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Perry County, IL Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Perry County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Circuit Court of the Twenty-fourth Judicial Circuit, Perry County, effective December 5, 2022 |
| Filing office | Perry County Circuit Clerk, the Clerk of the Circuit Court |
| Courthouse address | 1 Public Square, Pinckneyville, IL 62274 |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 219, Pinckneyville, IL 62274 |
| Phone | (618) 357-6726 |
| Fax | (618) 357-8336 |
| Hours | Call before visiting to confirm current counter hours and any filing cutoff. |
| Filing fee | No Perry County probate fee schedule is published online. Illinois circuit clerk fees are set under 705 ILCS 105/27.1b, so confirm the current probate filing fee with the Perry County Circuit Clerk before filing. |
| Local forms | No Perry County decedent-estate probate packet or local probate forms are published. |
| E-filing | Required in Illinois civil cases, including probate, through eFileIL. A self-represented filer may use the Certification for Exemption From E-filing when Rule 9(d) applies. An original will cannot be e-filed and must be delivered or mailed to the Circuit Clerk under Rule 9(c)(1). |
| Case lookup | Perry County uses Judici at https://www.judici.com/courts/index.jsp?court=IL073015J. If an estate does not appear there, call the Circuit Clerk. |
| Remote appearance | Allowed only at the assigned judge's discretion under Twenty-fourth Judicial Circuit Rule 4-4. A party without the needed technology must contact the Circuit Clerk at least 24 hours before the scheduled remote hearing to ask for an in-person appearance. |
| Website | https://perrycountyil.gov/circuit-clerk/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Perry County, identify the assets, debts, beneficiaries, and any real estate. Probate strategy depends on what is actually in the estate, who has authority to act, and whether a will, beneficiary designation, joint ownership, or trust already controls an asset.
Sunset's estate settlement process includes 2,300-institution asset discovery, which can help you find accounts before deciding whether to prepare a Perry County probate filing, use a non-court transfer process, or ask Sunset to connect you with a local probate attorney.
Which court handles jurisdiction
One courthouse serves Perry County probate filings: the Perry County Courthouse at 1 Public Square in Pinckneyville. The Perry County Circuit Clerk is the filing office for estates that belong in Perry County.
Perry County is part of the Twenty-fourth Judicial Circuit, effective December 5, 2022, with Randolph, Monroe, and Washington Counties. The circuit shares administration, but it does not share a probate filing counter. File a Perry County estate in Pinckneyville, not in Chester, Waterloo, or Nashville.
Illinois venue is set by the Illinois Probate Act of 1975: probate or administration is in the county where the decedent had a known place of residence, or, if there is no Illinois residence, the county with the greater part of the decedent's Illinois real estate, or, if there is no Illinois residence and no Illinois real estate, the county with the greater part of the decedent's Illinois personal estate (755 ILCS 5/5-1).
The jurisdiction process
- Locate the will, death certificate, asset information, debt information, heirs, and legatees. Anyone holding the will must file it with the Circuit Clerk immediately after death (755 ILCS 5/6-1).
- Prepare the petition to admit the will and issue letters of office under 755 ILCS 5/6-2, or the appropriate petition for an estate without a will under Article IX. Perry County does not publish a local decedent-estate form packet.
- E-file the petition and supporting documents through eFileIL unless a Rule 9(d) exemption applies. Deliver or mail the original will to the Perry County Circuit Clerk at 1 Public Square or P.O. Box 219, Pinckneyville, IL 62274, because an original will cannot be e-filed under Rule 9(c)(1).
- Confirm the current probate filing fee with the Perry County Circuit Clerk before filing. No Perry County probate fee schedule is published online, and Illinois circuit clerk fees are governed by 705 ILCS 105/27.1b.
- Prove heirship as required by 755 ILCS 5/5-3 and Twenty-fourth Judicial Circuit Rule 11-3. If a will is handwritten or in a language other than English, follow Rule 11-2 for the required typewritten copy, affidavit, or translator certification.
- Attend the hearing if the court sets one, or follow any order from the assigned judge. Remote appearance is available only at the assigned judge's discretion under Rule 4-4.
