Back to Illinois
Moultrie County, IL Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Moultrie County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Circuit Court of the Sixth Judicial Circuit, Moultrie County |
| Filing office | Moultrie County Circuit Clerk, Moultrie County Courthouse, 10 South Main Street, Suite 7, Sullivan, IL 61951 |
| Mailing address | 10 South Main Street, Suite 7, Sullivan, IL 61951 |
| Phone | (217) 728-4622 |
| Fax | (217) 728-7833 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Filing fee | Administration of an Estate (PR) is $276 and an entry of appearance is $201 under the Moultrie County Circuit Clerk Fee Schedule 2022, set within the fee framework of 705 ILCS 105/27.1b. Call the Circuit Clerk to confirm the current amount before filing. |
| Will-only filing | The Fee Schedule 2022 lists Filing of a Will with no fee to deposit the will alone under 755 ILCS 5/6-1. |
| Local forms | No Moultrie County decedent-estate petition, oath, inventory, account or small-estate form is published by the Circuit Clerk. |
| E-filing | E-filing is required in Illinois civil cases, including probate, for filers with and without a lawyer under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(a). A self-represented filer who cannot e-file may use the Certification for Exemption From E-filing under Rule 9(d). An original will cannot be e-filed and must be delivered or mailed to the Circuit Clerk under Rule 9(c)(1). |
| Case lookup | Moultrie County uses Judici at https://www.judici.com/courts/cases/case_search.jsp?court=IL070015J. The public index may not show every probate filing or document. |
| Remote appearance | Sixth Judicial Circuit Local Rule 2.8 governs remote proceedings. Call the Circuit Clerk at (217) 728-4622 to ask whether a specific probate hearing may be handled remotely. |
| Website | https://www.moultrieco.org/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before opening a Moultrie County probate case, make a working list of the decedent's accounts, real estate, vehicles, debts, funeral expenses and likely heirs or legatees. That first inventory helps you decide whether the estate needs letters of office under 755 ILCS 5/6-8 or Article IX, whether the original will must be delivered to the Circuit Clerk, and what information the petition must include.
Sunset can support that early estate settlement work by searching across more than 2,300 financial institutions for account and asset clues. That can help you avoid filing in Moultrie County before you know what property exists, who must receive notice, and whether a real estate sale or creditor issue will require attorney help.
Which court handles jurisdiction
One courthouse serves Moultrie County probate filings: the Moultrie County Courthouse at 10 South Main Street, Suite 7, in Sullivan. File with the Moultrie County Circuit Clerk when the Illinois venue rule points to Moultrie County. Venue starts with the county where the decedent had a known place of residence, then the county holding the greater part of the real estate, then the county holding the greater part of the personal estate (755 ILCS 5/5-1).
Moultrie County sits in the Sixth Judicial Circuit with Champaign, Douglas, Macon, DeWitt and Piatt Counties. That shared circuit does not move a Moultrie County estate to another county in the circuit. A Moultrie County estate settlement is filed in Sullivan unless the venue rule points to a different county.
The local self-help center listings for Moultrie County include library locations in Arthur, Bethany and Lovington, but probate filing itself remains with the Circuit Clerk in Sullivan.
The jurisdiction process
- Identify the right county before filing. Use Illinois venue rules to decide whether Moultrie County is the proper county: known residence first, then the greater part of real estate, then the greater part of personal estate (755 ILCS 5/5-1).
- File the original will with the Moultrie County Circuit Clerk if there is one. Anyone holding the will must file it immediately after death (755 ILCS 5/6-1). The original will cannot be e-filed under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(c)(1), so deliver or mail it to 10 South Main Street, Suite 7, Sullivan, IL 61951. The Moultrie County Circuit Clerk Fee Schedule 2022 lists Filing of a Will with no fee shown for depositing the will alone.
