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McHenry County, IL Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | McHenry County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Circuit Court of the Twenty-second Judicial Circuit, McHenry County. McHenry County is a single-county circuit under 705 ILCS 35/1. |
| Filing office | McHenry County Circuit Clerk, also called the Clerk of the Circuit Court. |
| Courthouse | Michael J. Sullivan Judicial Center, 2200 N. Seminary Avenue, Woodstock, IL 60098. |
| Public counters | Rooms 136 and 353. The clerk states that original wills and probate forms are handled at the Civil customer service windows in Room 136. |
| Mailing | McHenry County Circuit Clerk, 2200 N. Seminary Avenue, Woodstock, IL 60098. Call (815) 334-4190 before mailing an original will because the clerk publishes the Room 136 counter process. |
| Phone | Main office: (815) 334-4190. Court date settings and availability: (815) 334-4310. |
| [email protected]. E-filing help: [email protected]. | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding court holidays. |
| Filing fee | $364.00 to open a decedent's estate, per the McHenry County Circuit Clerk fee schedule revised October 1, 2025. There is no fee to file a will, per the same schedule revised October 1, 2025. Confirm the current amount with the Circuit Clerk. |
| Letters of office | $2.00 each, per the fee schedule revised October 1, 2025. Letters of office are the Illinois authority document issued under the Illinois Probate Act of 1975 (755 ILCS 5/6-8 and Article IX). |
| Local forms | Yes. McHenry County publishes its own probate form set for estates with a will, estates without a will, closing an estate and a small estate affidavit. |
| E-filing | Required for probate filings through eFileIL under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(a), including filers without a lawyer unless a Rule 9(d) exemption applies. Original wills cannot be e-filed under Rule 9(c)(1) and are taken to Room 136. |
| Probate call | Courtroom 357 hears probate matters Monday through Friday at 9:30 a.m. Call (815) 334-4310 before filing anything with a court date. |
| Remote appearance | Available for many Courtroom 357 probate matters by Zoom, subject to Local Rule 22.07 and the courtroom standing order. Evidence hearings, settlement conferences and trials need a judge's order for remote appearance. |
| Case lookup | Use McHenry County's free public case information portal at https://caseinfo.mchenrycountyil.gov/pca. It gives basic case information, not public online access to court documents. If an estate does not appear, call the Circuit Clerk. |
| Website | https://www.mchenrycircuitclerk.org/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in McHenry County, identify the decedent's assets, debts, beneficiary designations, title to any home and whether an original will exists. Local Rule 14.05 makes asset discovery especially important because the petition and inventory must address any safe deposit box and its contents.
Sunset's estate settlement workflow includes asset discovery across more than 2,300 financial institutions, then helps organize the information needed for the McHenry County probate forms, fee planning and attorney handoff where the Courtroom 357 standing order makes counsel the practical next step.
Which court handles jurisdiction
One courthouse serves all McHenry County estate filings: the Michael J. Sullivan Judicial Center, 2200 N. Seminary Avenue, Woodstock, IL 60098. Probate filings go to the McHenry County Circuit Clerk in Woodstock, not to Waukegan, Chicago or any other county, because McHenry County is its own Twenty-second Judicial Circuit under 705 ILCS 35/1.
McHenry County includes Algonquin, Barrington Hills, Bull Valley, Cary, Crystal Lake, Fox Lake, Fox River Grove, Greenwood, Harvard, Hebron, Holiday Hills, Huntley, Island Lake, Johnsburg, Lake in the Hills, Lakemoor, Lakewood, Marengo, McCullom Lake, McHenry, Oakwood Hills, Port Barrington, Prairie Grove, Richmond, Ringwood, Spring Grove, Trout Valley, Union, Wonder Lake, Woodstock and the surrounding unincorporated townships. Crystal Lake is the largest community, and Woodstock is the county seat where the courthouse sits.
Illinois venue is set by the Probate Act, not by where the nearest courthouse is. The estate is administered in the county where the decedent had a known place of residence, or, if there was no Illinois residence, the county holding the greater part of Illinois real estate, or, if there was no Illinois real estate, the county holding the greater part of personal estate (755 ILCS 5/5-1).
The McHenry County Clerk is a different office from the Circuit Clerk. The County Clerk handles vital records and other county functions, while the Circuit Clerk takes probate filings and issues letters of office under 755 ILCS 5.
