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Pulaski County, IL Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Local answer |
|---|---|
| Court | Circuit Court of the First Judicial Circuit, Pulaski County |
| Filing office | Pulaski County Circuit Clerk, the Clerk of the Circuit Court |
| Courthouse address | Pulaski County Courthouse, 500 Illinois Avenue, Mound City, IL 62963 |
| Mailing address | Mail the original will or paper filings allowed by rule to the Circuit Clerk at 500 Illinois Avenue, Mound City, IL 62963. |
| Phone | (618) 748-9300 |
| Fax | (618) 748-9329 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. |
| Filing fee | The public Pulaski County Circuit Clerk page does not post an online probate fee schedule. Illinois circuit clerk fees are set under 705 ILCS 105/27.1b, so confirm the current probate filing amount with the Pulaski County Circuit Clerk before filing. |
| Local forms | No Pulaski County decedent-estate probate packet, cover sheet or local probate template is posted. Illinois statewide forms that matter for probate include the Appearance, Fee Waiver for Civil Cases and Certification for Exemption From E-filing. |
| E-filing | E-filing is required in Illinois civil cases, including probate, for filers with and without a lawyer. A self-represented filer who cannot e-file may use the Certification for Exemption From E-filing. An original will cannot be e-filed and must be delivered or mailed to the Circuit Clerk under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(c)(1). |
| Case search | Pulaski County has a Judici public page at https://www.judici.com/courts/index.jsp?court=IL077015J. Judici advertises Pulaski County probate case information, but call the Circuit Clerk if an estate does not appear. |
| Remote appearance | First Judicial Circuit Rule 1.15 allows remote appearance for many matters when a county or judge's standing order allows it. Without a standing order, file a written motion asking the judge for permission. Pulaski County Zoom information is posted through the First Judicial Circuit's video court links. |
| Website | https://www.pulaskicountyil.net/circuit-clerk.html |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before opening a Pulaski County probate case, list the assets, debts, real estate, vehicles, accounts and likely heirs. That first inventory helps decide whether the estate needs letters of office under 755 ILCS 5, whether a court case is avoidable, and whether a local probate attorney should be involved.
Sunset's estate settlement process includes asset discovery across more than 2,300 financial institutions, which can help families avoid filing with incomplete information. Bring the will, death certificate, asset list and known creditor information before you e-file a petition or mail the original will to Mound City.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Pulaski County probate filings go to the Pulaski County Circuit Clerk at the Pulaski County Courthouse in Mound City. The courthouse serves Pulaski County communities, including Mound City and Mounds. The Circuit Clerk is the filing office for probate, even though Pulaski County is part of a multi-county circuit.
Pulaski County sits in the First Judicial Circuit with Alexander, Massac, Pope, Johnson, Union, Jackson, Williamson and Saline counties. File in Pulaski County when Illinois venue points to Pulaski County, usually because the decedent had a known place of residence there. If there was no known Illinois residence, venue follows the county with the greater part of the Illinois real estate, then the greater part of the Illinois personal estate (755 ILCS 5/5-1).
The jurisdiction process
- Collect the will, death certificate, asset list, debt list and heir information. Anyone holding the will must file it with the Circuit Clerk immediately after death (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 (755 ILCS 5/6-3).
- File in Pulaski County if venue belongs there under the residence, real-estate or personal-estate rules in 755 ILCS 5/5-1. Use eFileIL for e-filed probate documents unless an exemption applies.
- Deliver or mail the original will to the Pulaski County Circuit Clerk at 500 Illinois Avenue, Mound City, IL 62963. Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(c)(1) does not allow original wills to be e-filed.
- Prepare and e-file the petition to admit the will, if there is one, and to issue letters of office under 755 ILCS 5/6-2, 755 ILCS 5/6-8 or Article IX. If no local Pulaski County probate packet fits your situation, ask the Circuit Clerk or a probate attorney what format is expected.
- Confirm the filing fee with the Pulaski County Circuit Clerk before submission. Illinois circuit clerk fees are set under 705 ILCS 105/27.1b, and no Pulaski County online probate fee schedule is posted on the public Circuit Clerk page.
- Prove heirship as required by the Illinois Probate Act of 1975, including the declaration of heirship process in 755 ILCS 5/5-3.
- Ask the court to appoint the representative. Illinois generally grants independent administration under Article XXVIII unless the will forbids it or an interested person objects (755 ILCS 5/28-2).
