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Logan County, IL Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Logan County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Circuit Court of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit, Logan County |
| Filing office | Logan County Circuit Clerk, 601 Broadway Street, Lincoln, IL 62656 |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 158, Lincoln, IL 62656 |
| Phone and email | (217) 735-2376, [email protected] |
| Fax | The current Circuit Clerk page does not list a fax. Call before sending a fax. |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Effective April 1, 2026, the office closes for lunch from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.; the Self-Help Center remains open during that closure. |
| Filing fee | Administration of a decedent's estate is $356.00, and the estate appearance fee is $181.00, under the Logan County fee schedule revised 3/7/2023. Illinois circuit clerk fees are set under 705 ILCS 105/27.1b. |
| Local forms | No Logan County decedent-estate probate packet is published. Illinois statewide forms that may matter include the Certification for Exemption From E-filing, Fee Waiver for Civil Cases, and Appearance. |
| E-filing | Required in civil cases, including probate, for filers with and without a lawyer. Logan County uses Odyssey eFileIL. The 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 | Judici provides a Logan County case-search entry point. If an estate does not appear there, call the Circuit Clerk. |
| Remote appearance | Ask the Circuit Clerk before planning on a remote probate appearance. No Logan County probate-specific remote appearance policy is posted on the Circuit Clerk pages listed here. |
| Website | Logan County Circuit Clerk website on logancountyil.gov |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you open a Logan County estate, list the assets, debts, beneficiary designations, and how each asset is titled. That first inventory determines whether you need court authority, what must be e-filed, what original paper must be mailed or delivered, and whether the $356.00 filing fee under the Logan County schedule revised 3/7/2023 applies.
Sunset can support estate settlement by helping identify accounts across more than 2,300 financial institutions before you prepare filings or speak with counsel. That makes it easier to decide whether the Logan County Circuit Clerk filing is needed and what information the representative will need after letters of office issue under 755 ILCS 5.
Which court handles jurisdiction
One courthouse serves Logan County probate filings: the Logan County Circuit Clerk at 601 Broadway Street in Lincoln. The office serves estates venued in Logan County, including families in Lincoln and Mount Pulaski, and mail goes to P.O. Box 158, Lincoln, IL 62656.
Logan County sits in the Eleventh Judicial Circuit with McLean, Livingston, Ford, and Woodford Counties. That shared circuit structure does not move a Logan County estate to another county's filing counter. File a Logan County estate with the Logan County Circuit Clerk in Lincoln, not with another county in the circuit. Illinois venue is the county of the decedent's known residence, then the county with the greater part of Illinois real estate, then the county with the greater part of Illinois personal estate (755 ILCS 5/5-1).
The jurisdiction process
- Locate the will and protect the original. Anyone holding the will must file it with the proper Circuit Clerk immediately after death (755 ILCS 5/6-1). A person named as executor has 30 days from learning of the appointment to open a case or decline (755 ILCS 5/6-3). In Logan County, the original will must be delivered or mailed to the Circuit Clerk in Lincoln because original wills cannot be e-filed under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(c)(1).
- Prepare the petition and supporting documents. Probate filings are made in the Circuit Court of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit, Logan County, through the Logan County Circuit Clerk. Illinois has no statewide standardized decedent-estate probate petition, so confirm the required document format with the clerk or counsel before filing.
- E-file the petition through Odyssey eFileIL unless an exemption applies. Self-represented filers may e-file from home or use the Circuit Clerk's walk-in workstation if they come prepared, and staff may assist in a non-legal manner only. If you cannot e-file, use the statewide Certification for Exemption From E-filing under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(d).
- Pay the Logan County filing fee. The county fee schedule revised 3/7/2023 lists $356.00 to open administration of a decedent's estate and a $181.00 estate appearance fee. Illinois circuit clerk fees are set under 705 ILCS 105/27.1b, and you should confirm the current amount before filing.
- Prove heirship and ask for authority. The court addresses heirship under 755 ILCS 5/5-3 and, when appropriate, admits the will and issues letters of office under 755 ILCS 5. Unless the will forbids it or an interested person objects, the court grants independent administration under Article XXVIII of the Illinois Probate Act of 1975.
- Complete oath and bond requirements. Before acting, the representative must take and file an oath and provide bond unless the will or court handling excuses a written bond as allowed by 755 ILCS 5/12-2.
- Receive certified letters of office under 755 ILCS 5. Logan County's fee schedule revised 3/7/2023 lists certified letters of office at $2.00 each, with the first certified copy free. These letters are the document banks, title companies, and buyers usually need to recognize the representative's authority.
