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Macon County, IL Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Macon County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Circuit Court of the Sixth Judicial Circuit, Macon County |
| Filing office | Macon County Circuit Clerk, Macon County Courthouse, 253 East Wood Street, Decatur, IL 62523 |
| Mailing address | Macon County Circuit Clerk, 253 East Wood Street, Decatur, IL 62523 |
| Probate desk | (217) 624-4469, [email protected] |
| Main clerk phone | (217) 624-4442 |
| Fax | (217) 424-1350 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. No lunch closure or filing cutoff is published by the Circuit Clerk. |
| Filing fee | The Macon County Circuit Clerk publishes $376.00 for PR, probate, decedent's estate, and $201.00 for an answer. The fee page has no effective date, was current on the clerk's site on August 16, 2026, and says all fees are subject to change without notice. Confirm the current amount before filing. |
| Local forms | No local decedent-estate probate forms are published by the Macon County Circuit Clerk. Illinois also has no statewide standardized decedent-estate probate packet. |
| E-filing | Required in Illinois civil cases, including probate, for filers with and without a lawyer, through eFileIL (Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(a)). A self-represented filer who cannot e-file may use the Certification for Exemption From E-filing (Rule 9(d)). An original will can never be e-filed and must be delivered or mailed to the Circuit Clerk (Rule 9(c)(1)). |
| E-filing kiosk | The Illinois Courts courthouse directory lists an e-filing kiosk in the Circuit Clerk's office on the first floor of the Macon County Courthouse. |
| Case lookup | The Macon County Circuit Clerk links to Judici for the county at https://www.judici.com/courts/cases/index.jsp?court=IL058015J. If the estate is not listed there, ask the probate desk. |
| Remote appearance | Probate starts as an in-person appearance in Macon County. Administrative Order 23-AO-1 puts PR cases on the in-person list unless the judge approves remote attendance before the hearing. |
| Website | https://www.cclerk.co.macon.il.us/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before opening a Macon County estate, identify the assets, debts, title arrangements and beneficiary designations. Property that passes by joint ownership or beneficiary designation may not need a court estate, while assets in the decedent's sole name may require letters of office issued under the Illinois Probate Act of 1975 (755 ILCS 5).
Sunset's estate settlement process starts with asset discovery across more than 2,300 financial institutions, then helps organize what belongs in the Macon County court filing and what can be handled outside probate. That work also helps you decide whether to call the Circuit Clerk's probate desk, prepare for e-filing, or ask Sunset to connect you with a local probate attorney.
Which court handles jurisdiction
One courthouse serves Macon County probate matters: the Macon County Courthouse at 253 East Wood Street in Decatur. The Circuit Clerk publishes no branch, satellite or annex filing location for probate filings. Decatur is the courthouse city and county seat; other Macon County communities include Mount Zion, Forsyth, Maroa, Argenta, Warrensburg, Blue Mound and Macon.
Macon County sits in the Sixth Judicial Circuit with Champaign, DeWitt, Douglas, Moultrie and Piatt Counties. The circuit shares local rules and administration, but it does not share a filing counter. A Macon County estate is filed with the Macon County Circuit Clerk in Decatur. Illinois venue is the county of the decedent's known place of residence, then the county where the greater part of the real estate is located, then the county where the greater part of the personal estate is located (755 ILCS 5/5-1).
The jurisdiction process
- Confirm that Macon County is the correct venue. File in Macon County if the decedent had a known place of residence there, or if the Illinois venue fallback points to Macon County because of real estate or personal estate located there (755 ILCS 5/5-1).
- Deliver the original will, if there is one, to the Macon County Circuit Clerk at 253 East Wood Street in Decatur. The original will cannot be e-filed (Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(c)(1)), and anyone holding the will must file it immediately after death (755 ILCS 5/6-1). A named executor has 30 days after learning of the appointment to open a case or decline (755 ILCS 5/6-3).
