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Pope County, IL Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Pope County detail |
|---|---|
| Court | Circuit Court of the First Judicial Circuit, Pope County |
| Filing office | Pope County Circuit Clerk, 310 East Main Street, Golconda, IL 62938 |
| Mailing address | Pope County Circuit Clerk, P.O. Box 438, Golconda, IL 62938 |
| Phone | (618) 683-3941 for the Circuit Clerk. A general courthouse line, (618) 683-8100, also reaches the building. |
| Fax | (618) 683-3018 |
| Hours | First Judicial Circuit Rule 1.13 states that clerk offices in counties under 25,000 are open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., except state legal holidays. Call the Circuit Clerk before going to the counter. |
| Filing fee | The Circuit Clerk does not publish a Pope County probate fee schedule on the court site. Under 705 ILCS 105/27.1b, circuit clerk civil filing fees are set by county board resolution within the statutory framework. Call the Circuit Clerk for the current amount before filing. |
| Local forms | No Pope County probate packet or decedent-estate forms are published by the Circuit Clerk or the First Judicial Circuit. |
| E-filing | E-filing is required for civil cases, including probate, under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(a) and First Judicial Circuit Rule 9.1. A self-represented filer who cannot e-file may use the Certification for Exemption From E-filing. The original will may not be e-filed and must be delivered or mailed to the Circuit Clerk. |
| Case lookup | Judici provides a Pope County entry point at https://www.judici.com/courts/index.jsp?court=IL076015J. If an estate matter is not listed there, call the Circuit Clerk. |
| Remote appearance | First Judicial Circuit Rule 1.15 allows remote appearances when a county or judge standing order permits them. Otherwise, ask the judge by written motion. County Zoom information is posted by the First Judicial Circuit. |
| Website | https://firstcircuitil.org/circuit-courts/pope-county/. Pope County has no separate county government website for court information. |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything in Pope County, list the assets, debts, likely heirs, will status and whether anything must be sold. That determines whether you need a full probate case, what notices are needed, and whether letters of office under 755 ILCS 5 will be necessary.
Sunset's 2,300-institution asset discovery helps families start estate settlement with a clearer picture of bank, investment, insurance and debt relationships. In Pope County, that organization matters because the Circuit Clerk does not publish a local probate packet or fee schedule, so you want the facts ready before you call or e-file.
Which court handles jurisdiction
One courthouse serves Pope County for probate: the Pope County Courthouse at 310 East Main Street in Golconda, the county seat. The page covers Golconda and the surrounding rural townships and precincts in Pope County.
Pope County sits in the First Judicial Circuit with Alexander, Pulaski, Massac, Johnson, Union, Jackson, Williamson and Saline Counties. The circuit shares judges and administration, but a Pope County estate is filed with the Pope County Circuit Clerk in Golconda, not with another county's clerk.
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, then the county where the greater part of the real estate is located, then the county where the greater part of the personal estate is located (755 ILCS 5/5-1).
The jurisdiction process
- Gather the will, death certificate, asset list, debt list, names and addresses of heirs and legatees, and any documents showing how property is titled.
- File the original will with the Pope County Circuit Clerk immediately after death if you have it (755 ILCS 5/6-1). The original will may not be e-filed under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(c)(1) and First Judicial Circuit Rule 9.1(C)(2), so deliver or mail it to 310 East Main Street or P.O. Box 438, Golconda, IL 62938.
- Prepare the petition to admit the will, if any, and to issue letters of office under 755 ILCS 5. A person named as executor has 30 days after learning of the appointment to open the case or decline to act (755 ILCS 5/6-3).
- E-file the petition and supporting papers through eFileIL unless you qualify for an exemption. If you cannot e-file, use the statewide Certification for Exemption From E-filing under Rule 9(d) and First Judicial Circuit Rule 9.1(C)(5).
- Call the Pope County Circuit Clerk at (618) 683-3941 to confirm the current filing fee, because the court site does not publish a Pope County probate fee schedule. Illinois circuit clerk fees are governed by 705 ILCS 105/27.1b.
- Prove heirship as required in the estate. Illinois allows the court to determine heirship in the probate proceeding (755 ILCS 5/5-3).
- Ask for the appropriate order and letters of office under 755 ILCS 5. If the estate proceeds without a request for supervision, Illinois generally grants independent administration under Article XXVIII unless the will forbids it or an interested person objects (755 ILCS 5/28-2).