- File the representative's oath and any bond the court requires before acting for the estate (755 ILCS 5/12-2). After appointment, the clerk issues letters of office under 755 ILCS 5 as the authority document for the estate.
- Send notice to heirs and legatees within 14 days after the order, with publication if an address is not stated (755 ILCS 5/6-10).
- Publish the creditor notice once each week for three 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 the first publication or three months from mailing or delivery, whichever is later (755 ILCS 5/18-3).
- Use First Judicial Circuit Rule 1.15 for any remote appearance request. If a standing order does not already allow remote appearance, file a written motion and wait for the judge's permission.
- Administer the estate, gather assets, address valid claims, sell or transfer property as authorized, account to the interested persons or the court as required, and close the estate under the Illinois Probate Act procedures that apply to the estate settlement.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Pulaski County
Pulaski County does not post a local decedent-estate probate packet, probate cover sheet or county probate template on the Circuit Clerk page. The First Judicial Circuit's online forms resources point users to statewide approved forms rather than a Pulaski County probate packet.
| Form category | What to use in Pulaski County |
|---|---|
| Decedent-estate petition forms | No local Pulaski County packet is posted. Ask the Circuit Clerk or a local probate attorney what petition and proposed order format the court expects for your estate settlement. |
| Original will | The original will is not an e-filed form. Deliver or mail it to the Pulaski County Circuit Clerk at 500 Illinois Avenue, Mound City, IL 62963. Anyone holding the will must file it immediately after death under 755 ILCS 5/6-1. |
| Statewide forms | Illinois courts must accept the statewide approved forms that apply, including Appearance, Fee Waiver for Civil Cases and Certification for Exemption From E-filing. |
| E-filing exemption | If you are self-represented and cannot e-file, file the statewide Certification for Exemption From E-filing. The exemption takes effect when filed under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(d). |
Local nuance
Pulaski County-specific considerations
| Local rule | What it means in Pulaski County |
|---|---|
| First Judicial Circuit Rule 1.6 | If a decedent's estate or guardianship has been inactive for a considerable time, the judge may place it on a docket call with notice to the last known attorney of record or representative, or both. If the case cannot be conveniently terminated, the judge may order it transferred to the inactive docket. It can return to the active docket by motion and order. |
| First Judicial Circuit Rule 1.15 | Remote appearance is available for many matters only when a county or judge's standing order allows it, or when the judge grants a written motion. Notices and orders for remote-eligible dates must include the Zoom Meeting ID and password, plus the courthouse address and courtroom number. |
| No separate probate division | Pulaski County does not publish a separate probate division or probate counter. Probate filings go through the Pulaski County Circuit Clerk like other civil filings. |
Recent updates
| Date | Local update |
|---|---|
| April 1, 2023 | The First Judicial Circuit's current rules took effect, including Rule 1.6 on inactive probate matters and Rule 1.15 on remote appearances. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Pulaski County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start by checking title and beneficiary designations. If the home passes outside probate, the spouse may need less court involvement. If a Pulaski County probate estate is needed, file with the Circuit Clerk in Mound City and deliver the original will by mail or in person. | Sunset helps identify accounts, organize title and debt information, and prepare the family for a local attorney conversation if letters of office under 755 ILCS 5 are needed. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | If a court case is not needed, the Illinois small estate affidavit under 755 ILCS 5/25-1 may be handled with asset holders instead of opening a Pulaski County case. If filing is needed, most documents can be e-filed, but the original will still must be mailed or delivered to the Circuit Clerk. | Sunset helps gather account information and documents remotely, then helps decide whether the estate settlement can stay out of court or should be routed to a local probate attorney. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale usually requires a Pulaski County probate case and court authority through letters of office under 755 ILCS 5. File in Mound City if venue belongs in Pulaski County, and plan for heirship, appointment, creditor notice and closing steps. | Sunset helps organize the asset list, creditor picture, heir information and attorney handoff so the representative can move from appointment to sale and final estate settlement. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Pulaski County Circuit Clerk | Filing office for Pulaski County probate matters, original wills, filing questions, fee confirmation and case questions. | Pulaski County Courthouse, 500 Illinois Avenue, Mound City, IL 62963. Phone: (618) 748-9300. Website: https://www.pulaskicountyil.net/circuit-clerk.html |