The jurisdiction process
- Collect the death certificate, the original will if there is one, asset and debt information, beneficiary information, and facts needed for the McHenry County affidavit of heirship. Anyone holding the will must file it immediately after death (755 ILCS 5/6-1), and a person named as executor has 30 days after learning of the appointment to open a case or decline (755 ILCS 5/6-3).
- File the original will, if any, at the Circuit Clerk's Civil customer service windows in Room 136. Original wills cannot be e-filed under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(c)(1), and McHenry County does not charge a will filing fee, per the fee schedule revised October 1, 2025.
- Use the McHenry County probate forms to prepare the petition, affidavit of heirship, proposed order, oath and bond, acceptance or declination, and notices. The petition to admit the will and issue letters of office is filed through eFileIL, while the original will is handled separately at Room 136.
- Pay the opening filing fee through eFileIL unless a fee waiver is requested. The fee to open a decedent's estate is $364.00, per the McHenry County Circuit Clerk fee schedule revised October 1, 2025. A fee waiver request pauses fee payment until the court rules.
- Call the Circuit Clerk at (815) 334-4310 before filing any notice, summons or motion that carries a court date. Courtroom 357 hears probate matters Monday through Friday at 9:30 a.m., and filings with closed, blank or wrong dates can be rejected.
- For an uncontested new estate, follow the Courtroom 357 standing order: after the petition and affidavit of heirship are filed, email the proposed order, oath and bond to the Civil Division proposed orders address with a short cover email explaining what has been filed, including any will number. Read the standing order first, especially its instruction about attorney involvement.
- Prove heirship, qualify the representative, and obtain the order. Illinois courts grant independent administration under Article XXVIII unless the will forbids it or an interested person objects as provided by the Probate Act (755 ILCS 5/28-2). The representative must take the oath and bond required by 755 ILCS 5/12-2.
- After the court appoints the representative, buy the needed letters of office. McHenry County charges $2.00 per set, per the fee schedule revised October 1, 2025. Letters of office are the authority document under 755 ILCS 5 that banks, title companies and other institutions usually request.
- Mail notice to heirs and legatees within 14 days after the order, with publication if an address is not stated, as required by 755 ILCS 5/6-10. Publish the creditor claims notice once each week for three successive weeks in a newspaper published in the county and file proof of publication; the claims date must be at least six months from first publication or three months from mailing, whichever is later (755 ILCS 5/18-3).
- Inventory the estate, including any safe deposit box disclosure and itemized contents required by Local Rule 14.05. Pay valid claims, keep receipts and vouchers, and follow any claim-call notices under Local Rule 14.09.
- File annual accounts and annual status reports when Local Rule 14.06 requires them. In independent administration under Article XXVIII, the independent representative files the annual status report even though many actions can be taken without advance court order.
- Close the estate with the final account, verified final report, receipts on distribution and proposed order of discharge. Local Rule 14.13 requires the final report and receipts before the representative is discharged.
Executor duties
McHenry County adds several local filing and housekeeping duties on top of the statewide duties of an Illinois executor, administrator or independent representative.
| Local duty | What to do in McHenry County |
|---|---|
| Safe deposit box disclosure | Disclose on the petition whether the decedent had a safe deposit box and where it is, list the box on the inventory, and include a certified itemized statement of the contents. A box found later must be inventoried in a supplemental inventory within 30 days of discovery under Local Rule 14.05. The named executor's separate 30 day duty to open a case or decline is under 755 ILCS 5/6-3. |
| Annual account | File a verified account within 60 days after the first anniversary of the issuance of letters of office, then annually, unless the court excuses it. McHenry County charges no fee for an interim or final account, per the fee schedule revised October 1, 2025. |
| Independent administration report | If the estate is in independent administration under Article XXVIII, file a verified status report each year within 30 days after the anniversary of the order granting independent administration. |
| Receipts and vouchers | Keep receipts for distributions and vouchers for disbursements. Local Rule 14.10 lets the court ask to see them when an account is presented. |
| Claim call | If a claim is filed, expect the clerk to set a claim call. The representative must notify the other parties of the call and file proof of that notice under Local Rule 14.09. |
| Closing papers | Before discharge, file receipts from all distributees and a verified final report in addition to the final account. Local Rule 14.13 requires the final report to state that court costs are paid and filed claims have been satisfied or dismissed. |
| Fees | Representative and attorney fees must be approved by the court on a verified petition with notice unless every interested person consents in writing to a specific amount under Local Rule 14.20. |
| Inactive docket | An estate with no activity for a year, or one missing required account or report filings, can be moved to the inactive docket under Local Rule 14.27. |
Forms and documents
Probate forms in McHenry County
Illinois has no statewide standardized decedent-estate form set, but McHenry County publishes local probate forms and also furnishes them at the Circuit Clerk's Civil customer service windows in Room 136.
