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Putnam County, IL Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Putnam County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Circuit Court of the Tenth Judicial Circuit, Putnam County |
| Filing office | Putnam County Circuit Clerk, Putnam County Courthouse |
| Courthouse address | 120 North 4th Street, Hennepin, IL 61327 |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 207, Hennepin, IL 61327 |
| Phone | (815) 925-7016. The office lists one public number and no separate probate line. |
| Fax | (815) 925-7492 |
| [email protected] | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., excluding holidays. No lunch closure is listed. |
| Filing fee | No Putnam County, Illinois probate fee schedule is posted on the Circuit Clerk page. Circuit clerk fees are set under 705 ILCS 105/27.1b, so confirm the current probate filing total with the Putnam County Circuit Clerk before filing. |
| Local forms | No Putnam County decedent-estate probate packet, cover sheet or local template is listed by the Circuit Clerk. |
| E-filing | Required for civil filings, including probate, through the Illinois e-filing system. The 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 | Judici has a Putnam County welcome page at https://www.judici.com/courts/index.jsp?court=IL078015J. If an estate case does not appear, call the Circuit Clerk. |
| Remote appearance | No Putnam County probate remote appearance procedure is listed on the Circuit Clerk page. Ask the Circuit Clerk before assuming a phone or video appearance is available. |
| Website | https://putnamil.gov/government/circuit_court_clerk_office/index.php |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Hennepin, identify the assets, debts, title ownership and beneficiaries. That determines whether the estate needs letters of office under 755 ILCS 5, whether an original will must be delivered to the Circuit Clerk, and whether real estate or creditor issues make a full probate case necessary.
Sunset can help with the front end of estate settlement by searching more than 2,300 financial institutions for accounts and assets, then organizing what you found into a practical Putnam County filing plan.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Putnam County probate is handled at the Putnam County Courthouse in Hennepin by the Putnam County Circuit Clerk. Putnam County is part of the Tenth Judicial Circuit with Peoria, Marshall, Stark and Tazewell Counties, but a Putnam County estate is filed with Putnam County's own Circuit Clerk, not with another county in the circuit.
Illinois venue starts with the county where the decedent had a known place of residence. If there was no known Illinois residence, venue moves to the county with the greater part of the decedent's Illinois real estate, then to the county with the greater part of the decedent's Illinois personal estate (755 ILCS 5/5-1).
The jurisdiction process
- Locate the original will, if there is one. Anyone holding the will must file it with the Circuit Clerk immediately after death (755 ILCS 5/6-1). A person named as executor has 30 days after learning of the appointment to open a case or decline (755 ILCS 5/6-3).
- Prepare the petition to admit the will and issue letters of office, or the petition for administration if there is no will. Putnam County does not list a local decedent-estate packet, so use Illinois Probate Act of 1975 requirements and any Tenth Judicial Circuit local rules that apply.
- File the petition electronically through the Illinois e-filing system unless you have an exemption under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(d). Deliver or mail the original will to the Putnam County Circuit Clerk at 120 North 4th Street, P.O. Box 207, Hennepin, IL 61327, because the original will cannot be e-filed.
- Confirm the current filing fee with the Putnam County Circuit Clerk before submitting the case. The county does not list a probate fee schedule on the Circuit Clerk page, and clerk fees are set under 705 ILCS 105/27.1b.
- Prove heirship. In the Tenth Judicial Circuit, heirship may be shown by testimony in open court, affidavit under 755 ILCS 5/5-3, deposition or a verified petition.
- After the court enters the order, the representative takes the oath, addresses bond under 755 ILCS 5/12-2, and files the address required by Tenth Judicial Circuit Rule 62. Illinois grants independent administration under Article XXVIII when the statutory conditions are met, unless the will forbids it or an interested person properly objects (755 ILCS 5/28-2).
- Obtain letters of office from the Circuit Clerk under 755 ILCS 5. Letters of office issued in a will estate are letters testamentary, and letters of office issued when there is no will are letters of administration.
- Send notice to heirs and legatees within 14 days after the order when required by 755 ILCS 5/6-10. If an address is not stated, publication may be required in a county newspaper.
- Publish the creditor notice once each week for three successive weeks in a newspaper published in the county where the estate is administered, mail or deliver notice to known or reasonably ascertainable creditors, and file proof of publication with the clerk. The claims date is not less than six months from first publication or three months from mailing, whichever is later (755 ILCS 5/18-3). Claims are also subject to the outside 2 years bar after death (755 ILCS 5/18-12).
- File the inventory and include the legal description and street address for any real estate as required by Tenth Judicial Circuit Rule 66(a). Pay valid claims, handle sales or transfers, account as required, and close the estate under the applicable Probate Act provisions.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Putnam County
The Putnam County Circuit Clerk does not list a local decedent-estate probate packet, local cover sheet or local probate template. Illinois also does not have a statewide standardized decedent-estate form set. The statewide forms that may still matter in a Putnam County probate filing are the Appearance, the Fee Waiver for Civil Cases application, and the Certification for Exemption From E-filing.
If you are opening a full probate estate, prepare the petition, proposed order, oath and bond, heirship materials, and documents needed for letters of office under 755 ILCS 5. File the petition electronically unless you have an exemption, and send or deliver the original will to the Putnam County Circuit Clerk because an original will cannot be e-filed.