| Legal Self-Help Center at Mounds Public Library | Provides legal information for people who cannot or do not wish to retain an attorney, including information on Illinois law and court operations and, in some situations, legal pleadings. | 418 First Street, Mounds, IL 62964. Phone: 618.745.6610. Website: http://pulaski.illinoislegalaid.org |
| Land of Lincoln Legal Aid, Southern Regional Office | Legal aid office serving Pulaski County and other southern Illinois counties. | First Mid Illinois Bank Building, Third Floor, 509 South University Avenue, Carbondale, IL 62901. Phone: (618) 457-7800. Toll free: (800) 642-5335. |
| Illinois Courts approved statewide forms | Statewide forms accepted by Illinois courts, including Appearance, Fee Waiver for Civil Cases and Certification for Exemption From E-filing. | https://www.illinoiscourts.gov/documents-and-forms/approved-forms/ |
| eFileIL | Statewide electronic filing system for Illinois circuit court filings. Use it for probate documents that are not excepted from e-filing. | https://efile.illinoiscourts.gov/ |
| Illinois Legal Aid Online estate guide | Plain-language statewide information about settling an estate after someone dies. | https://www.illinoislegalaid.org/legal-information/how-do-i-settle-estate-after-someone-dies |
When to hire an attorney
Consider a probate attorney if the estate includes a house that must be sold, creditor disputes, missing heirs, disagreement over who should serve, a contested will, or litigation on behalf of the estate. A representative can also benefit from counsel because Illinois law limits non-lawyers from representing another person's legal interests. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches more than 2,300 financial institutions to help families identify accounts, balances and clues before they choose a Pulaski County estate settlement path.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the information families need for a probate filing, including heirs, assets, debts, the will, death certificate details and the documents a local attorney or the Circuit Clerk may ask to see.
Find a local probate attorney. When a Pulaski County estate needs letters of office under 755 ILCS 5, a real estate sale, court supervision, creditor strategy or help with a contested issue, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Illinois probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Sunset supports estate settlement without charging families for its core service. If legal work is needed, the attorney explains the scope and fee directly before representation begins.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Pulaski County, Illinois?
File Pulaski County probate matters with the Pulaski County Circuit Clerk at the Pulaski County Courthouse, 500 Illinois Avenue, Mound City, IL 62963. Probate is handled in the Circuit Court of the First Judicial Circuit, Pulaski County, not in another county in the circuit.
Can I e-file a Pulaski County probate case?
Yes. Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9 requires e-filing in civil cases, including probate. The original will is the key exception: it cannot be e-filed and must be delivered or mailed to the Pulaski County Circuit Clerk under Rule 9(c)(1).
What if I do not have a computer or cannot e-file?
A self-represented filer who cannot e-file may file the statewide Certification for Exemption From E-filing. Under Rule 9(d), the exemption takes effect when the certification is filed. Paper filing can then be made in person, by mail or by carrier as allowed by the rule.
Does Pulaski County publish its own probate forms?
No local Pulaski County decedent-estate probate packet, cover sheet or template is posted on the Circuit Clerk page. Use the statewide forms that apply, such as Appearance, Fee Waiver for Civil Cases and Certification for Exemption From E-filing, and ask the Circuit Clerk or an attorney about the petition format for the estate.
How much is the Pulaski County probate filing fee?
The public Pulaski County Circuit Clerk page does not post an online probate fee schedule. Illinois circuit clerk fees are set under 705 ILCS 105/27.1b, and the county amount should be confirmed with the Pulaski County Circuit Clerk before filing.
Can I look up a Pulaski County probate case online?
Pulaski County has a Judici public page at https://www.judici.com/courts/index.jsp?court=IL077015J, and the page advertises Pulaski County probate case information. If the estate does not appear, call the Circuit Clerk at (618) 748-9300.
Can I attend a Pulaski County probate hearing by Zoom?
Sometimes. First Judicial Circuit Rule 1.15 allows remote appearance for many matters when a county or judge's standing order allows it. If no standing order applies, file a written motion asking the judge for permission before assuming you can appear remotely.
Do I have to travel to Mound City for every probate step?
Not always. Many documents are e-filed, and remote appearance may be available with permission or under a standing order. You still must deliver or mail the original will to the Pulaski County Circuit Clerk, and the judge may require an in-person appearance for a particular hearing.
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.