs legal help, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Illinois probate attorney who understands letters of office under 755 ILCS 5, eFileIL and Fifteenth Judicial Circuit practice.
Sunset is free for families. Sunset helps families move from asset discovery to estate settlement without charging families for the core service.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Lee County?
File with the Lee County Circuit Clerk at the Lee County Courts Building, 309 South Galena Avenue, Suite 320, Dixon, IL 61021. The Circuit Clerk is on the third floor.
Does Lee County have a separate probate division?
No. Probate is a civil case category in the Circuit Court of the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit, Lee County. The Circuit Clerk's Civil and Criminal Department handles the filings.
Can I e-file a Lee County probate case?
Yes, estate petitions and later papers are filed through eFileIL unless an exemption applies. An original will cannot be e-filed under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(c)(1) and Fifteenth Judicial Circuit Local Rule 2.2(b), so the original will must reach the Circuit Clerk on paper.
How much is the Lee County probate filing fee?
The Lee County probate filing fee is $351.00, effective October 1, 2025. The probate appearance fee is $181.00, effective October 1, 2025. Certified copies of letters of office under 755 ILCS 5 are charged separately.
Can I look up a Lee County probate case online?
Yes. Use the Lee County Circuit Court public access portal at http://162.220.157.131/fullcourtweb/start.do. Press Log In. The portal includes civil case lookup and the court calendar. Very recent entries may not appear immediately.
Does Lee County use Judici for probate cases?
No. Lee County uses its own Lee County Circuit Court public access portal. The other online case search links for nearby counties do not replace Lee County's portal.
Can I attend a Lee County probate hearing by Zoom?
Usually, yes, for routine non-evidentiary probate matters. Illinois Supreme Court Rule 45 and Fifteenth Judicial Circuit Local Rule 4.4 allow remote attendance without advance approval for covered civil matters, and probate is not locally exempt. Evidentiary hearings, settlement conferences and trials need the judge's approval, and the judge may require in-person attendance in a specific case.
Does Lee County publish probate forms for an estate?
No. Lee County publishes guardianship forms, but not decedent-estate forms for opening or closing an estate. The county links to Illinois Courts standardized forms such as Appearance, fee waiver and e-filing exemption forms.
Do I have to travel to Dixon for estate settlement?
Not for every step. Many estate filings are e-filed, and routine non-evidentiary hearings may be attended by Zoom. You may still need a paper plan for the original will, and the judge may require an in-person appearance 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.