Local nuance
Putnam County-specific considerations
| Local rule or practice | What it means in Putnam County |
|---|---|
| Tenth Judicial Circuit Rule 62 | An executor, administrator or guardian files an address with the clerk when taking the oath and must keep address changes current during the administration. |
| Tenth Judicial Circuit Rule 63(b) | After a will is admitted, the clerk makes a copy part of the court file, keeps the original separate for six months, and releases the original only by court order. The claims period tied to six months appears in 755 ILCS 5/18-3. |
| Tenth Judicial Circuit Rule 65(a) | Heirship may be proved by testimony in open court, by affidavit under 755 ILCS 5/5-3, by deposition or by a verified petition. |
| Tenth Judicial Circuit Rule 66(a) | An inventory that lists real estate must include the legal description of each parcel and the street and number, if any. |
| Tenth Judicial Circuit Rule 73 | Early distribution before the expiration of six months after letters issue is limited and tied to 755 ILCS 5/24-4(a). Claims publication timing is governed by 755 ILCS 5/18-3. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Putnam County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse w/ co-owned home | First confirm how the home is titled and whether any assets require letters of office under 755 ILCS 5. If probate is needed, file with the Putnam County Circuit Clerk in Hennepin and follow Tenth Judicial Circuit inventory rules for real estate descriptions. | Sunset helps identify accounts, organize title and debt information, and decide whether a local probate attorney should review the home transfer. |
| Out-of-state adult child w/ small estate | Check whether a court probate case is needed before filing. If a Putnam County probate case is required, most papers can be e-filed, but the original will must be mailed or delivered to the Circuit Clerk. | Sunset helps gather account information remotely, prepare the estate settlement checklist, and flag when Illinois counsel can reduce travel or filing mistakes. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale often requires a Putnam County probate case, letters of office under 755 ILCS 5, heirship proof, inventory details, and attention to claims publication before distribution. | Sunset helps map assets and debts, organize documents for the representative, and connect the family with a vetted Illinois probate attorney for the sale and court filings. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Putnam County Circuit Clerk | Filing office for Putnam County probate cases, original wills, fee questions and case questions. | 120 North 4th Street, Hennepin, IL 61327. Mailing: P.O. Box 207, Hennepin, IL 61327. Phone: (815) 925-7016. Website: https://putnamil.gov/government/circuit_court_clerk_office/index.php |
| Tenth Judicial Circuit self-help center | Offers statewide forms, print materials, computers and online resources for self-represented litigants. It is in Peoria County, not in the Putnam County Courthouse. | Peoria County Courthouse, 324 Main Street, Room 211, Peoria, IL 61602. Phone: (309) 672-6084. Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
| Prairie State Legal Services, Ottawa office | Legal aid office serving Putnam County, along with Bureau, Grundy and LaSalle Counties. | 1021 Clinton Street, Ottawa, IL 61350. Phone: (815) 434-5903. Toll-free: (800) 892-7888. Website: https://www.pslegal.org/our-offices |
| Illinois Courts approved statewide forms | Statewide forms accepted by Illinois courts, including e-filing exemption, fee waiver and appearance forms. The list does not include a decedent-estate probate packet. | https://www.illinoiscourts.gov/documents-and-forms/approved-forms/ |
| eFileIL | Statewide e-filing portal for civil filings, including probate petitions and supporting documents other than original wills. | 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
A lawyer is especially useful in Putnam County when the estate includes real estate, an heirship dispute, creditor issues, a sale before closing, a representative who lives outside Illinois, or any contested filing. Illinois also limits non-lawyers from representing another person's legal interests, so an estate representative should get legal advice before signing or arguing anything beyond the representative's own interests. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 institutions to help identify bank, brokerage, retirement and insurance accounts that may belong in the estate settlement plan.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset uses the information you provide to organize the documents and next steps for a Putnam County filing, including what must be e-filed and what must be mailed or delivered to the Circuit Clerk.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate needs legal help, Sunset can connect the family with an Illinois probate attorney familiar with court filings, real estate issues and representative duties.
Sunset is free for families. Sunset helps families understand the estate settlement path, gather asset information and decide what help they need without charging families for the platform.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Putnam County?
File with the Putnam County Circuit Clerk at the Putnam County Courthouse, 120 North 4th Street, Hennepin, IL 61327. Mail for the Circuit Clerk goes to P.O. Box 207, Hennepin, IL 61327.
Is probate e-filing required in Putnam County?
Yes. The Circuit Clerk states that civil filings must be filed electronically, and probate is a civil case. A self-represented filer who cannot e-file may use the statewide Certification for Exemption From E-filing under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(d).
Can I e-file the original will in Putnam County?
No. An original will cannot be e-filed under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(c)(1). Deliver or mail the original will to the Putnam County Circuit Clerk, while the petition and other case documents are filed electronically unless an exemption applies.
Does Putnam County have local probate forms?
No local Putnam County decedent-estate probate packet or cover sheet is listed by the Circuit Clerk. Illinois statewide forms include e-filing exemption, fee waiver and appearance forms, but not a full decedent-estate probate packet.
What is the Putnam County probate filing fee?
No Putnam County, Illinois probate fee schedule is listed on the Circuit Clerk page. Fees are set under 705 ILCS 105/27.1b, so call the Circuit Clerk at (815) 925-7016 before filing to confirm the current amount and accepted payment methods.
Can I look up a Putnam County probate case online?
Judici has a Putnam County welcome page. Because the available information does not say that every probate case type appears there, call the Circuit Clerk if an estate case does not appear or if you need the next filing step.
Do I have to travel to Hennepin for probate?
You may be able to e-file the petition, and you may mail the original will to the Circuit Clerk. If the court sets a hearing or requires an in-person step, ask the Circuit Clerk whether any remote appearance option is available before making travel plans.
What local Tenth Judicial Circuit probate rules affect Putnam County?
The Tenth Judicial Circuit rules apply in Putnam County. They include address filing for the executor or administrator, original will handling after admission, ways to prove heirship, real estate description requirements in inventories, and limits on early distribution before the claims period has run.
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.