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Monroe County, IL Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Monroe County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Circuit Court of the Twenty-fourth Judicial Circuit, Monroe County. Probate is handled as a civil case category through the Clerk of the Circuit Court, not through a separate probate division. |
| Courthouse | Monroe County Courthouse, 100 S. Main St., Room 115, Waterloo, IL 62298. |
| Mailing address | Clerk of the Circuit Court of Monroe County, 100 S. Main St., Waterloo, IL 62298. Call before mailing an original will. |
| Phone | Main office: 618-939-8681 ext. 224. For probate and will questions, the clerk directs callers to the deputy clerk handling PR Probate and WI Wills at ext. 274. |
| Fax | 618-939-1929. Fax is not an e-filing channel. |
| [email protected] | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. No separate lunch closure or filing cutoff is posted. |
| Filing fee | Opening a decedent's estate is $376.00 effective January 1, 2022. A probate appearance is $201.00 effective January 1, 2022. Filing a will alone is $0 under 755 ILCS 5/6-1. |
| Letters of office | Certified letters of office under 755 ILCS 5 are $2.00 each effective January 1, 2022. |
| Local forms | The Monroe County Circuit Clerk does not publish a county probate packet. The Twenty-fourth Judicial Circuit publishes probate forms, including Letters of Office for a decedent's estate and a small estate affidavit under 755 ILCS 5/25-1. |
| E-filing | Probate petitions are filed through eFileIL. Original wills may not be e-filed under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(c)(1) and are handled on paper. |
| Case search | Judici is the case-search tool linked by the clerk: https://www.judici.com/courts/cases/case_search.jsp?court=IL067015J. If an estate does not appear, call the Circuit Clerk. |
| Remote appearance | Available only with the assigned judge's advance approval. The request goes through the Circuit Clerk and must be made in writing five working days before the hearing, with notice to the opposing party. |
| Website | https://www.circuitclerk.monroecountyil.gov/ and https://monroecountyil.gov/departments/circuit-clerk/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Monroe County, inventory what the person owned, how each asset is titled, what debts exist, and whether an original will is in hand. The courthouse step depends on that asset picture: some families need only an outside-court transfer tool, while others need letters of office under 755 ILCS 5 to sell property, collect accounts, or resolve claims.
Sunset's estate settlement process starts with asset discovery across more than 2,300 institutions, then organizes the information a Monroe County filing or attorney review will require. That makes the e-filing, original will delivery, fee payment and notice steps easier to plan before anyone goes to Room 115 in Waterloo.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Monroe County Circuit Clerk serves the whole county from the courthouse in Waterloo. The court sources name Waterloo as the county seat and identify Columbia in the county court calendar, but probate venue is not based on a city list. File in Monroe County when Monroe County is the proper county under Illinois venue law.
Illinois probate venue is a county rule. The proceeding belongs in the circuit court of the county where the decedent resided, or if there was no known Illinois residence, the county with the greater part of the Illinois real estate, or if neither applies, the county with the greater part of the personal estate (755 ILCS 5/5-1). Monroe shares the Twenty-fourth Judicial Circuit with Randolph, Washington and Perry Counties, but that shared circuit does not let you file a Monroe County estate at another county courthouse.
Twenty-fourth Judicial Circuit Rule 4-1 says court proceedings are held in the county courthouse of each county unless the resident judge orders otherwise. For a Monroe County estate, that points to the Monroe County Courthouse in Waterloo.
The jurisdiction process
Identify the local path and gather the papers. Decide whether the estate needs a court case or whether an outside-court tool such as a small estate affidavit under 755 ILCS 5/25-1 may be enough. If there is a will, locate the original. If the will is handwritten or in another language, follow Twenty-fourth Judicial Circuit Rule 11-2 for the required typed copy, affidavit or translator certification.
Prepare the petition and supporting documents. Monroe County does not provide a complete probate packet. Use the Twenty-fourth Judicial Circuit's limited probate forms where they fit, and prepare the petition to admit the will or request administration, heirship materials, bond, proposed orders and any appearance documents needed for the case.