- Give required notices. Within 14 days after the order admitting the will or appointing a representative, give notice to heirs and legatees as required by 755 ILCS 5/6-10. If an address is not stated, publication may be required in a county newspaper.
- Publish the creditor notice and file proof. The representative publishes once each week for 3 successive weeks in a newspaper published in the county where the estate is administered, and the claim date must be at least six months from first publication or 3 months from mailing, whichever is later (755 ILCS 5/18-3).
- Administer and close the estate. Collect assets, handle creditor claims, keep records, distribute only when allowed, and complete the accounting or closing steps required for the type of administration. Estate settlement should not be rushed before the claims process and court authority are clear.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Logan County
Logan County does not publish a local decedent-estate probate packet, petition, order, oath, inventory, account, or small-estate template on the Circuit Clerk page. Illinois also does not have a statewide standardized decedent-estate probate form set.
The statewide forms that may still matter in a Logan County probate filing are the Certification for Exemption From E-filing, the Fee Waiver for Civil Cases application, and the Appearance. The original will is handled separately because Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(c)(1) says original wills may not be e-filed.
Fees
Logan County publishes a county fee schedule for the Circuit Clerk. All figures below are from the schedule revised 3/7/2023. Illinois circuit clerk fees are set through the framework in 705 ILCS 105/27.1b, but the county's own schedule controls the amount you should confirm before filing.
| Fee item | Logan County amount |
|---|---|
| Administration of a decedent's estate | $356.00, fee schedule revised 3/7/2023 |
| Estate appearance fee | $181.00, fee schedule revised 3/7/2023 |
| Claim more than $150.00 and up to $500.00 | $15.00, fee schedule revised 3/7/2023 |
| Claim more than $500.00 and up to $10,000.00 | $25.00, fee schedule revised 3/7/2023 |
| Claim over $10,000.00 | $35.00, fee schedule revised 3/7/2023 |
| Equitable relief claim or petition | $50.00, fee schedule revised 3/7/2023 |
| Certified letters of office under 755 ILCS 5 | $2.00, with the first certified copy free, fee schedule revised 3/7/2023 |
| Exemplification | $7.00, fee schedule revised 3/7/2023 |
| Certified copy | $5.00 plus copy fees, fee schedule revised 3/7/2023 |
| Change of venue | $40.00, fee schedule revised 3/7/2023 |
Recent updates
| Change | Effective date | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Circuit Clerk lunch closure | April 1, 2026 | The Circuit Clerk's office closes from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. on weekdays, while the Self-Help Center remains open during that time. |
Scenarios
| Situation | Localized path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse w/ co-owned home | Property held in joint tenancy or with a beneficiary designation may pass outside the estate. For assets in the decedent's sole name, the spouse e-files through Odyssey eFileIL, delivers or mails the original will to the Logan County Circuit Clerk in Lincoln, and uses the Logan County fee schedule revised 3/7/2023, which lists $356.00 to open administration of a decedent's estate. | Sunset helps identify which accounts and assets need probate authority and which may transfer outside court, then organizes the estate settlement information for the next filing step. |
| Out-of-state adult child w/ small estate | Many steps can be handled from outside Illinois through Odyssey eFileIL and by contacting the Circuit Clerk at (217) 735-2376 or [email protected]. The original will still must be delivered or mailed to Lincoln, and the Circuit Clerk's Self-Help Center remains open during the 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. lunch closure effective April 1, 2026. | Sunset helps gather account information, prepare a practical task list, and identify when local counsel may save travel or prevent filing problems. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | Selling real estate usually requires letters of office under 755 ILCS 5. Logan County's fee schedule revised 3/7/2023 lists certified letters at $2.00 each after the first free certified copy, and the creditor notice still runs on the six months schedule required by 755 ILCS 5/18-3 before distribution. | Sunset helps organize assets, debts, real estate details, and attorney handoff materials so the sale and estate settlement can move with fewer missing documents. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Logan County Circuit Clerk | Filing office for Logan County estates, e-filing workstation, fee schedule, and clerk questions that do not require legal advice. | 601 Broadway Street, Lincoln, IL 62656; P.O. Box 158, Lincoln, IL 62656; (217) 735-2376; [email protected] |
| Logan County Legal Self-Help Centers | Computer and internet access, online court forms, online legal information, and referrals. They do not give legal advice. | Lincoln Public Library, 725 Pekin St., Lincoln, (217) 732-8878; Mt Pulaski Library District, 320 N. Washington St., Mount Pulaski, (217) 792-5919 |
