Back to Illinois
Randolph County, IL Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Randolph County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Circuit Court of the Twenty-fourth Judicial Circuit, Randolph County, effective December 5, 2022 |
| Filing office | Randolph County Circuit Clerk, 1 Taylor Street, Room 302, Chester, IL 62233 |
| Mailing address | Use the courthouse address unless the Circuit Clerk gives you a different mailing instruction |
| Phone | (618) 826-5000 |
| Fax | (618) 826-3761 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
| Filing fee | The Circuit Clerk posts a local probate fee schedule, but the posted page does not show an effective date for the amount. Confirm the current filing and appearance fee with the Circuit Clerk before filing. |
| Local forms | The Circuit Clerk publishes a small estate affidavit form. No local petition, order, oath, inventory or account template is published. |
| E-filing | E-filing is required in Illinois civil cases, including probate, for filers with and without a lawyer. 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 search | Judici Randolph County case search: https://www.judici.com/courts/cases/case_search.jsp?court=IL079015J. If the 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. |
| Website | https://randolphcountyil.gov/circuit-clerk/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Randolph County, identify the assets, debts, family members, will status and whether any property must be sold. That information controls whether you need letters of office under 755 ILCS 5, what notices must be sent and whether the local accounting deadlines will matter.
Sunset's estate settlement process includes asset discovery across more than 2,300 financial institutions, then organizes what you find into the information a Randolph County filing usually needs.
Which court handles jurisdiction
One courthouse serves Randolph County probate filings: the Randolph County Circuit Clerk at 1 Taylor Street, Room 302, Chester, IL 62233.
Randolph County sits in the Twenty-fourth Judicial Circuit, effective December 5, 2022, with Monroe, Washington and Perry Counties. The circuit shares administration across those counties, but a Randolph County estate is filed with the Randolph County Circuit Clerk in Chester, not with another county's clerk.
Illinois venue is county-specific. Probate or administration belongs first in the county where the decedent had a known place of residence, then in the county where the greater part of the decedent's Illinois real estate is located, then in the county where the greater part of the Illinois personal estate is located (755 ILCS 5/5-1).
The jurisdiction process
- Collect the death certificate, the original will if there is one, asset information, debt information and family information before preparing the filing.
- File the original will with the Randolph County Circuit Clerk immediately after death if you have it (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 1 Taylor Street, Room 302, Chester, IL 62233.
- E-file the petition and supporting papers through eFileIL unless you qualify for and file the Certification for Exemption From E-filing under Rule 9(d). If you are named executor, Illinois gives you 30 days from learning of that appointment to open the case or decline (755 ILCS 5/6-3).
- Call the Circuit Clerk before filing to confirm the current probate filing fee, appearance fee and payment method because the posted local fee schedule does not show an effective date for the amount.
- Prove heirship. In Randolph County, Twenty-fourth Judicial Circuit Rule 11-3 allows heirship proof by open-court testimony or by affidavit under 755 ILCS 5/5-3 with a proposed Order Declaring Heirship.
- Ask the court to admit the will if there is one and to issue letters of office under 755 ILCS 5. If the will is handwritten or not in English, follow Twenty-fourth Judicial Circuit Rule 11-2 for the required copy, translation or certification.
- After appointment, send required notice to heirs and legatees within 14 days when the Illinois Probate Act requires it (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 first publication or three months from mailing or delivery to known creditors, whichever is later (755 ILCS 5/18-3).
- Administer the estate. Gather assets, address claims, keep records, and track the Randolph County local accounting date. Rule 11-8 requires an executor or administrator to present an account within 14 months after letters issue and then annually.
- Close the estate after claims, expenses, distributions and required accounting are complete. If the estate is under independent administration under Article XXVIII, also track the status date set under Twenty-fourth Judicial Circuit Rule 11-9.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Randolph County
Illinois does not publish a statewide standardized decedent-estate form set for petitions for letters of office, inventories, accounts or closing papers. Statewide forms that can matter in a Randolph County probate case include the Certification for Exemption From E-filing, the Fee Waiver for Civil Cases application and the Appearance form.