| Form group | What McHenry County provides |
|---|---|
| Estate with a will | Acceptance of office, affidavit of heirship, appearance on proof of will, application or order to transfer will, certificate of mailing, claim against estate, declination of office, notice to heirs and legatees, oath and bond with no surety, oath of office, order admitting will to probate, order declaring heirship, petition for letters of administration with will annexed, petition to terminate independent administration under Article XXVIII, and waiver of notice. |
| Estate without a will | Acceptance of office, affidavit of heirship, appearance for letters of administration, claim against estate, declination of office, oath and bond with surety, oath of office, order appointing representative, order declaring heirship, petition for letters of administration, and waiver of notice. |
| Closing an estate | Consent to allow fees and receipt, final report of independent representative, notice of filing of final report in independent administration under Article XXVIII, and order of discharge. |
| Small estate affidavit | McHenry County form PR-AFF2, revised August 15, 2025, plus a county brochure revised August 15, 2025. This affidavit is not filed with the court. |
| Statewide forms that still matter | Certification for Exemption From E-filing, Application for Waiver of Court Fees for Civil Cases, and Appearance. Illinois courts must accept the approved statewide forms. |
Fees
McHenry County publishes a probate fee schedule. The figures below come from the Circuit Clerk's fee schedule revised October 1, 2025. The fee statute is 705 ILCS 105/27.1b, which lets county boards set circuit clerk fees by ordinance or resolution, so there is no single statewide Illinois probate filing fee.
| Fee item | Amount | Effective date |
|---|---|---|
| Open a decedent's estate | $364.00 | Fee schedule revised October 1, 2025 |
| Probate appearance | $189.00, but no fee for an appearance for consent or by an executor, administrator, administrator to collect, guardian, guardian ad litem or special administrator | Fee schedule revised October 1, 2025 |
| File a will | No fee | Fee schedule revised October 1, 2025 |
| Letters of office | $2.00 each | Fee schedule revised October 1, 2025 |
| Estate claim from $150.00 to $499.99 | $25.00 | Fee schedule revised October 1, 2025 |
| Estate claim from $500.00 to $9,999.00 | $40.00 | Fee schedule revised October 1, 2025 |
| Estate claim of $10,000.00 or more | $60.00 | Fee schedule revised October 1, 2025 |
| Interim account or final account | No fee | Fee schedule revised October 1, 2025 |
| Petition to reopen estate, 31 days or more after final judgment order | $75.00 | Fee schedule revised October 1, 2025 |
| Copies | $2.00 for the first page, $0.50 for pages 2 to 20, and $0.25 for pages 21 and after | Fee schedule revised October 1, 2025 |
| Certification | $6.00 extra per stamp or seal | Fee schedule revised October 1, 2025 |
Do not add the $189.00 probate appearance fee to the $364.00 opening fee for the person serving as executor or administrator, because the McHenry County schedule revised October 1, 2025 lists no appearance fee for that role. Publication charges and service charges are paid to the outside vendor or officer, not to the Circuit Clerk.
Timeline
- Before filing a paper with a court date, call the Circuit Clerk at (815) 334-4310. Courtroom 357 hears probate matters Monday through Friday at 9:30 a.m., and other matters are specially set by the court.
- File anything to be presented in open court at least seven days before the presentation date, so the judge has time to review it under the Courtroom 357 standing order.
- An e-filing received before midnight on a day the Circuit Clerk's office is open is treated as filed that day. An e-filing sent on a day the office is closed is treated as filed the next business day under Local Rule 21.12(C). The counters close at 4:30 p.m.