File with the Monroe County Circuit Clerk. Probate petitions are e-filed through eFileIL. File in Monroe County if venue belongs there under 755 ILCS 5/5-1. The Circuit Clerk is in Room 115 of the Monroe County Courthouse, 100 S. Main St., Waterloo.
Handle the original will on paper. An original will cannot be e-filed under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(c)(1). It is delivered to the Circuit Clerk during regular business hours, and Rule 9(e) allows paper delivery in person, by mail, or by carrier for documents that cannot be e-filed. Call the clerk before mailing an original will. Filing a will alone is $0 under 755 ILCS 5/6-1.
Pay the local fees. The Monroe County schedule lists $376.00 to open a decedent's estate effective January 1, 2022, and $201.00 for a probate appearance effective January 1, 2022. Certified letters of office under 755 ILCS 5 are $2.00 each effective January 1, 2022.
Give notice and request a hearing when required. Follow the Probate Act and the court's orders for interested-person notice. Creditor notice is published once each week for 3 successive weeks and mailed or delivered to known or reasonably ascertainable creditors, with the claim date set under 755 ILCS 5/18-3. For motions, Twenty-fourth Judicial Circuit Rule 5-1(c) generally requires hearing notice to be served no later than five business days before the hearing.
Ask early if you need to appear remotely. Twenty-fourth Judicial Circuit Rule 4-4 requires the assigned judge's approval for every remote appearance. Contact the Circuit Clerk for access information, then make the written request five working days before the hearing with notice to the opposing party. The Circuit Clerk cannot approve the request.
Obtain authority from the clerk. After appointment, the clerk issues letters of office under 755 ILCS 5. These letters are the document banks, title companies and other institutions usually ask to see before they will deal with the executor or administrator.
Administer the estate and watch the Monroe County status dates. Collect assets, deal with claims, sell or transfer property when authorized, and keep beneficiaries informed. Independent administration under Article XXVIII still receives a fourteen-month status date under Twenty-fourth Judicial Circuit Rule 11-9, and Rule 11-8 sets accounting expectations.
Close the estate. When assets are collected, valid claims and expenses are handled, distributions are ready, and any required account or report is complete, submit the closing papers or final orders the court requires. If the estate has been inactive for at least a year, Rule 11-7 allows the court to set a dormant estate for status.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Monroe County
Monroe County has a two-part forms answer. The Monroe County Circuit Clerk does not publish a county probate packet, county petition to admit a will, county inventory, accounting form, claim form, or probate cover sheet. The Twenty-fourth Judicial Circuit does publish probate forms that apply in Monroe County.
| Form or form source | How it is used in Monroe County |
|---|---|
| Twenty-fourth Judicial Circuit probate forms | The circuit forms page includes Letters of Office for a decedent's estate and a small estate affidavit under 755 ILCS 5/25-1. URL: https://24thcircuit.illinoiscourts.gov/forms/ |
| Letters of Office, decedent's estate | This is the authority document the clerk issues after appointment. It is not the petition that starts the case. URL: https://24thcircuit.illinoiscourts.gov/wp-content/uploads/ver2_Form-Letters-of-Office-Decedents-Estate.pdf |
| Small estate affidavit under 755 ILCS 5/25-1 | The affidavit is used with the bank, transfer agent, or other holder of personal property. It is not filed to open a Monroe County court case. URL: https://24thcircuit.illinoiscourts.gov/wp-content/uploads/Small-Estate-Affidavit.pdf |
| Illinois Courts approved forms | The approved forms include general civil forms such as Appearance, Fee Waiver for Civil Cases, and Certification for Exemption From E-Filing. They do not include an estate petition, inventory, accounting, or closing form for a decedent's estate. URL: https://www.illinoiscourts.gov/documents-and-forms/approved-forms/ |
Twenty-fourth Judicial Circuit Rule 11-2 adds local requirements for wills. A handwritten will needs a typewritten copy and an affidavit of accuracy. A will in another language needs a typewritten English copy and a qualified translator's certification. Other petitions to admit a will must attach a copy of the will.