- Prepare the petition and supporting documents. If the will is handwritten, include the typewritten copy and affidavit required by Sixth Judicial Circuit Rule 5.1(a). If the will is not in English, include the English copy and qualified translator certification required by Rule 5.1(b).
- E-file the petition through eFileIL under the Macon County PR probate case category. Self-represented filers who cannot e-file may use the Certification for Exemption From E-filing under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(d), and the courthouse directory lists an e-filing kiosk in the Circuit Clerk's office on the first floor.
- Pay the Macon County filing fee. The Circuit Clerk publishes $376.00 for a PR probate decedent's estate filing and $201.00 for an answer on a fee page with no effective date, current on August 16, 2026, and marked subject to change without notice. Confirm the amount before filing.
- Set and notice the hearing as directed by the court. Unless the court orders otherwise, Sixth Judicial Circuit Rule 2.1(f) requires at least 14 days notice before the hearing, with proof of personal service or mailing filed with the Circuit Clerk. Motion hearing dates are coordinated based on the court's availability under the Macon County standing order effective July 13, 2026.
- Plan for an in-person hearing unless the judge approves remote attendance before the hearing. Macon County Administrative Order 23-AO-1 puts PR probate cases on the in-person list, although Sixth Judicial Circuit Rule 2.8(c) says there is no fee for remote appearance when allowed.
- After the court admits the will or appoints a representative, the representative takes the oath and gives bond unless the Probate Act or the court excuses a written bond (755 ILCS 5/12-2). The court generally grants independent administration under Article XXVIII unless the will forbids it or an interested person properly objects (755 ILCS 5/28-2).
- Obtain letters of office from the Circuit Clerk after the court enters the order. Letters of office are the Illinois authority document under 755 ILCS 5; letters issued on a will are letters testamentary (755 ILCS 5/6-8), and letters issued without a will are letters of administration under Article IX.
- Give the required notices. After the order, notice to heirs and legatees is handled under 755 ILCS 5/6-10. The representative also publishes the claims notice once a week for three successive weeks in a county newspaper and files proof of publication, which starts a claims period of not less than six months from first publication or three months from mailing or delivery to known creditors, whichever is later (755 ILCS 5/18-3).
- Administer and close the estate. Inventory the assets, handle claims, pay expenses, sell or transfer property as authorized, account to the interested persons or the court as required, and close the case under the Probate Act. Keep the Macon County case moving, because a civil case with no action of record for at least one year may be dismissed without prejudice under Sixth Judicial Circuit Rule 2.4.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Macon County
Illinois courts must accept the approved statewide standardized forms, but that statewide list does not include a decedent-estate probate packet. The Macon County Circuit Clerk's forms library also publishes no petition to admit a will, petition for letters of office, heirship form, inventory, accounting form or local small-estate template.
The statewide forms that may still matter in a Macon County estate settlement are the Certification for Exemption From E-filing, the fee waiver application for civil cases and the Appearance. If the will is handwritten, Sixth Judicial Circuit Rule 5.1(a) requires a typewritten copy of the will with the petition and an affidavit that the copy is true and correct to the best of the petitioner's or attorney's knowledge. If the will is in a language other than English, Rule 5.1(b) requires a typewritten English copy and a certification by a qualified translator.
Fees
Macon County publishes a county-specific court fee page, so do not use a statewide estimate. Illinois circuit clerk fees are set through the framework in 705 ILCS 105/27.1b, with the county board setting amounts by ordinance or resolution and the Circuit Clerk publishing the local amount. Macon County's fee page has no effective date, was current on the clerk's site on August 16, 2026, and says all fees are subject to change without notice.