- Prepare the petition and supporting papers. The petition asks the Circuit Court of the Sixth Judicial Circuit, Moultrie County, to admit the will, if any, determine heirship under 755 ILCS 5/5-3, and issue letters of office under 755 ILCS 5/6-8 or Article IX. If the will is handwritten or not in English, follow Sixth Judicial Circuit Local Rule 5.1 for the typewritten copy, affidavit or translator certification.
- E-file the petition unless you have an exemption. Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(a) requires e-filing in civil cases, including probate. A self-represented filer who cannot e-file may file the statewide Certification for Exemption From E-filing under Rule 9(d). Use eFileIL or the free Odyssey eFileIL option.
- Pay the local filing fee. The Moultrie County Circuit Clerk Fee Schedule 2022 lists Administration of an Estate (PR) at $276 and entry of appearance at $201 under 705 ILCS 105/27.1b. Call (217) 728-4622 to confirm the current amount before filing.
- Complete the hearing and appointment steps. If the court grants the petition, Illinois generally grants independent administration under Article XXVIII unless the will forbids it or an interested person objects (755 ILCS 5/28-2). The representative must take the oath and address bond under 755 ILCS 5/12-2 before acting.
- Obtain letters of office. After appointment, the clerk issues letters of office under 755 ILCS 5/6-8 for an executor under a will or under Article IX for an administrator. The Moultrie County Circuit Clerk Fee Schedule 2022 lists letters of office at $2.
- Give required notices. Within 14 days after the order admitting the will or appointing a representative, mail the petition and order to heirs and legatees whose addresses are stated, with publication if an address is not stated (755 ILCS 5/6-10).
- Publish the creditor notice and file proof. The representative publishes once each week for three successive weeks in a newspaper published in the county where the estate is being administered, then files proof with the clerk. 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).
- Administer and close the estate. Gather assets, prepare the inventory under Article XIV, handle claims and expenses, address any account filings, and close by account or independent administration procedures under Article XXVIII. The Moultrie County Circuit Clerk Fee Schedule 2022 lists filing each account other than final at $25 and final accounting with no fee shown.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Moultrie County
The Moultrie County Circuit Clerk does not publish a county decedent-estate packet for a petition, oath, inventory, account or small-estate affidavit. Illinois also has no statewide standardized decedent-estate form set, so the estate petition and related papers are usually prepared from the Illinois Probate Act of 1975 and local practice rather than downloaded from a county packet.
Statewide forms that still matter in Moultrie County probate include the Certification for Exemption From E-filing, the Application for Waiver of Court Fees for civil cases, and the Appearance. Every Illinois court must accept approved statewide standardized forms from the Illinois Courts forms page.
If the will is handwritten or in a language other than English, check Sixth Judicial Circuit Local Rule 5.1 before filing. A handwritten will needs a typewritten copy and an affidavit that the copy is true and correct. A will in another language needs a typewritten English copy and a qualified translator's certification.
Fees
The Moultrie County Circuit Clerk publishes a local Fee Schedule 2022 for probate filings. Because the schedule title gives the year 2022 but not a specific effective day, call the Circuit Clerk at (217) 728-4622 before filing to confirm the current amount. Circuit clerk fees are set under the Illinois circuit clerk fee statute, 705 ILCS 105/27.1b.
| Probate item | Fee Schedule 2022 amount |
|---|---|
| Administration of an Estate (PR) | $276 |
| Entry of appearance | $201 |
| Filing of a will | No fee listed |
| Filing of each account other than final | $25 |
| Final accounting | No fee listed |
| Claim from $150 to $499 | $25 |
| Claim from $500 to $9,999 | $40 |
| Claim of $10,000 and above | $60 |
| Appearance in estate, any other person | $201 |
| Appearance in estate, jury demand | $137.50 |
| Construction or contest of a will, enforcement of contract to make a will or appointment of testamentary trustees | $60 |
| Letters of office under 755 ILCS 5/6-8 or Article IX | $2 |
| Exemplification | $2 |
Local nuance
Moultrie County-specific considerations
Sixth Judicial Circuit Local Rule 5.1 adds practical requirements for unusual wills in Moultrie County probate. A handwritten will must be filed with a typewritten copy and an affidavit that the copy is true and correct. A will in a language other than English must be filed with a typewritten English copy and a qualified translator's certification that the translation is true and correct.
