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Mason County, IL Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Mason County probate information |
|---|---|
| Court | Circuit Court of the Eighth Judicial Circuit, Mason County |
| Filing office | Mason County Circuit Clerk, the Clerk of the Circuit Court |
| Courthouse address | 125 North Plum Street, Havana, IL 62644 |
| Mailing address | Mason County Circuit Clerk, P.O. Box 377, Havana, IL 62644 |
| Phone | (309) 543-6619, option 2 for the Circuit Clerk |
| Fax | (309) 543-4214 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
| Filing fee | Mason County does not publish a probate fee schedule online. Confirm the current probate filing fee with the Mason County Circuit Clerk before filing. |
| Local forms | No Mason County decedent-estate probate packet or local probate forms are published. The statewide Appearance, Fee Waiver for Civil Cases, and Certification for Exemption From E-filing forms may be relevant. |
| E-filing | Probate petitions are filed through eFileIL unless an exemption applies. 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). Eighth Judicial Circuit Rule 9.3(b) says wills and other testamentary documents are not accepted electronically. |
| Case lookup | Mason County links to Judici for court case lookup: https://www.judici.com/courts/index.jsp?court=IL063015J. Probate coverage should be checked in the portal or with the clerk. |
| Remote appearance | Eighth Judicial Circuit Rule 9.16 allows remote appearances at the judge's discretion. A request for a proceeding set in person must be made in writing or in person at least three business days before the proceeding. |
| Website | https://masoncountyil.gov/circuit-clerk/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before filing in Mason County, make a working list of the decedent's assets, debts, real estate, accounts, vehicles, and likely heirs or legatees. That list determines whether the estate needs a court case, whether the original will must be delivered to the Circuit Clerk, and what information will be needed for heirship, inventory, creditor notice, and closing.
Sunset's estate settlement process starts with asset discovery across more than 2,300 financial institutions, then helps organize the facts for the Mason County filing path. Knowing the assets and liabilities first also helps you ask the Circuit Clerk or an attorney the right fee, form, and hearing questions before you file.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Mason County Courthouse is at 125 North Plum Street in Havana. It serves Mason County, including Havana and the surrounding rural townships of the county.
Mason County sits in the Eighth Judicial Circuit with Adams, Schuyler, Cass, Brown, Pike, Calhoun, and Menard Counties. That shared circuit does not mean you file a Mason County estate in Quincy or another county. File with the Mason County Circuit Clerk in Havana unless the Illinois Probate Act of 1975 venue rule points elsewhere: 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
- Find the will and identify the estate property. Anyone holding the will must file it with the proper Circuit Clerk immediately after death (755 ILCS 5/6-1). In Mason County, the original will must be mailed or delivered to the Mason County Circuit Clerk because original wills cannot be e-filed under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(c)(1).
- Prepare the petition and supporting documents. A will case asks the court to admit the will and issue letters of office under 755 ILCS 5/6-2 and 755 ILCS 5/6-8. An intestate case seeks letters of office under Article IX of the Illinois Probate Act of 1975. Mason County does not publish a local decedent-estate packet, so confirm filing requirements with the Circuit Clerk before submitting.
- E-file the petition through eFileIL unless an exemption applies. Self-represented filers who cannot e-file may use the statewide Certification for Exemption From E-filing under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(d). Deliver or mail the original will separately to 125 North Plum Street or P.O. Box 377, Havana, IL 62644.
- Confirm and pay the filing fee. Mason County does not publish a probate fee schedule online, so call the Mason County Circuit Clerk at (309) 543-6619, option 2, before filing.
- Prove heirship and address the administration track. The court may require heirship evidence under 755 ILCS 5/5-3. Illinois generally grants independent administration under Article XXVIII unless the will forbids it or an interested person objects under 755 ILCS 5/28-2. Supervised administration is the court-supervised track outside Article XXVIII (755 ILCS 5/1-2.16).
- Ask about hearing procedure and any remote-appearance request. Eighth Judicial Circuit Rule 9.16 allows remote appearances at the judge's discretion. If a hearing is set in person and you want to appear remotely, make the request in writing or in person at least three business days before the proceeding.
- Qualify as representative and receive authority. The representative takes the required oath and gives bond unless excused or handled as the Probate Act allows (755 ILCS 5/12-2). Once the court appoints the representative, the clerk issues letters of office under 755 ILCS 5/6-8 or Article IX, depending on the case.