| Fee item | Amount published by the Macon County Circuit Clerk |
|---|---|
| PR, probate, decedent's estate | $376.00, on the court fees page with no effective date, current on August 16, 2026, confirm before filing |
| Answer, charged per litigant | $201.00, on the court fees page with no effective date, current on August 16, 2026, confirm before filing |
| Letter of office | $2.00, on the court fees page with no effective date, current on August 16, 2026, confirm how many certified letters are needed |
| Certification | $2.00, on the court fees page with no effective date, current on August 16, 2026 |
| Estate claim from $150.00 to $499.00 | $25.00, on the court fees page with no effective date, current on August 16, 2026 |
| Estate claim from $500.00 to $9,999.00 | $40.00, on the court fees page with no effective date, current on August 16, 2026 |
| Estate claim of $10,000 or more | $60.00, on the court fees page with no effective date, current on August 16, 2026 |
| Current account for decedent or ward, except final accounts | $25.00, on the court fees page with no effective date, current on August 16, 2026 |
| Record search | $6.00 per year searched, on the court fees page with no effective date, current on August 16, 2026 |
| Regular copies | $2.00 for the first page, $0.50 for pages 2 to 20, and $0.25 for each later page, on the court fees page with no effective date, current on August 16, 2026 |
| Publication | Paid directly to the publisher, not to the clerk, under the Macon County fee page current on August 16, 2026 |
Timeline
- Before filing, collect the will, asset information, debt information and heir details. If Macon County is the proper venue, deliver or mail the original will to the Macon County Circuit Clerk because the original will cannot be e-filed.
- When setting a hearing, build in the Sixth Judicial Circuit notice rule. Unless the court orders otherwise, hearing notice must be made at least 14 days before the hearing, and proof of service or mailing is filed with the Circuit Clerk.
- If a motion is needed in Courtroom 6B, coordinate the motion hearing date based on the court's availability. The Macon County standing order effective July 13, 2026, requires motions, responses and replies to be e-filed and requires briefs no later than 14 days before the scheduled motion hearing unless the court allows otherwise.
- Ask early if remote attendance is needed. Probate is on Macon County's in-person list under Administrative Order 23-AO-1, so remote attendance requires judicial approval before the hearing. If remote attendance is allowed, the Circuit Clerk's courtroom information asks participants to log in at least 10 minutes before the scheduled hearing time.
- After letters of office issue under 755 ILCS 5, publish the creditor notice once each week for three successive weeks and file proof of publication. The claims window runs not less than six months from first publication, or three months from mailing or delivery to a known creditor, whichever is later (755 ILCS 5/18-3).
- Keep the estate moving. In the Sixth Judicial Circuit, a civil case with no action of record for at least one year may be dismissed without prejudice, with notice mailed by the Circuit Clerk under Rule 2.4.
Local nuance
Macon County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means in Macon County |
|---|---|
| Probate courtroom | Macon County assigns probate and guardianship cases to the judge who supervises the civil law division, sitting in Courtroom 6B, under judicial assignments effective September 29, 2025. |
| Current circuit rules | The Sixth Judicial Circuit Rules of Practice are effective August 1, 2025. Section 5 covers probate, estate and guardianship cases, and Rule 5.1 adds requirements for handwritten wills and wills in a language other than English. |
| Remote appearance | Macon County Administrative Order 23-AO-1 places PR probate cases on the in-person list unless the judge approves remote attendance before the hearing. |
| Motion practice | The Macon County Joint Standing Order Regarding Pre-Trial Motion Practice, effective July 13, 2026, applies to Courtroom 6B and requires pretrial motions, responses and replies to be e-filed. It also requires motion hearing dates to be coordinated based on the court's availability. |
| County offices | Probate filings go to the Circuit Clerk at 253 East Wood Street. Vital records and land recording are handled by separate offices at 141 South Main Street, so deed recording after a sale is a different office from probate filing. |
Recent updates
| Update | What changed |
|---|---|
| Macon County standing order effective July 13, 2026 | The Courtroom 6B standing order requires pretrial motions, responses and replies to be e-filed, requires a briefing schedule before a motion is set, and makes counsel and self-represented litigants responsible for coordinating motion hearing dates based on the court's availability. |
| Sixth Judicial Circuit rules effective August 1, 2025 | The current Rules of Practice apply to Macon County and the other Sixth Judicial Circuit counties. Section 5 now contains the probate, estate and guardianship rules, including Rule 5.1 for handwritten and non-English wills. |