Fees
The Monroe County Circuit Clerk publishes a probate fee schedule. The amounts below are the local amounts to budget for a court case, separate from newspaper publication charges, attorney fees and institution fees that may arise during estate settlement.
| Fee item | Amount and date |
|---|---|
| Open a decedent's estate, PR case | $376.00 effective January 1, 2022 |
| Probate appearance | $201.00 effective January 1, 2022 |
| Construction of will | $276.00 effective January 1, 2022 |
| Certified letters of office under 755 ILCS 5 | $2.00 each effective January 1, 2022 |
| Jury demand | $137.50 effective January 1, 2022 |
| Estate claim, $1.00 to $149.99 | $0.00 effective January 1, 2022 |
| Estate claim, $150.00 to $499.99 | $25.00 effective January 1, 2022 |
| Estate claim, $500.00 to $9,999.99 | $40.00 effective January 1, 2022 |
| Estate claim, $10,000.00 and up | $60.00 effective January 1, 2022 |
| Copy charges | $2.00 for page 1, $0.50 for each page from page 2 through page 20, and $0.25 for page 21 and later, all effective January 1, 2022 |
| Certified document other than a judgment, copies additional | $6.00 effective January 1, 2022 |
| Authenticated document, copies additional | $6.00 effective January 1, 2022 |
| Certified mail, per envelope | $15.00 effective January 1, 2022 |
Filing a will alone is $0 under 755 ILCS 5/6-1. If you are opening an estate, confirm the current amount with the Circuit Clerk before submitting payment.
Local nuance
Monroe County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means in Monroe County |
|---|---|
| Written bond | Twenty-fourth Judicial Circuit Rule 11-4(b) requires the representative's bond to be in writing and signed by the representative even when security is excused by the will or by the Probate Act. |
| Fourteen-month status date | For independent administration under Article XXVIII, Rule 11-9 requires a status date fourteen months after the order granting independent administration. Rule 11-8 also calls for the first account within fourteen months after letters issue unless the court orders otherwise. |
| Remote appearance request | Rule 4-4 requires advance approval from the assigned judge. A party requests remote appearance through the Circuit Clerk and makes a written request five working days before the hearing with notice to the opposing party. |
| Original will handling | Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(c)(1) bars e-filing an original will. Twenty-fourth Judicial Circuit Rule 4-2 says documents that cannot be e-filed are filed during the regular business hours of the Circuit Clerk in the county where they are filed. |
| Public access terminal | The Circuit Clerk maintains a terminal in the courthouse Law Library next to the clerk's office for case lookup, e-filing and Zoom access. Staff can set up the camera and microphone, and people using it for a hearing are asked to arrive 15 to 20 minutes early. |
| Heirship paperwork | Rule 11-3 allows heirship to be proved by testimony or affidavit and requires a separate proposed Order Declaring Heirship when the affidavit is filed. |
| Handwritten or non-English will | Rule 11-2 requires a typewritten copy and affidavit of accuracy for a handwritten will, and a typewritten English copy with a qualified translator's certification for a will in another language. |
Recent updates
| Update | What changed for Monroe County families |
|---|---|
| Move to the Twenty-fourth Judicial Circuit | On December 5, 2022, Monroe County became part of the Twenty-fourth Judicial Circuit with Randolph, Washington and Perry Counties. Probate filings still go to the Monroe County Circuit Clerk in Waterloo, but the Twenty-fourth Judicial Circuit rules now govern local practice. |
| Twenty-fourth Judicial Circuit Rules of Practice | The circuit's rules took effect December 5, 2022. Rule 11 governs probate cases, including the written bond rule, the fourteen-month accounting timing and the fourteen-month independent administration status date under Article XXVIII. |
| Remote appearance rule | The circuit's Rule 4-4 now requires advance approval for every remote appearance. A party requests access through the Circuit Clerk and makes a written request five working days before the hearing with notice to the opposing party. |
| Current clerk fee schedule | The Monroe County Circuit Clerk schedule effective January 1, 2022 lists $376.00 to open a decedent's estate, $201.00 for a probate appearance and $2.00 for each certified letters of office under 755 ILCS 5. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Persona | Local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse w/ co-owned home | First confirm the deed and account titles. If the home passes outside a court estate, the spouse may not need Monroe County letters of office under 755 ILCS 5 for that asset. If a sole-name asset remains or the home must be sold through the estate, file the PR case with the Monroe County Circuit Clerk in Waterloo. | Sunset helps identify accounts, title issues and debts so the spouse can see whether a full estate settlement is needed before paying the $376.00 filing fee effective January 1, 2022. |