- Before acting, the representative takes the required oath and provides bond unless the will or court treatment excuses a written bond as allowed by the Probate Act (755 ILCS 5/12-2).
- After appointment, mail required notice to heirs and legatees within 14 days of the order, with publication if an address is not stated (755 ILCS 5/6-10).
- Publish the creditor notice once each week for 3 successive weeks in a newspaper published in the county where the estate is administered, then file proof of publication with the clerk. The claims date must be at least six months from first publication or 3 months from mailing or delivery, whichever is later (755 ILCS 5/18-3).
- Administer the estate by collecting assets, dealing with claims, keeping an inventory and accounting, selling property only when authority is in place, and distributing what remains under the will or Illinois law.
- Close the estate with the required account, receipts, waivers, reports or court orders. If the case becomes inactive for a considerable time, First Judicial Circuit Rule 1.6 allows the judge to call it for review and move it to the inactive docket if it cannot be conveniently ended.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Pope County
No Pope County probate packet, cover sheet, decedent-estate petition, order, oath, inventory, account form or small-estate template is published by the Pope County Circuit Clerk or the First Judicial Circuit. Illinois also has no statewide standardized decedent-estate form set, so the core probate papers for a Pope County estate are usually drafted documents.
| Form or paper | Where it comes from | Local note |
|---|---|---|
| Petition to admit will or issue letters of office | Drafted for the estate | File through eFileIL unless an exemption applies. Letters of office are issued under the Illinois Probate Act of 1975, including 755 ILCS 5/6-8 for letters issued after a will is admitted. |
| Original will | The signed original document | Deliver or mail it to the Pope County Circuit Clerk. It may not be e-filed under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(c)(1) and First Judicial Circuit Rule 9.1(C)(2). |
| Certification for Exemption From E-filing | Illinois Courts approved statewide standardized forms | Use this if you are self-represented and qualify for a good-cause e-filing exemption under Rule 9(d) and First Judicial Circuit Rule 9.1(C)(5). |
| Application for Waiver of Court Fees | Illinois Courts approved statewide standardized forms | Use the statewide civil fee waiver form if you cannot afford filing costs. |
| Appearance | Illinois Courts approved statewide standardized forms | Use when an appearance is required in the case. |
Local nuance
Pope County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means in Pope County |
|---|---|
| First Judicial Circuit rules apply | The First Judicial Circuit rules effective April 1, 2023 apply to Pope County, including rules on inactive probate matters, clerk office hours, no fax filing and remote appearances. |
| Inactive probate matters | Under Rule 1.6, if a decedent's estate or guardianship has remained inactive for a considerable time, the judge may direct the clerk to place it on a docket call. If the case cannot be conveniently ended, the judge may move it to the inactive docket, and the case can return to the active docket by motion and order. |
| Clerk hours rule | Rule 1.13 states that clerk offices in counties under 25,000 are open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., except state legal holidays. Call the Pope County Circuit Clerk before going to the counter. |
| No fax filing | Rule 1.14 states that facsimile filing is not authorized. Use eFileIL unless the document is excepted or exempt, and deliver or mail the original will. |
| Remote appearance requests | Rule 1.15 permits remote appearances when a standing order allows them. If none applies, request permission from the judge in a written motion. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Pope County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Property held in joint tenancy or with a beneficiary designation may pass outside the probate case. If assets are in the decedent's sole name, file the petition through eFileIL, deliver or mail the original will to the Pope County Circuit Clerk, and confirm the filing fee by phone. | Sunset helps identify which assets pass outside probate and which assets may require letters of office under 755 ILCS 5. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | Many steps can be handled from outside Illinois by e-filing and calling the Circuit Clerk. If a hearing is set, ask whether Rule 1.15 allows a remote appearance or whether a written motion is needed. The original will still must be mailed or delivered to Golconda. | Sunset organizes the asset list, helps you decide what local filings may be needed, and can connect you with local counsel if the estate settlement becomes more than an affidavit or simple transfer. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | Selling solely owned real estate usually requires a probate case and letters of office under 755 ILCS 5. Open the estate with the Pope County Circuit Clerk, then get legal authority in place before listing or closing on the home. | Sunset helps gather asset and debt information, prepare the family for attorney review, and track court steps so the real estate sale does not stall. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Pope County Circuit Clerk through the First Judicial Circuit | Filing office for probate cases, original wills, fee questions and local counter questions. | 310 East Main Street, P.O. Box 438, Golconda, IL 62938. Phone: (618) 683-3941. Website: https://firstcircuitil.org/circuit-courts/pope-county/ |