- For an uncontested new estate, after the petition and affidavit of heirship are filed and any original will is handled through Room 136, the proposed order, oath and bond may be emailed to the Civil Division proposed orders address with a short cover email under the Courtroom 357 standing order.
- An agreed order should reach the court at least two court days, meaning forty-eight hours, before a setting. A proposed order after a hearing should be emailed within twenty-four hours under the Courtroom 357 standing order.
- The creditor claims date must be at least six months from the first publication or three months from mailing, whichever is later, under 755 ILCS 5/18-3.
- If a claim is filed, Local Rule 14.09 says the clerk sets a claim call no less than 60 days from the claim filing, and the representative must notify the other parties at least 30 days before that call. The named executor's separate 30 day duty to open a case or decline is under 755 ILCS 5/6-3.
- A verified account is due within 60 days after the first anniversary of the issuance of letters of office, then annually. In independent administration under Article XXVIII, a verified status report is due each year within 30 days after the anniversary of the order granting independent administration.
- Notice of a final account hearing goes out at least seven days ahead, with the account attached, and proof of notice is filed with the clerk on or before the hearing under Local Rule 14.07.
- An estate with no activity for a year can be moved to the inactive docket under Local Rule 14.27.
Local nuance
McHenry County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for a McHenry County estate |
|---|---|
| Single-county circuit | The Twenty-second Judicial Circuit is McHenry County only. There is no circuit headquarters county to choose from and no branch filing location for estates. |
| Courtroom 357 opening process | For an uncontested new decedent estate, the standing order allows the petition and affidavit of heirship to be filed, the original will to be filed in Room 136 if there is one, and proposed orders, oaths and bonds to be emailed to the Civil Division proposed orders address with a cover email. The court may enter, modify or decline the proposed order. |
| Self-representation warning | The Courtroom 357 standing order tells parties who want to represent themselves in opening an estate that current Illinois law requires the involvement of an attorney, citing In re Estate of Mattson, 2019 IL App (1st) 180805. |
| Will contests | Local Rule 14.01(B) assigns will contests, contracts to make a will, will-construction actions and testamentary trustee matters to a chancery case number, though the probate judge assigned to the estate normally hears the matter unless the presiding judge orders otherwise. |
| Safe deposit boxes | Local Rule 14.05 requires safe deposit box disclosure in the petition and inventory, with an itemized statement of contents. |
| Annual reporting | Local Rule 14.06 requires annual accounts, and an independent representative under Article XXVIII also files an annual status report. |
Small-estate Alternatives
McHenry County has a local small-estate convenience that many Illinois counties do not publish: the Circuit Clerk provides its own Small Estate Affidavit form, form PR-AFF2, revised August 15, 2025, and a plain-language brochure revised August 15, 2025.
The affidavit is not filed with the court and carries no court filing fee. It is presented to the bank, transfer agent or other holder of the asset. For an out-of-state affiant, the McHenry County form includes the Illinois agent for service paragraph required by 755 ILCS 5/25-1. Use the Illinois small estate rules on the state page to decide whether this route fits before using the county form.