| Out-of-state adult child w/ small estate | If the assets fit the small estate affidavit under 755 ILCS 5/25-1 and no court appointment is needed, the affidavit is used with the bank or institution rather than filed as a Monroe County case. If a court case is needed, the petition is e-filed, and any remote appearance requires the assigned judge's advance approval under Rule 4-4. | Sunset organizes asset information, helps prepare for the affidavit or filing decision, and flags when the child should ask the Circuit Clerk about remote appearance timing before travel plans are made. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale of a solely owned Monroe County home usually points to a court estate so an executor or administrator can receive letters of office under 755 ILCS 5. File in Waterloo, budget for the $376.00 filing fee effective January 1, 2022, and plan around notice, bond and the circuit's status rules. | Sunset helps gather mortgage, tax, account and creditor information, then connects the family with probate counsel when a real estate sale or court approval issue needs attorney handling. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Monroe County Circuit Clerk | Filing office for Monroe County estates, original wills and certified letters of office under 755 ILCS 5. The office takes filings and provides remote appearance access information, but it does not give legal advice. | 100 S. Main St., Room 115, Waterloo, IL 62298. 618-939-8681 ext. 224. Probate and will questions: ext. 274. [email protected]. https://www.circuitclerk.monroecountyil.gov/ |
| Twenty-fourth Judicial Circuit Rules of Practice | Rules for Monroe, Randolph, Washington and Perry Counties, including Rule 11 for probate, Rule 4-2 for documents that cannot be e-filed, and Rule 4-4 for remote appearances. | https://24thcircuit.illinoiscourts.gov/wp-content/uploads/23-11-Gen-Admin-CLEAN-Rules-of-Practice-4-4-for-24th-Judicial-Circuit.pdf |
| Twenty-fourth Judicial Circuit probate forms | Limited circuit probate forms, including Letters of Office for a decedent's estate and a small estate affidavit under 755 ILCS 5/25-1. | https://24thcircuit.illinoiscourts.gov/forms/ |
| Land of Lincoln Legal Aid, Central Regional Office | Free civil legal help for eligible lower-income Monroe County residents. The office serving Monroe County is in East St. Louis. | Dorothy O. Cook Community Law Center, 8787 State Street, Suite 101, East St. Louis, IL 62203. Office phone: 618-398-0958. Statewide line: 877-342-7891. https://lincolnlegal.org/locations/ |
| Illinois Legal Aid Online | Plain-language guidance on settling an estate and using the small estate affidavit under 755 ILCS 5/25-1. | https://www.illinoislegalaid.org/legal-information/how-do-i-settle-estate-after-someone-dies and https://www.illinoislegalaid.org/legal-information/small-estate-affidavit |
| Illinois Courts approved forms | General civil forms such as Appearance, Fee Waiver for Civil Cases and Certification for Exemption From E-Filing. The approved form collection does not include a decedent-estate petition. | https://www.illinoiscourts.gov/documents-and-forms/approved-forms/ |
| eFileIL | Electronic filing system for Monroe County civil probate filings. The original will is handled separately on paper under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(c)(1). | https://efile.illinoiscourts.gov/ |
| Illinois Free Legal Answers | Online civil legal question service for eligible Illinois residents. | https://il.freelegalanswers.org/ |
| Illinois Supreme Court Access to Justice | Self-represented litigant resources and access-to-justice information. | https://atjil.org/ |
When to hire an attorney
Counsel usually makes sense when a Monroe County estate must sell real estate, publish creditor notice, deal with a contested heirship issue, request supervised administration, respond to a claim, or keep an independent administration under Article XXVIII on track for the circuit's fourteen-month status date. A small estate affidavit under 755 ILCS 5/25-1 is outside the court process, but a full estate filing asks the executor or administrator to act for heirs, beneficiaries and creditors. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions so the family can start estate settlement with a clearer picture of accounts, balances and transfer issues.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset helps organize the information needed for the Monroe County filing, including the people, assets, debts and documents an attorney or representative will need for letters of office under 755 ILCS 5.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate needs court administration, a sale of real estate, creditor work, or a contested issue, Sunset can connect the family with Illinois probate counsel familiar with county-level filing steps.
