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Massac County, IL Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Massac County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Circuit Court of the First Judicial Circuit, Massac County |
| Filing office | Massac County Circuit Clerk, 1 Superman Square, Metropolis, IL 62960 |
| Mailing address | 1 Superman Square, Metropolis, IL 62960 |
| Phone | (618) 524-9359 |
| Fax | (618) 524-4850 |
| Hours | First Judicial Circuit offices are open Monday through Friday except state legal holidays. Massac County does not publish specific counter hours online, so call before going to the courthouse. |
| Filing fee | Massac County does not publish an online probate fee schedule. Illinois circuit clerk fees are set under 705 ILCS 105/27.1b by county board ordinance or resolution within the state framework. Confirm the current probate filing amount with the Circuit Clerk before filing. |
| Local probate forms | No Massac County decedent-estate forms are published online. |
| E-filing | Required in Illinois civil cases, including probate, through eFileIL. A self-represented filer who cannot e-file may use the statewide Certification for Exemption From E-filing. Original wills cannot be e-filed and must be delivered or mailed to the Circuit Clerk under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(c)(1). |
| Case search | Massac County uses Judici at https://www.judici.com/courts/index.jsp?court=IL064015J. If an estate matter is not visible there, call the Circuit Clerk. |
| Remote appearance | First Judicial Circuit Rule 1.15 allows Zoom appearances for many court dates. Confirm whether your specific probate hearing qualifies. |
| Website | https://www.massaccountyil.gov/circuit-clerk/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before opening a Massac County probate case, identify the assets, debts, beneficiary designations and co-owned property. That work determines whether the estate settlement needs letters of office under 755 ILCS 5, whether a court case is necessary at all, and what information must go into the petition.
Sunset can help search for accounts across more than 2,300 financial institutions before you file. That asset discovery is especially useful in Massac County because the clerk does not publish a local probate packet or online fee schedule, so you want the estate settlement picture organized before calling or filing.
Which court handles jurisdiction
One courthouse serves Massac County probate filings: the Massac County Courthouse at 1 Superman Square in Metropolis. That filing office serves all Massac County communities, including Metropolis.
Massac County is in the First Judicial Circuit with Alexander, Pulaski, Pope, Johnson, Union, Jackson, Williamson and Saline Counties. That shared circuit does not mean a Massac County estate is filed in another county. File with the Massac County Circuit Clerk unless Illinois venue points elsewhere: the county of the decedent's known residence, then 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).
The jurisdiction process
- Collect the will, death certificate, asset list, debt information and heir information. Anyone holding the original will must file it with the Circuit Clerk immediately after death (755 ILCS 5/6-1).
- Prepare the probate petition and related papers. Massac County does not publish a local decedent-estate packet, so the petition, oath, bond information and inventory are prepared rather than pulled from a county form set.
- E-file the petition through eFileIL. If you qualify for an e-filing exemption, file the statewide Certification for Exemption From E-filing under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(d). Do not e-file the original will. Mail or deliver it to the Massac County Circuit Clerk at 1 Superman Square, Metropolis, IL 62960, because original wills cannot be e-filed under Rule 9(c)(1).
- Confirm the filing cost before submission. Massac County does not publish an online probate fee schedule, and Illinois circuit clerk fees are governed by 705 ILCS 105/27.1b and set locally by county board ordinance or resolution within the state framework.
- The court reviews heirship and the request for authority. Illinois requires a declaration of heirship in the probate process (755 ILCS 5/5-3). If the will is admitted and the executor qualifies, letters of office issue as letters testamentary under 755 ILCS 5/6-8. If there is no will, authority proceeds under Article IX.
- Expect independent administration under Article XXVIII unless the will forbids it, a qualifying objection is made, or the court requires a different level of supervision (755 ILCS 5/28-2). The representative must take the oath and address bond under 755 ILCS 5/12-2.
- Send notice after appointment. Within 14 days after the order, the representative gives notice to heirs and legatees, with publication if an address is not stated (755 ILCS 5/6-10).