Recent updates
| Change | What changed locally |
|---|---|
| McHenry County Circuit Clerk fee schedule revised October 1, 2025 | The current published schedule sets the decedent-estate filing fee at $364.00, letters of office at $2.00 each, no fee to file a will, no fee for interim or final accounts, no appearance fee for an executor or administrator, and estate claim fees of $25.00, $40.00 and $60.00 by claim size, all per the schedule revised October 1, 2025. |
| Prairie State Legal Services office move | Prairie State states that the office serving McHenry County is moving from Woodstock and will reopen as the McHenry Office on Tuesday, September 8, at 3929 Mercy Drive, Unit B, in McHenry. |
| 22nd Circuit remote appearance rule effective April 1, 2023 | Part 22.00 names probate as a civil case type, points parties to the assigned judge's standing order, and states which dates need a judge's order before remote appearance is allowed. |
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely McHenry County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | If the home and accounts pass by joint ownership, transfer-on-death direction or beneficiary designation, those assets may not need a McHenry County estate. If anything is in the decedent's sole name, file the original will in Room 136, e-file the petition through eFileIL, and use the county's local probate forms. Opening a decedent's estate costs $364.00, per the fee schedule revised October 1, 2025, and the executor's own appearance has no fee under that same schedule. | Sunset identifies titled assets and accounts, separates nonprobate transfers from assets needing letters of office under 755 ILCS 5, and prepares the estate settlement handoff for a McHenry County attorney if the estate must be opened. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | If no estate is opened, McHenry County provides a local small estate affidavit form and brochure, both revised August 15, 2025. The affidavit is not filed with the court. If an estate must be opened, the petition is e-filed, the original will must reach the Room 136 process, proposed orders may be emailed under the Courtroom 357 standing order, and many hearings can be handled by Zoom when the standing order allows it. | Sunset helps determine whether the family is dealing with court probate or a noncourt affidavit process, organizes accounts and debts, and flags the out-of-state service paragraph in the McHenry County affidavit. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate where a home must be sold | A house in the decedent's sole name usually means someone needs letters of office under 755 ILCS 5. Open the estate with the McHenry County Circuit Clerk, disclose any safe deposit box under Local Rule 14.05, publish the claims notice once a week for three weeks, and wait out the claims date required by 755 ILCS 5/18-3. Certified letters of office are $2.00 each, per the fee schedule revised October 1, 2025. Before closing, file receipts, the final account and the verified final report required by Local Rule 14.13. | Sunset builds the asset list, helps gather title and account information for attorney review, and helps the family track estate settlement tasks through sale, claims, accounting and closing. |
Self-help resources
| Help option | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| McHenry County Circuit Clerk | Filing office for estates, original wills, local probate forms, fees, court dates and copies. Staff can give procedural information but not legal advice. | 2200 N. Seminary Avenue, Rooms 136 and 353, Woodstock. (815) 334-4190. [email protected]. https://www.mchenrycircuitclerk.org/ |
| McHenry County Circuit Clerk probate page | Local forms for estates with a will, estates without a will, closing an estate, and the small estate affidavit form and brochure. | https://www.mchenrycircuitclerk.org/court-information/probate/ |
| McHenry County Circuit Clerk fee schedule | Fee schedule revised October 1, 2025, including the $364.00 estate filing fee, $2.00 letters of office, claim tiers and copy charges, all per that October 1, 2025 schedule. | https://www.mchenrycircuitclerk.org/court-information/court-fees/ |
| McHenry County Legal Self-Help Center | Procedural information, computers and access to online court forms. The center is a collaboration between the Twenty-second Judicial Circuit and Prairie State Legal Services. Staff cannot give legal advice. | Room 346, Michael J. Sullivan Judicial Center. (815) 334-0317. [email protected]. Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. |
| McHenry County Law Library | Printed materials and public computers for Illinois and federal legal information. The law librarian cannot give legal advice. | Room 344, Michael J. Sullivan Judicial Center. (815) 334-4166. [email protected]. 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. |
| Prairie State Legal Services, McHenry County office | Free civil legal aid for eligible low-income people and seniors. Confirm whether it can assist with the estate issue before relying on it. Prairie State states that the Woodstock office is moving and will reopen as the McHenry Office on Tuesday, September 8, at 3929 Mercy Drive, Unit B, in McHenry. | Current listing: 400 Russel Court, Woodstock, IL 60098. (815) 344-9113. Toll free (877) 480-3020. https://pslegal.org/our-offices |
| McHenry County Bar Association Attorney Help Desk | Free consultations with volunteer attorneys on Monday mornings. | Second floor Rotunda of the courthouse, Monday 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. (815) 338-9559. Listed at https://www.mchenrycircuitclerk.org/court-information/legal-self-help/ |
| Illinois Legal Aid Online estate guide | Statewide plain-language guide on settling an estate after someone dies. | https://www.illinoislegalaid.org/legal-information/how-do-i-settle-estate-after-someone-dies |
| Illinois Courts approved statewide standardized forms | Forms every Illinois court must accept, including Certification for Exemption From E-filing, Application for Waiver of Court Fees for Civil Cases and Appearance. There is no statewide decedent-estate form set. | https://www.illinoiscourts.gov/documents-and-forms/approved-forms/ |
| eFileIL | Statewide electronic filing system for McHenry County probate filings, except original wills. | https://efile.illinoiscourts.gov/ |
| 22nd Judicial Circuit local court rules | Local rules for McHenry County practice, including Part 14 on probate proceedings, Part 21 on e-filing and Part 22 on remote appearances. | https://www.mchenrycircuitclerk.org/court-information/local-court-rules/ |
| McHenry County remote appearance information | Courtroom Zoom information and a Zoom check-in tool for participants. | https://www.mchenrycircuitclerk.org/court-information/remote-appearance-options/ |
When to hire an attorney
McHenry County has a real local reason to plan for counsel. The standing order for Courtroom 357, the courtroom that hears McHenry County probate, tells people who want to represent themselves in opening an estate that current Illinois law requires the involvement of an attorney, citing In re Estate of Mattson, 2019 IL App (1st) 180805. Treat that as the courtroom's published instruction, not as a statewide statute, and read the standing order before paying the filing fee. Counsel also matters when a house must be sold, a will contest is filed as a separate chancery case under Local Rule 14.01(B), a claim is set on the claim call, or annual accounts and final closing papers must satisfy Part 14. Sunset connects families to a vetted Illinois probate attorney serving McHenry County.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions to help identify accounts, policies and other assets before a McHenry County estate settlement plan is built.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset helps organize the information needed for McHenry County's local probate forms, including the petition, affidavit of heirship, oath and bond, proposed order, notices and closing documents.