- Give notices and publish creditor notice. Required notices to heirs and legatees must be handled under 755 ILCS 5/6-10. The representative must publish the creditor notice once each week for three successive weeks in a county newspaper and file proof of publication, which starts the six-month claims period under 755 ILCS 5/18-3.
- Administer the estate and close the case. Collect assets, address claims, handle inventory and accounting duties, and distribute property under the court order and the Probate Act. In Mason County, follow Eighth Judicial Circuit Part 8 for claims, inventories, final accounts, and fee requests as part of the estate settlement.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Mason County
Mason County does not publish a local decedent-estate probate packet, cover sheet, petition, order, oath, inventory, or account form. Illinois also does not have a statewide standardized decedent-estate probate form set.
For probate-related filings, use the Mason County Circuit Clerk for filing instructions and use eFileIL unless an exemption applies. The statewide forms that may matter in a probate case are the Appearance, the Fee Waiver for Civil Cases, and the Certification for Exemption From E-filing. The original will must still be mailed or delivered to the Circuit Clerk and cannot be e-filed under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(c)(1).
| Form or resource | Where to find it | How it fits Mason County probate |
|---|---|---|
| Local Mason County probate packet | None published | Call the Mason County Circuit Clerk before filing to ask what the clerk requires for a new decedent-estate case. |
| Illinois Courts approved statewide forms | https://www.illinoiscourts.gov/documents-and-forms/approved-forms/ | Use for the Appearance, Fee Waiver for Civil Cases, and Certification for Exemption From E-filing when applicable. |
| Eighth Judicial Circuit Local Rules | Linked from the Mason County Circuit Clerk page | Part 8 governs probate practice in Mason County, including notice duties, inventory detail, claims practice, final accounts, and fee requests. |
Local nuance
Mason County-specific considerations
The Eighth Judicial Circuit Uniform Rules of Practice, approved March 25, 2026, apply in Mason County. Part 8 governs probate proceedings. Rule 8.1 places responsibility for giving proper notice, filing proof of notice, presenting evidence, and conducting probate proceedings on the estate's legal representative or attorney, unless the law places the task on the court or clerk. Rule 8.1 also requires the representative or attorney to direct the clerk on the newspaper for publication.
Rule 8.3 treats inventories differently depending on the track. In supervised administration, which is the court-supervised track outside Article XXVIII (755 ILCS 5/1-2.16), the inventory must describe real estate, improvements, indebtedness, money on hand, and personal estate items. In independent administration under Article XXVIII (755 ILCS 5/1-2.09 and 755 ILCS 5/28-2), the representative is not required to file the inventory with the court.
Rule 8.4 addresses claims, including claims based on written instruments and claims filed by the representative or the representative's attorney. Rule 8.9 sets content and notice requirements for final accounts. Rule 8.11 requires a written petition or statement before fees are allowed in a deceased person's estate unless all interested parties agree in writing.
Recent updates
| Update | What changed |
|---|---|
| Eighth Judicial Circuit Uniform Rules of Practice approved March 25, 2026 | The rules repealed prior Eighth Circuit rules and re-adopted Part 8 for probate proceedings and Rule 9.16 for remote appearances, both of which apply in Mason County. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Mason County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | If the home and accounts passed outside probate, the spouse may need little or no court action. If assets stood in the decedent's sole name, file the petition through eFileIL, deliver or mail the original will to the Mason County Circuit Clerk in Havana, and confirm the current filing fee with the clerk. | Sunset helps identify accounts, title issues, and documents before the spouse decides whether a Mason County estate settlement needs a court filing. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | Call the Mason County Circuit Clerk at (309) 543-6619, option 2, before filing. If a court case is needed, the petition can generally be e-filed, but the original will must still be mailed or delivered to Havana. A remote-appearance request under Eighth Judicial Circuit Rule 9.16 must be made at least three business days before an in-person proceeding. | Sunset organizes the asset list and can help the child understand whether to gather more account information before contacting the clerk or an attorney. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sole-name home usually requires a court estate. If the case proceeds as supervised administration, outside Article XXVIII, Eighth Judicial Circuit Rule 8.3 requires the inventory to describe the real estate and improvements. If the court grants independent administration under Article XXVIII, Rule 8.3 says the inventory is not required to be filed with the court. | Sunset helps gather mortgage, account, and property information and can connect the parent with a local probate attorney when a sale or court accounting is involved. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact or link |