| Macon County judicial assignments effective September 29, 2025 | The assignment order places probate and guardianship cases with the civil law division's supervising judge in Courtroom 6B. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Macon County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | If the home was held in joint tenancy or passed by beneficiary designation, it may pass outside the court estate. Assets in the decedent's sole name may require a PR estate filed with the Macon County Circuit Clerk. The original will must be delivered or mailed to the Circuit Clerk because it cannot be e-filed, and a handwritten will needs the typewritten copy and affidavit required by Sixth Judicial Circuit Rule 5.1(a). | Sunset helps sort probate and non-probate assets, organize the estate settlement checklist, and identify when a Decatur court filing or deed recording step is needed. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | Some work can be handled from outside Illinois because the petition is e-filed and the probate desk can be reached at (217) 624-4469 or [email protected]. The original will still must physically reach the Circuit Clerk, and a Macon County probate hearing is in person unless the judge approves remote attendance before the hearing. | Sunset helps gather accounts, prepare an asset list, organize filing information for the PR case category, and flag the remote-appearance request early in the estate settlement process. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale of solely owned real estate usually requires letters of office issued under 755 ILCS 5. The Macon County fee page current on August 16, 2026, lists a letter of office at $2.00 and certification at $2.00, with no effective date, so ask the probate desk how many certified letters are needed. Claims notice publication is paid directly to the publisher, and the claims period runs under 755 ILCS 5/18-3. | Sunset helps identify assets and debts, organize creditor information, prepare questions for the probate desk or attorney, and connect the family with a local probate attorney if a sale, claim or court hearing needs legal support. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps |
|---|---|
| Macon County Circuit Clerk | Filing office for estates at 253 East Wood Street, Decatur, IL 62523. Probate desk: (217) 624-4469 and [email protected]. The site has the fee page, forms library, eFileIL link, rules of practice and courtroom information. |
| Macon County Circuit Clerk court fees | Lists the PR probate filing fee, answer fee, estate claim fees, letters of office, certification and copy costs. The page has no effective date, was current on the clerk's site on August 16, 2026, and says fees can change without notice. |
| Macon County Legal Self-Help Center and Law Library | Located in the Macon County Courthouse. The Circuit Clerk describes the Self-Help Center as help for people representing themselves and states that staff are not attorneys and cannot give legal advice. The Law Library is on the third floor and offers printed materials and legal research tools. Check hours before going. |
| Macon County Judici case lookup | The county lookup linked by the Circuit Clerk and the Sixth Judicial Circuit. If an estate is not listed, ask the Circuit Clerk's probate desk. |
| Sixth Judicial Circuit rules of practice | Current rules effective August 1, 2025 for Champaign, DeWitt, Douglas, Macon, Moultrie and Piatt Counties, including Rule 5.1 for handwritten and non-English wills, Rule 2.1 for hearing notice and Rule 2.8 for remote proceedings. |
| Land of Lincoln Legal Aid | Legal aid program for eligible low-income and senior residents in central and southern Illinois, including Macon County. Confirm whether it can help with the specific estate issue before relying on it. |
| Illinois Legal Aid Online, how do I settle an estate after someone dies | Statewide plain-language guide linked by the Macon County Circuit Clerk from its Legal Library and Self Help page. |
| Illinois Courts approved statewide standardized forms | Includes the Certification for Exemption From E-filing, fee waiver application for civil cases and Appearance. It does not include a decedent-estate probate packet. |
| eFileIL | Statewide electronic filing system. The Macon County Circuit Clerk links to Odyssey eFileIL, and the courthouse directory lists an e-filing kiosk in the Circuit Clerk's office on the first floor. |
| Illinois State Bar Association lawyer referral service | Linked by the Macon County Circuit Clerk as a way to connect with a licensed attorney for a low-cost consultation. |
When to hire an attorney
A lawyer is especially useful in a Macon County estate when a hearing must be handled in person, a remote request has to be made before the hearing, a motion must be briefed and scheduled through the courtroom's judicial clerk, a will is handwritten or not in English under Sixth Judicial Circuit Rule 5.1, a creditor files a claim, heirs disagree, or a home must be sold. Sunset connects families with a vetted Illinois probate attorney serving Macon County.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions to help identify accounts, insurance, retirement assets and other property that may drive the Macon County estate settlement plan.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset helps organize the estate information needed for drafted probate documents, including asset lists, heirs, interested persons, court contacts and the local filing sequence for the Macon County Circuit Clerk.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate needs legal help, Sunset connects families with a vetted Illinois probate attorney serving Macon County, including matters involving court hearings, creditor claims, contested issues or real estate.