Sunset is free for families. Sunset's estate settlement support is designed to help families move from uncertainty to an organized plan without adding another upfront cost.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Monroe County?
File with the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Monroe County at the Monroe County Courthouse, 100 S. Main St., Room 115, Waterloo, IL 62298. Venue is by county under 755 ILCS 5/5-1, so a Monroe County estate is not filed in Randolph, Washington, or Perry County just because those counties share the Twenty-fourth Judicial Circuit.
Does Monroe County have a separate probate division?
No. Monroe County probate is handled as a PR case category on the civil side of the Circuit Court. The Circuit Clerk's office is the filing office for petitions, original wills, and certified letters of office under 755 ILCS 5.
Can I e-file a Monroe County probate case?
Yes. Probate petitions are civil filings through eFileIL. An original will is different: Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(c)(1) says original wills may not be e-filed, so the paper original goes to the Circuit Clerk during regular business hours. Rule 9(e) allows a paper document that cannot be e-filed to be delivered in person, by mail, or by carrier, but call the clerk before mailing an original will.
How much does it cost to open a Monroe County estate?
The Monroe County Circuit Clerk's schedule lists $376.00 to open a decedent's estate effective January 1, 2022, plus a $201.00 appearance fee effective January 1, 2022. Certified letters of office under 755 ILCS 5 are $2.00 each effective January 1, 2022. Filing a will alone is $0 under 755 ILCS 5/6-1.
Are Monroe County probate hearings remote?
Only if the assigned judge approves. Twenty-fourth Judicial Circuit Rule 4-4 requires a written request through the Circuit Clerk five working days before the hearing, with notice to the opposing party. The Circuit Clerk provides access information, but the clerk cannot authorize the remote appearance.
Do I have to travel to Waterloo if I live outside Illinois?
Not always. Many documents can be prepared and e-filed, and the circuit allows a judge-approved remote appearance. If the judge does not approve remote attendance, if testimony is required, or if the original will must be delivered, someone may need to handle the Waterloo courthouse step.
Where can I look up a Monroe County probate case?
The Circuit Clerk links Monroe County case search and the daily docket through Judici at court code IL067015J. Judici may not show every case a family expects to find, so call the Circuit Clerk if an estate does not appear.
Does Monroe County have probate forms?
The county clerk does not provide a complete probate packet. The Twenty-fourth Judicial Circuit provides limited probate forms, including Letters of Office for a decedent's estate and a small estate affidavit under 755 ILCS 5/25-1. Illinois Courts approved forms do not include a petition to admit a will or petition for letters of office.
What local deadline should an independent representative remember?
For independent administration under Article XXVIII, Twenty-fourth Judicial Circuit Rule 11-9 requires a status date fourteen months after the order granting independent administration. Rule 11-8 also puts the first account on a fourteen-month timeline unless the court orders otherwise.
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.