|---|---|---|
| Mason County Circuit Clerk | Filing office for probate petitions, original wills, fee questions, and Mason County case questions. | 125 North Plum Street, P.O. Box 377, Havana, IL 62644, (309) 543-6619, option 2, https://masoncountyil.gov/circuit-clerk/ |
| Eighth Judicial Circuit Local Rules | Part 8 governs probate proceedings in Mason County, and Rule 9.16 governs remote appearances. | Linked from the Mason County Circuit Clerk page |
| Illinois Legal Aid Online, how do I settle an estate after someone dies | Plain-language statewide overview for families handling an estate settlement in Illinois. | https://www.illinoislegalaid.org/legal-information/how-do-i-settle-estate-after-someone-dies |
| Illinois Courts approved statewide standardized forms | Statewide forms accepted by Illinois courts, including the Appearance, Fee Waiver for Civil Cases, and Certification for Exemption From E-filing. | https://www.illinoiscourts.gov/documents-and-forms/approved-forms/ |
| eFileIL | Statewide electronic filing system for civil cases, including probate filings, except documents that cannot be e-filed such as original wills. | https://efile.illinoiscourts.gov/ |
When to hire an attorney
A lawyer is useful in a Mason County estate settlement when the estate includes farmland or a home that must be sold, heirs disagree, a creditor files a claim, a will contest is possible, or the account must satisfy Eighth Judicial Circuit Rule 8.9. The Circuit Clerk cannot give legal advice, and Illinois limits who may represent another person's legal interests. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions to help families identify accounts, balances, and assets before they choose a Mason County estate settlement path.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset helps organize the information needed for a probate petition, heir and legatee details, asset lists, and filing steps so the Mason County probate process is easier to follow.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate includes real estate, creditor issues, disagreement among heirs, or a court account, Sunset can connect the family with an Illinois probate attorney familiar with county-level practice.
Sunset is free for families. Sunset's estate settlement tools help families move from uncertainty to a clear next step without charging families to get started.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Mason County?
File with the Mason County Circuit Clerk at the Mason County Courthouse, 125 North Plum Street, Havana, IL 62644. Mail for the Circuit Clerk goes to P.O. Box 377, Havana, IL 62644. Mason County is in the Eighth Judicial Circuit, but a Mason County estate is filed with the Mason County Circuit Clerk unless Illinois venue points to another county under 755 ILCS 5/5-1.
Can I e-file a Mason County probate case?
Yes. Illinois civil cases, including probate cases, are filed through eFileIL unless an exemption applies under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9. A self-represented filer who cannot e-file may use the statewide Certification for Exemption From E-filing. The original will cannot be e-filed and must be mailed or delivered to the Circuit Clerk under Rule 9(c)(1).
How much does probate cost in Mason County?
Mason County does not publish a probate fee schedule online. Confirm the current filing fee with the Mason County Circuit Clerk before submitting a petition. Do not rely on a statewide estimate or another county's fee.
Are there Mason County probate forms?
No Mason County decedent-estate probate packet or local probate forms are published. The Eighth Judicial Circuit Local Rules, especially Part 8, set local probate practice. Illinois Courts statewide forms may still help with an Appearance, fee waiver request, or e-filing exemption.
Can I appear remotely in Mason County probate?
Possibly. Under Eighth Judicial Circuit Rule 9.16, remote appearance is up to the judge. If a proceeding is set in person, make the remote-appearance request in writing or in person at least three business days before the proceeding. Mason County remote-access information is obtained through the Circuit Clerk's website or by calling (309) 543-6619, option 2.
How do I look up a Mason County probate case?
The Mason County Circuit Clerk links to Judici for court case lookup at https://www.judici.com/courts/index.jsp?court=IL063015J. If you cannot find the probate matter there, call the Circuit Clerk because the public portal may not show every probate filing.
Do I have to travel to Havana for probate?
Not for every step. Petitions are generally submitted through eFileIL, and the original will can be mailed to the Circuit Clerk. If a hearing is set in person, ask the court for remote appearance under Eighth Judicial Circuit Rule 9.16 at least three business days before the proceeding.
What local probate rules should I know in Mason County?
Eighth Judicial Circuit Part 8 applies to probate proceedings in Mason County. It places responsibility for notice, proof of notice, evidence, and probate presentation on the estate representative or the representative's attorney, unless law assigns that task to the court or clerk. It also addresses supervised administration outside Article XXVIII, independent administration under Article XXVIII, claims, final accounts, and fee petitions.
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.