| First Judicial Circuit local court rules | Rules for Pope County court practice, including inactive probate matters, clerk hours, no fax filing and remote appearances. | https://firstcircuitil.org/first-circuit-rules/ |
| Pope County Legal Self-Help Center, Golconda Public Library | Local self-help center listed by the First Judicial Circuit. | 126 W. Main Street, Golconda, IL 62938. Phone: (618) 683-6531. Call for current hours. |
| Illinois Legal Aid Online, how do I settle an estate after someone dies | Plain-language Illinois guide to estate settlement after a death. | https://www.illinoislegalaid.org/legal-information/how-do-i-settle-estate-after-someone-dies |
| Illinois Courts approved statewide standardized forms | Statewide forms accepted by Illinois courts, including the Certification for Exemption From E-filing, civil fee waiver application and Appearance. | https://www.illinoiscourts.gov/documents-and-forms/approved-forms/ |
| eFileIL | Statewide e-filing system for civil filings, including probate filings, with a free Odyssey eFileIL option. | https://efile.illinoiscourts.gov/ |
| Land of Lincoln Legal Aid, Carbondale office | Civil legal aid for eligible people in southern Illinois. Call to ask about eligibility and whether the office can help with a decedent's estate issue. | 509 South University Avenue, Carbondale, IL 62901. Phone: (618) 457-7800. Toll free: (800) 642-5335. |
When to hire an attorney
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families identify banks, investments, insurance, retirement accounts, real estate clues and debts so the probate filing is based on a complete estate picture.
Generate the probate packet. For Pope County estate settlement, Sunset organizes the information needed for drafted petitions, notices, inventories and closing papers, then helps you understand what must be e-filed and what must be mailed or delivered to the Circuit Clerk.
Find a local probate attorney. When a Pope County estate needs legal drafting, court strategy, a real estate sale, or help with a dispute, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Illinois probate attorney serving Pope County.
Sunset is free for families. Sunset's estate settlement tools help you gather information, stay organized and decide what local help you need without adding another bill during the first stage of administration.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file for probate in Pope County?
File with the Pope County Circuit Clerk at the courthouse in Golconda. Venue is usually Pope County if the decedent had a known place of residence there; if not, Illinois looks next to the county holding the greater part of the real estate, then the greater part of the personal estate (755 ILCS 5/5-1).
Does Pope County have its own probate division?
No. Pope County probate matters are filed with the Circuit Clerk in the Circuit Court of the First Judicial Circuit, Pope County. The same clerk office handles civil filings, including probate.
Do I have to e-file in Pope County probate?
Yes. E-filing is required in Illinois civil cases, including probate, under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(a) and First Judicial Circuit Rule 9.1. If you are self-represented and cannot e-file, you may file the statewide Certification for Exemption From E-filing. The original will may not be e-filed and must be delivered or mailed to the Circuit Clerk.
How much does probate cost in Pope County?
The Circuit Clerk does not publish a Pope County probate fee schedule on the court site. Circuit clerk fees are set within the Illinois framework in 705 ILCS 105/27.1b, so call (618) 683-3941 for the current probate filing fee before submitting a petition.
Can I appear remotely for a Pope County probate hearing?
Sometimes. First Judicial Circuit Rule 1.15 permits remote appearances when a county or judge standing order allows them. If no standing order applies, you must ask the judge for permission by written motion.
Are there local probate forms in Pope County?
No Pope County probate packet or decedent-estate form set is published by the Circuit Clerk or the First Judicial Circuit. The statewide forms most likely to matter are the Certification for Exemption From E-filing, the civil fee waiver application and the Appearance.
How do I look up a Pope County probate case?
Start with Pope County's Judici page at https://www.judici.com/courts/index.jsp?court=IL076015J. If you do not find the estate matter there, call the Pope County Circuit Clerk.
Do I have to travel to Golconda?
Not for every step. Petitions are generally e-filed, and remote appearances may be available with permission or under a standing order. The original will still must be delivered or mailed to the Circuit Clerk in Golconda.
Does Pope County have a legal self-help center?
Yes. The First Judicial Circuit lists the Golconda Public Library, 126 W. Main Street, Golconda, IL 62938, (618) 683-6531, as Pope County's Legal Self-Help Center. Call the library for current hours.
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.