| Land of Lincoln Legal Aid, Northern Regional Office | Legal aid program serving Logan County. Call first to confirm eligibility and whether it can help with the estate issue. | 1010 South Second Street, Springfield, IL 62704; (217) 529-8400; toll free (800) 252-8629. Lincoln satellite appointments are at Hope on 5th, 200 5th Street. |
| Illinois Legal Aid Online, how do I settle an estate after someone dies | Statewide plain-language guide to estate settlement after a death. | https://www.illinoislegalaid.org/legal-information/how-do-i-settle-estate-after-someone-dies |
| Illinois Courts approved statewide standardized forms | Statewide forms every Illinois court must accept, including the Certification for Exemption From E-filing, Fee Waiver for Civil Cases, and Appearance. | https://www.illinoiscourts.gov/documents-and-forms/approved-forms/ |
| eFileIL / Odyssey eFileIL | Statewide electronic filing system used for Logan County probate filings. Odyssey technical support is available for filing-system issues. | https://efile.illinoiscourts.gov/; Odyssey support 1-800-297-5377 |
When to hire an attorney
A lawyer is often helpful in a Logan County estate when farmland or a house must be sold, heirs disagree, a creditor files a claim, the will may be challenged, or you need help choosing between independent administration under Article XXVIII of the Illinois Probate Act of 1975 and more court-supervised handling. Sunset connects families to a vetted Illinois probate attorney serving Logan County.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families start estate settlement by searching for bank, investment, retirement, insurance, and other accounts that may not be obvious from the paperwork at home.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the information you provide into a probate-ready packet, so the Logan County filing can be prepared around the assets, heirs, debts, and court requirements that matter.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate needs legal help, Sunset can connect you with a vetted Illinois probate attorney serving Logan County.
Sunset is free for families. Sunset's estate settlement tools are designed to help families understand what exists, what needs court authority, and what can be handled outside probate.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file for probate in Logan County?
File with the Logan County Circuit Clerk at 601 Broadway Street, Lincoln, IL 62656. Mail for the Circuit Clerk goes to P.O. Box 158, Lincoln, IL 62656. Venue starts in the county where the decedent had a known place of residence, then moves to the county with the greater part of Illinois real estate, then to the county with the greater part of Illinois personal estate (755 ILCS 5/5-1).
Do I have to e-file a Logan County probate case?
Yes. Illinois requires e-filing in civil cases, including probate, for filers with and without a lawyer (Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(a)). Logan County uses Odyssey eFileIL, and the Circuit Clerk keeps a walk-in workstation for people who come prepared to e-file their own civil case. A self-represented filer who cannot e-file may use the statewide Certification for Exemption From E-filing under Rule 9(d).
Can I e-file the original will in Logan County?
No. An original will may not be e-filed under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(c)(1). Deliver or mail the original will to the Logan County Circuit Clerk in Lincoln. Anyone holding the will must file it immediately after death (755 ILCS 5/6-1), and a named executor has 30 days from learning of the appointment to open a case or decline (755 ILCS 5/6-3).
How much does probate cost in Logan County?
The Logan County fee schedule revised 3/7/2023 lists $356.00 to open administration of a decedent's estate and a $181.00 estate appearance fee. Certified letters of office under 755 ILCS 5 cost $2.00 each after the first free certified copy, under the same 3/7/2023 schedule.
Are there local probate forms in Logan County?
No Logan County decedent-estate probate packet is published on the Circuit Clerk page. Use the Illinois approved statewide forms where they apply, such as the Certification for Exemption From E-filing, Fee Waiver for Civil Cases, and Appearance, and ask the Circuit Clerk what format the court expects for estate-specific documents.
How do I look up a Logan County probate case?
Use the Logan County entry point on Judici. Judici is a public case-search vendor for participating Illinois courts. If the estate does not appear there, call the Logan County Circuit Clerk at (217) 735-2376.
What are the Circuit Clerk's hours in Logan County?
The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Effective April 1, 2026, the office closes for lunch from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.; the Self-Help Center remains open during that closure.
Do I have to travel to Lincoln for a Logan County estate?
Many filings can be handled through Odyssey eFileIL, and self-represented filers may also e-file from a home computer. The original will still has to be delivered or mailed to the Logan County Circuit Clerk, and you should ask the clerk or your attorney before assuming any hearing can be handled remotely.
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.