Sixth Judicial Circuit Local Rule 2.8 governs remote proceedings. The rule creates a remote-appearance pathway, but eligibility depends on the hearing and the judge. Call the Moultrie County Circuit Clerk before assuming a probate hearing can be handled remotely.
Recent updates
| Update | What changed | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Moultrie County Circuit Clerk Fee Schedule 2022 | The Circuit Clerk's schedule lists Administration of an Estate (PR) at $276, entry of appearance at $201, claim fees at $25, $40 and $60 by claim amount, letters of office under 755 ILCS 5/6-8 or Article IX at $2, and Filing of a Will with no fee shown. | https://www.moultrieco.org/fee-schedule |
| Sixth Judicial Circuit Local Rules effective August 1, 2025 | The current circuit rules include Rule 5.1 on handwritten and translated wills and Rule 2.8 on remote proceedings, and they repealed prior circuit rules. | https://www.sixthcircuitcourt.com/pdf/Local%20Rules%20of%20Circuit%20Court%202025.pdf |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Moultrie County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Property in joint tenancy or with a beneficiary designation may pass outside the probate case. If assets are in the decedent's sole name, the spouse e-files the petition and delivers or mails the original will to the Moultrie County Circuit Clerk because Rule 9(c)(1) bars e-filing an original will. The Fee Schedule 2022 lists Administration of an Estate (PR) at $276 and entry of appearance at $201. | Sunset helps identify accounts, ownership clues and beneficiary information before the spouse pays a filing fee or asks the court for letters of office under 755 ILCS 5/6-8. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | Much of the filing work can be handled from outside Illinois through eFileIL, and the Circuit Clerk can answer procedural questions at (217) 728-4622. The original will still must reach Sullivan by mail or in person. Sixth Judicial Circuit Local Rule 2.8 may allow remote participation for some hearings. | Sunset helps organize the asset list, debts and heir information so the child can decide whether court authority is needed or whether a simpler estate settlement route may work. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | Selling real estate usually requires a court-appointed representative with letters of office under 755 ILCS 5/6-8 or Article IX. The Moultrie County Circuit Clerk Fee Schedule 2022 lists Administration of an Estate (PR) at $276, each account other than final at $25, and claim fees at $25, $40 or $60 depending on the claim amount. The claims notice runs once a week for three weeks and opens the six-month claims period under 755 ILCS 5/18-3. | Sunset helps gather asset and debt details, then connects the parent with a vetted probate attorney if a sale, creditor issue or court dispute makes legal help important. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Website or contact |
|---|---|---|
| Moultrie County Circuit Clerk | Filing office for Moultrie County probate, local fee schedule, filing questions, case lookup direction and remote-appearance questions. | 10 South Main Street, Suite 7, Sullivan, IL 61951. Phone (217) 728-4622. Fax (217) 728-7833. Website: https://www.moultrieco.org/ |
| Moultrie County Legal Self-Help Center | Public library locations offer computers, internet access, online court forms and referrals. They provide legal information, not legal advice. | Arthur Public Library District, 225 S. Walnut St., Arthur, IL 61911, (217) 543-2037. Marrowbone Public Library, 216 W. Main St., Bethany, IL 61914, (217) 665-3014. Lovington Public Library, 110 W. State St., Lovington, IL 61937, (217) 873-4468. Website: https://www.illinoislegalaid.org/counties/Moultrie |
| Illinois Legal Aid Online, how do I settle an estate after someone dies | Plain-language statewide guide to estate settlement steps after a death. | 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, civil fee waiver application and Appearance. It does not include a decedent-estate form set. | https://www.illinoiscourts.gov/documents-and-forms/approved-forms/ |
| eFileIL | Statewide electronic filing system for Illinois civil cases, including probate, with the free Odyssey eFileIL option. | https://efile.illinoiscourts.gov/ and https://efileil.tylertech.cloud/ |
When to hire an attorney
A lawyer is especially useful in a Moultrie County estate settlement when a house or farmland must be sold, heirs disagree, a creditor files a claim, a will may be contested, or the representative needs court authority through letters of office under 755 ILCS 5/6-8 or Article IX. The Fee Schedule 2022 prices a construction or contest of a will at $60 and an appearance in an estate at $201, so a contested matter can add court costs as well as legal work. Sunset connects families with a vetted attorney when legal help is the right next step.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions to help families identify accounts, balances and asset clues before deciding whether a Moultrie County estate settlement needs court authority.