Find a local probate attorney. McHenry County's Courtroom 357 standing order tells families to expect attorney involvement when opening a decedent's estate. Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Illinois probate attorney serving McHenry County.
Sunset is free for families. Sunset's estate settlement tools help families understand assets, next steps, local filing requirements and attorney options without charging the family for access.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in McHenry County?
File with the McHenry County Circuit Clerk at the Michael J. Sullivan Judicial Center, 2200 N. Seminary Avenue, Woodstock, IL 60098. 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 personal estate (755 ILCS 5/5-1).
Do I have to e-file a McHenry County probate case?
Yes. Probate is a civil case, so e-filing through eFileIL is required under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(a), including for self-represented filers unless a Rule 9(d) exemption applies. McHenry County provides public e-filing stations outside Rooms 136 and 353 during regular business hours.
What do I do with the original will in McHenry County?
Take the original will to the Circuit Clerk's Civil customer service windows in Room 136. Original wills cannot be e-filed under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(c)(1) and 22nd Circuit Local Rule 21.03. There is no fee to file a will, per the fee schedule revised October 1, 2025.
How much does it cost to open an estate in McHenry County?
The filing fee to open a decedent's estate is $364.00, per the Circuit Clerk fee schedule revised October 1, 2025. The same schedule revised October 1, 2025 lists letters of office at $2.00 each and no fee for the executor's or administrator's own appearance.
Are there McHenry County probate forms?
Yes. The Circuit Clerk publishes local forms for estates with a will, estates without a will, closing an estate and a small estate affidavit. The forms are online and are also provided at Room 136.
When is the probate call in McHenry County?
Courtroom 357 hears probate matters Monday through Friday at 9:30 a.m. Before filing a notice, summons or other paper that carries a court date, call the Circuit Clerk at (815) 334-4310 to select and confirm the date.
Can I appear by Zoom in a McHenry County probate case?
Often, yes. Local Rule 22.07 names probate as a civil case type, and the Courtroom 357 standing order allows Zoom for uncontested evidentiary hearings and for contested or uncontested motions based on pleadings. Hearings where evidence will be presented, settlement conferences and trials need a judge's order before anyone appears remotely.
How do I look up a McHenry County estate case?
Use the county's free public case information portal at https://caseinfo.mchenrycountyil.gov/pca. The public portal gives basic case information, not online court documents. If the estate does not appear, call the Circuit Clerk at (815) 334-4190.
Do I need a lawyer to open an estate in McHenry County?
Plan for one. The standing order for Courtroom 357 tells self-represented parties that current Illinois law requires an attorney's involvement in opening an estate, citing In re Estate of Mattson, 2019 IL App (1st) 180805. Read the standing order and confirm the current practice before filing.
Do I have to travel to Woodstock for estate settlement?
Many steps can be handled through eFileIL, email submission of proposed orders under the Courtroom 357 standing order, and Zoom when allowed. The original will still has to reach the Circuit Clerk's Room 136 counter process, and the judge can require in-person attendance for particular dates.
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.