Sunset is free for families. Sunset's estate settlement tools help families understand the work, organize the next steps and decide when a court filing or attorney support is needed.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file for probate in Macon County?
File with the Macon County Circuit Clerk at the Macon County Courthouse, 253 East Wood Street, Decatur, IL 62523. Illinois venue starts in the county where the decedent had a known place of residence, then moves to the county with the greater part of the real estate, then the county with the greater part of the personal estate (755 ILCS 5/5-1).
How much does it cost to open an estate in Macon County?
The Circuit Clerk publishes $376.00 for a PR probate decedent's estate filing and $201.00 for an answer. The fee page has no effective date, was current on the clerk's site on August 16, 2026, and says all fees are subject to change without notice, so confirm the current amount with the Macon County Circuit Clerk before filing.
Do I have to e-file in Macon County probate?
Yes. E-filing is required in Illinois circuit court civil cases, including probate, and applies to filers with and without a lawyer (Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(a)). A self-represented filer who cannot e-file may file the standardized Certification for Exemption From E-filing, which takes effect when filed (Rule 9(d)). The courthouse directory lists an e-filing kiosk in the Circuit Clerk's office on the first floor.
What do I do with the original will in Macon County?
Bring or mail the original will to the Macon County Circuit Clerk at 253 East Wood Street in Decatur. An original will can never be e-filed (Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(c)(1)). Anyone holding the will must file it immediately after death (755 ILCS 5/6-1), and a named executor has 30 days after learning of the appointment to open a case or decline (755 ILCS 5/6-3).
Can I appear remotely in a Macon County probate case?
Only if the judge approves remote attendance before the hearing. Macon County Administrative Order 23-AO-1 puts PR probate cases on the county's in-person list. When remote attendance is allowed, Sixth Judicial Circuit Rule 2.8(c) says there is no fee to appear remotely, by video or by phone.
Is there a probate phone number for the Macon County Circuit Clerk?
Yes. The Circuit Clerk publishes a Mental Health and Probate desk at (217) 624-4469 and a Probate/Juvenile Division mailbox at [email protected].
Are there local probate forms in Macon County?
No. The Macon County Circuit Clerk publishes no decedent-estate probate forms, and Illinois has no statewide standardized decedent-estate probate packet. The petition, orders, oath, bond, inventory and accounts are drafted documents.
How do I look up a Macon County probate case?
Use the Macon County Judici entry linked by the Circuit Clerk: https://www.judici.com/courts/cases/index.jsp?court=IL058015J. Judici is a private vendor, not the court. If the estate is not listed there, ask the Circuit Clerk's probate desk.
How much notice does a Macon County probate hearing need?
Unless the court orders otherwise, notice must be given at least 14 days before the hearing, and proof of personal service or mailing must be filed with the Circuit Clerk under Sixth Judicial Circuit Rule 2.1(f), effective August 1, 2025.
Do I have to travel to Decatur?
You may mail the original will to the Circuit Clerk, and petitions are e-filed, but probate hearings in Macon County start as in-person appearances unless the judge approves remote attendance before the hearing. Plan around Decatur unless the court grants remote attendance.
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.