Generate the probate packet. When probate is needed, Sunset helps organize the information needed for a petition, heir and asset details, creditor information and the local filing steps for the Moultrie County Circuit Clerk.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate needs letters of office under 755 ILCS 5/6-8 or Article IX, a real estate sale, creditor work or a contested filing, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Illinois probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset's estate settlement tools without paying Sunset. If an attorney is needed, the attorney explains any legal fees directly.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file for probate in Moultrie County?
File with the Moultrie County Circuit Clerk at the Moultrie County Courthouse, 10 South Main Street, Suite 7, Sullivan, IL 61951. Illinois venue starts in the county where the decedent had a known place of residence, then moves to the county holding the greater part of the real estate, then the county holding the greater part of the personal estate (755 ILCS 5/5-1).
Do I have to e-file probate papers in Moultrie County?
Yes. E-filing is required in Illinois civil cases, including probate, for filers with and without a lawyer under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(a). If you cannot e-file, you may file the statewide Certification for Exemption From E-filing under 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 Moultrie County probate cost?
The Moultrie County Circuit Clerk Fee Schedule 2022 lists Administration of an Estate (PR) at $276 and entry of appearance at $201 under the fee framework of 705 ILCS 105/27.1b. Call (217) 728-4622 to confirm the current amount before filing.
Does it cost anything just to file a will in Moultrie County?
The Moultrie County Circuit Clerk Fee Schedule 2022 lists Filing of a Will with no fee shown for depositing the will alone. Anyone holding the will must file it immediately after death under 755 ILCS 5/6-1, and a person named as executor has 30 days from learning of the appointment to open a case or decline under 755 ILCS 5/6-3.
How do I look up a Moultrie County probate case?
Use Moultrie County's Judici case lookup at https://www.judici.com/courts/cases/case_search.jsp?court=IL070015J. The public index may not show every probate filing or document, so call the Circuit Clerk if you need help with a specific estate.
Are there local probate forms in Moultrie County?
No Moultrie County decedent-estate petition, oath, inventory, account or small-estate affidavit form is published by the Circuit Clerk. The Illinois Courts approved statewide forms page does provide related forms such as the Certification for Exemption From E-filing, the civil fee waiver application and the Appearance.
Can I appear remotely in a Moultrie County probate matter?
Sixth Judicial Circuit Local Rule 2.8 governs remote proceedings for Moultrie County. Call the Circuit Clerk at (217) 728-4622 to ask whether your specific hearing can be handled remotely and what the judge requires.
Do I have to travel to Sullivan to handle a Moultrie County estate?
Often not for filing, because probate papers are e-filed through eFileIL unless you have an exemption under Rule 9(d). The original will still must be delivered or mailed to the Circuit Clerk because Rule 9(c)(1) bars e-filing an original will, and you should confirm any hearing appearance with the Circuit Clerk.
Is the Moultrie County Circuit Clerk the same as the County Clerk?
No. Probate filings go to the Moultrie County Circuit Clerk, also called the Clerk of the Circuit Court. The County Clerk and Recorder is a separate office for functions such as vital records, elections and land recording.
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.