- Publish the claims notice once each week for three successive weeks in a newspaper published in the county where the estate is administered, then file proof of publication with the clerk. The creditor deadline is at least six months from first publication, or three months from mailing or delivery to a known creditor, whichever is later (755 ILCS 5/18-3).
- Use First Judicial Circuit Rule 1.15 if a hearing can be handled remotely. Confirm the Zoom option for your specific Massac County court date before relying on remote attendance.
- Inventory assets, collect estate property, pay valid claims and expenses, make distributions, and close the estate through the required account or closing filings. If the case sits inactive for a considerable time, First Judicial Circuit Rule 1.6 allows the judge to place it on a docket call and possibly move it to an inactive docket until a motion brings it back.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Massac County
Massac County does not publish a local decedent-estate packet, petition, oath, inventory, account or small estate affidavit form online. Illinois also does not have a statewide standardized form set for opening a decedent's probate estate.
The statewide forms that can still matter in a probate case are the Certification for Exemption From E-filing, the civil fee waiver application and the Appearance. Illinois courts must accept those statewide forms.
| Form category | Where to get it | Massac County note |
|---|---|---|
| Decedent-estate petition and related probate papers | Not published as a Massac County packet | Prepare the papers for filing with the Massac County Circuit Clerk or work with counsel. |
| Certification for Exemption From E-filing | Illinois Courts approved statewide standardized forms | Use this if you qualify for a good-cause exemption from e-filing under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(d). |
| Fee waiver for civil cases | Illinois Courts approved statewide standardized forms | Use if you need to ask the court to waive civil filing costs. |
| Appearance | Illinois Courts approved statewide standardized forms | Use when an appearance is required in the probate case. |
Local nuance
Massac County-specific considerations
| Local practice | What it means for a Massac County estate |
|---|---|
| Inactive probate matters | First Judicial Circuit Rule 1.6 lets a judge put a decedent's estate on a docket call if it has been inactive for a considerable time. If the case cannot be conveniently finished then, the judge may move it to an inactive docket. It can later return to the active docket by motion and order. |
| Remote court attendance | First Judicial Circuit Rule 1.15 allows phone or video attendance for many court dates through Zoom, with county access information posted by the circuit. Some matters still require in-person attendance or advance permission, so confirm the hearing type with the Circuit Clerk. |
| Local forms and fees | Massac County does not publish a local decedent-estate packet or an online probate fee schedule. Prepare the filing papers before using eFileIL, and call the Circuit Clerk for the current filing cost. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Archetype | Local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse w/ co-owned home | Start by checking whether the home and accounts pass by joint ownership or beneficiary designation. If probate is needed for assets in the decedent's sole name, e-file the petition and deliver or mail the original will to the Massac County Circuit Clerk in Metropolis. | Sunset helps identify accounts, organize the asset list and generate the estate settlement packet before you contact the clerk about the current filing fee. |
| Out-of-state adult child w/ small estate | Much of the work may be handled from outside Illinois through eFileIL, phone calls with the Circuit Clerk and possible Zoom appearances under First Judicial Circuit Rule 1.15. If there is an original will, it still must be mailed or delivered to Metropolis. If using a small estate affidavit, follow 755 ILCS 5/25-1 and present it to the asset holder rather than filing it as a court case. | Sunset helps decide what assets exist, whether a court estate appears necessary, and what information to gather before you rely on a non-court affidavit or open probate. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale of real estate usually requires court authority and letters of office under 755 ILCS 5. File with the Massac County Circuit Clerk, publish the claims notice in a county newspaper and watch the six months claims period under 755 ILCS 5/18-3 before final distribution. | Sunset helps assemble the estate settlement inventory, organize debts and heirs, and connect the family with a probate attorney when a real estate sale or court order is needed. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Link or contact |
|---|---|---|