- If the court grants authority, letters of office issue under the Illinois Probate Act, including 755 ILCS 5/6-8 for letters on an admitted will and Article IX for an estate without a will. Independent administration is generally granted under Article XXVIII unless the will forbids it or an interested person objects (755 ILCS 5/28-2).
- Mail required notices to heirs and legatees after the order, and publish if an address is not stated, as required by 755 ILCS 5/6-10.
- Publish the creditor notice once each week for 3 successive weeks in a newspaper published in the county of administration, file proof of publication, and track the claims deadline, which is not less than six months from first publication or 3 months from mailing, whichever is later (755 ILCS 5/18-3).
- Inventory assets, pay valid claims and expenses, handle sale or transfer of property, and keep accounting records. If the court grants independent administration under Article XXVIII, expect a Perry County status date 14 months after the order under Rule 11-9.
- Close the estate by filing the required account, receipts, report, or closing paperwork that fits the administration path and any court order.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Perry County
Perry County does not publish a local decedent-estate probate packet, cover sheet, petition, order, oath, inventory, account, or small-estate template. Illinois also does not provide a statewide standardized form set for opening decedents' estates, so families usually prepare case-specific documents for the Circuit Clerk and court.
The statewide forms that may still matter in a Perry County probate case are the Certification for Exemption From E-filing, the Fee Waiver for Civil Cases application, and the Appearance. Every Illinois circuit court must accept the approved statewide standardized forms that apply to the filing.
If there is an original will, deliver or mail the original to the Perry County Circuit Clerk in Pinckneyville. The probate petition and supporting papers are e-filed unless a Rule 9(d) exemption applies, but the original will itself cannot be e-filed under Rule 9(c)(1).
Local nuance
Perry County-specific considerations
The Twenty-fourth Judicial Circuit's Rules of Practice, adopted December 5, 2022, include Rule 11, Special rules pertaining to probate cases, which applies in Perry County.
| Local rule | What it changes for a Perry County filing |
|---|---|
| Rule 11-2 | If a will is handwritten, the petitioner files a typewritten copy and an affidavit that the copy is true and correct. If a will is in a language other than English, the petitioner files a typewritten English copy with a qualified translator's certification. Other will petitions attach a copy of the will believed to be the valid last will, in addition to the petition requirements in 755 ILCS 5/6-2. |
| Rule 11-3 | Proof of heirship may be made by testimony in open court or by affidavit under 755 ILCS 5/5-3. The rule lists the family history facts the affidavit should cover, including spouse, prior marriages, children, descendants of predeceased children, civil union information, unknown heirs, and the affiant's relationship to the decedent. |
| Rule 11-9 | When the court grants independent administration under Article XXVIII and 755 ILCS 5/28-2, the court sets a status date 14 months after the order. If counsel or the independent representative does not appear, the dormant-estate and periodic-accounting procedures may apply. |
| Rule 4-4 | Remote appearances are allowed only at the assigned judge's discretion. A party without the needed technology must contact the Circuit Clerk at least 24 hours before the scheduled remote hearing to request an in-person appearance. |
Recent updates
| Change | What it means in Perry County |
|---|---|
| Twenty-fourth Judicial Circuit effective December 5, 2022 | Perry County is now in the Twenty-fourth Judicial Circuit with Randolph, Monroe, and Washington Counties. The same date is also the adoption date for the circuit's Rules of Practice, including Rule 11 for probate cases. |
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Perry County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Jointly owned property or assets with beneficiary designations may pass outside the estate. Sole-name assets may require a Perry County filing, e-filing the petition and delivering or mailing any original will to the Circuit Clerk in Pinckneyville. | Sunset helps identify which assets are probate assets, organizes the estate settlement information, and prepares the family to confirm the current filing fee with the Circuit Clerk. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | Some non-court transfers may be handled without opening a full estate, but an original will still must be delivered or mailed if it is being filed. If a court case is needed, e-filing can reduce travel, and remote appearance is available only if the assigned judge allows it under Rule 4-4. | Sunset helps gather accounts, debts, heirs, and documents from a distance, then identifies whether a lawyer should handle the Perry County filing. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | Selling real estate usually requires court authority and letters of office under 755 ILCS 5. If independent administration is granted under Article XXVIII, the Twenty-fourth Judicial Circuit sets a 14-month status date under Rule 11-9. | Sunset helps with asset discovery, document organization, attorney matching, and estate settlement planning before the sale process begins. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps |
|---|---|
| Perry County Circuit Clerk https://perrycountyil.gov/circuit-clerk/ | Filing office for Perry County estates. Call (618) 357-6726 about filing logistics, current fees, mailing the original will, and clerk procedures. The clerk cannot give legal advice. |
| Twenty-fourth Judicial Circuit https://24thcircuit.illinoiscourts.gov/ | Provides circuit information, e-filing links, remote-hearing guidance, administrative orders, and links to court resources used in Perry County. |
| Illinois Legal Aid Online, how do I settle an estate after someone dies https://www.illinoislegalaid.org/legal-information/how-do-i-settle-estate-after-someone-dies | Plain-language statewide guide to estate settlement topics, including probate basics and steps families may need to consider. |
| Illinois Courts approved statewide standardized forms https://www.illinoiscourts.gov/documents-and-forms/approved-forms/ | Includes statewide forms that may matter in probate, such as the Certification for Exemption From E-filing, Fee Waiver for Civil Cases, and Appearance. |
| eFileIL https://efile.illinoiscourts.gov/ | Statewide electronic filing system for Illinois civil cases, including Perry County probate filings other than an original will. |
When to hire an attorney
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across financial institutions, insurance carriers, retirement platforms, and other sources so families can understand what exists before choosing an estate settlement path.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the information needed for a Perry County filing, including heirs, assets, debts, and the court contact details, so the family or attorney can prepare the petition, notices, and supporting documents.
Find a local probate attorney. When an estate needs legal help, Sunset connects families with a vetted Illinois probate attorney serving Perry County.
Sunset is free for families. Sunset's estate settlement tools help families collect information, understand next steps, and decide when professional help is needed without charging families to get started.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file for probate in Perry County?
File with the Perry County Circuit Clerk at the Perry County Courthouse, 1 Public Square, Pinckneyville, IL 62274. Venue is generally the county where the decedent had a known place of residence, then the county with the greater part of the Illinois real estate, then the county with the greater part of the Illinois personal estate (755 ILCS 5/5-1).
What judicial circuit is Perry County in?
Perry County is in the Twenty-fourth Judicial Circuit, effective December 5, 2022, with Randolph, Monroe, and Washington Counties. A Perry County estate is still filed with the Perry County Circuit Clerk in Pinckneyville, not at another county's courthouse.
Do I have to e-file a Perry County probate case?
Yes, Illinois requires e-filing in 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 statewide 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).
How much does probate cost in Perry County?
No Perry County probate fee schedule is published online. Illinois circuit clerk fees are set under 705 ILCS 105/27.1b, so call the Perry County Circuit Clerk at (618) 357-6726 to confirm the current filing fee before you submit the petition.
Can I appear remotely in a Perry County probate case?
Possibly. Twenty-fourth Judicial Circuit Rule 4-4 allows remote appearances only at the assigned judge's discretion through the circuit's designated vendor. A party who lacks the needed technology must contact the Perry County Circuit Clerk at least 24 hours before the remote hearing to ask for an in-person appearance instead.
Are there local probate forms for Perry County?
No local Perry County decedent-estate probate packet or probate forms are published. Illinois also has no statewide standardized decedent-estate probate form set, although statewide forms for e-filing exemption, fee waiver, and appearance may apply.
How do I look up a Perry County probate case?
Use Perry County's Judici entry point at https://www.judici.com/courts/index.jsp?court=IL073015J. If the estate does not appear in the public lookup, call the Perry County Circuit Clerk.
Do I have to travel to Pinckneyville for every step?
Not always. Petitions are generally e-filed, and the Circuit Clerk can be reached by phone. The original will still must be delivered or mailed to Pinckneyville, and remote appearances depend on the assigned judge's approval under local Rule 4-4.
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.