| Massac County Circuit Clerk | Filing office for probate cases, original wills, fee confirmation and court-date questions. | 1 Superman Square, Metropolis, IL 62960. Phone: (618) 524-9359. Website: https://www.massaccountyil.gov/circuit-clerk/ |
| First Judicial Circuit, Massac County page | Provides Massac County circuit information, circuit rules and video-court links. | https://firstcircuitil.org/circuit-courts/massac-county/ |
| Massac County Legal Self-Help Center at Metropolis Public Library | Provides computers, internet, online court forms, printing, scanning and a Lawyer in the Library program. It offers legal information, not legal advice. | 313 Metropolis Street, Metropolis, IL 62960. Phone: (618) 524-4312. https://www.illinoislegalaid.org/counties/Massac |
| Illinois Legal Aid Online, how do I settle an estate after someone dies | Statewide plain-language guide to estate settlement steps. | https://www.illinoislegalaid.org/legal-information/how-do-i-settle-estate-after-someone-dies |
| Illinois Courts approved statewide standardized forms | Includes the Certification for Exemption From E-filing, fee waiver application and Appearance. It does not include a statewide decedent-estate probate packet. | https://www.illinoiscourts.gov/documents-and-forms/approved-forms/ |
| eFileIL | Statewide electronic filing system for Illinois civil cases, including probate, with Odyssey eFileIL as the free option. | https://efile.illinoiscourts.gov/ |
When to hire an attorney
A lawyer is most useful in a Massac County estate settlement when a house or farmland must be sold, heirs disagree, a creditor files a claim, a will contest is possible, or a stalled estate needs help getting back onto the active docket under First Judicial Circuit Rule 1.6. The Circuit Clerk keeps filings and cannot give legal advice. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions so families can build a clearer inventory before deciding whether Massac County probate is needed.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset helps organize estate settlement information into a filing-ready probate packet based on the assets, debts, heirs and will information you provide.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate needs legal help, Sunset can connect you with a vetted Illinois probate attorney for the Massac County case.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset's estate settlement tools without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file for probate in Massac County?
File with the Massac County Circuit Clerk at 1 Superman Square in Metropolis. 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 if needed (755 ILCS 5/5-1).
Do I have to e-file probate papers in Massac County?
Yes. Illinois requires e-filing in civil cases, including probate, through eFileIL. A self-represented filer who cannot e-file may file the statewide Certification for Exemption From E-filing under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(d). The original will is different: it cannot be e-filed and must be delivered or mailed to the Circuit Clerk under Rule 9(c)(1).
How much does Massac County probate cost?
Massac County does not publish an online probate fee schedule. Circuit clerk fees are governed by 705 ILCS 105/27.1b and set locally by county board ordinance or resolution within the state framework. Call the Circuit Clerk at (618) 524-9359 before filing.
Are there local probate forms in Massac County?
No Massac County decedent-estate forms are published online. Illinois has statewide forms for e-filing exemption, civil fee waiver and appearance, but not a statewide decedent-estate probate packet.
Can I appear remotely in a Massac County probate matter?
Often, but not for every court date. First Judicial Circuit Rule 1.15 allows Zoom appearances for many hearings and posts county video-court access through the circuit. Confirm your specific hearing with the Circuit Clerk.
How do I look up a Massac County probate case?
Use Massac County's Judici entry point at https://www.judici.com/courts/index.jsp?court=IL064015J. If the estate does not appear there, call the Circuit Clerk because public online visibility can vary by case type.
What happens if a Massac County probate case sits open for a long time?
First Judicial Circuit Rule 1.6 allows a judge to place an inactive decedent's estate on a docket call. If it cannot be conveniently finished at that call, the judge may move it to an inactive docket, and the estate can later return to the active docket by motion and order.
Do I have to travel to Metropolis to handle a Massac County estate?
Not always. Many papers are e-filed, and First Judicial Circuit Rule 1.15 allows remote appearance for many court dates. The original will must still reach the Circuit Clerk in Metropolis by mail or in person.
Is the Massac County Circuit Clerk the same as the County Clerk?
No. Probate filings go to the Massac County Circuit Clerk, also called the Clerk of the Circuit Court. The County Clerk is a separate office for matters such as vital records and elections.
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.