The Randolph County Circuit Clerk publishes a small estate affidavit form. Ask the Circuit Clerk for the current version before using it. The clerk does not publish a local probate petition packet, proposed order, oath, inventory or account template.
Local nuance
Randolph County-specific considerations
The Twenty-fourth Judicial Circuit's local probate rules took effect with the circuit's creation on December 5, 2022 and apply in Randolph County.
| Local rule | What it changes in practice |
|---|---|
| Rule 11-2, admission of will to probate | A handwritten will requires a typewritten copy and an affidavit that the copy is true and correct. A will in a language other than English requires a typewritten English translation and a qualified translator's certification. |
| Rule 11-3, proof and declaration of heirship | Heirship may be proved by testimony in open court or by affidavit under 755 ILCS 5/5-3. The affidavit must include the required family facts, and a proposed Order Declaring Heirship must be submitted with it. |
| Rule 11-8, periodic accounting | An executor or administrator must present an account within 14 months after letters issue and then annually. If the account is not timely filed, the clerk mails notice of a hearing, and the court may issue a rule to show cause, revoke letters or hold the representative in contempt. |
| Rule 11-9, independent administration status report under Article XXVIII | When independent administration is granted under Article XXVIII and 755 ILCS 5/28-2, the court sets a status date 14 months after the order. Failure to appear can trigger the same show-cause process used for late accounts. |
| Rule 4-4, remote appearances | Remote appearances are allowed only at the assigned judge's discretion. Status hearings may be conducted by telephone alone. |
Recent updates
| Change | Date | What it means for Randolph County |
|---|---|---|
| Creation of the Twenty-fourth Judicial Circuit | December 5, 2022 | Randolph, Monroe, Washington and Perry Counties moved into the Twenty-fourth Judicial Circuit, effective December 5, 2022. St. Clair County remains the Twentieth Circuit. Randolph County probate filings still go to the Randolph County Circuit Clerk in Chester (705 ILCS 35/1). |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Randolph County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Property that was jointly owned or had a beneficiary designation may pass outside the estate. If assets were in the decedent's sole name, the spouse files with the Randolph County Circuit Clerk in Chester, e-files the petition if required and delivers or mails the original will. | Sunset helps sort probate and non-probate assets, collect account information and organize the estate settlement plan before filing. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | Much of the filing can be handled from outside Illinois through eFileIL, but the original will still must be delivered or mailed to Chester. Remote appearance is possible only if the assigned judge allows it under Rule 4-4. | Sunset helps locate accounts, prepare the asset picture and connect the child with local counsel if a Randolph County appearance or filing issue comes up. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | Selling real estate usually requires court-issued letters of office under 755 ILCS 5. Heirship can often be proved under Rule 11-3, and the representative should plan for publication, creditor deadlines and local accounting dates. | Sunset helps identify debts and assets, organize documents for the filing and find a Randolph County probate attorney when a home sale or creditor issue makes the estate more complex. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Randolph County Circuit Clerk | Filing office for Randolph County estates, local forms, fee schedule, hours and filing questions. | 1 Taylor Street, Room 302, Chester, IL 62233, (618) 826-5000, https://randolphcountyil.gov/circuit-clerk/ |
| Randolph County Legal Self-Help Center at Chester Public Library | Offers computers, internet access, WiFi, online court forms, online legal information, referrals and printers. It does not give legal advice. | 733 State St., Chester, IL 62233, (618) 826-3711, https://www.illinoislegalaid.org/counties/Randolph |
| Land of Lincoln Legal Aid, Central Regional Office | Free civil legal help for eligible low-income people in Randolph County and nearby counties. Confirm whether it can take an estate matter before relying on it. | https://lincolnlegal.org/locations/ |
| Illinois Legal Aid Online estate guide | Plain-language statewide guide to settling an estate after someone dies. | 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, Fee Waiver for Civil Cases and Appearance. | https://www.illinoiscourts.gov/documents-and-forms/approved-forms/ |
| eFileIL | Statewide electronic filing system for Illinois civil cases, including probate filings that are not original wills. | https://efile.illinoiscourts.gov/ |
When to hire an attorney
A lawyer is most useful in Randolph County when the estate includes farmland or a house that must be sold, heirs disagree, a creditor files a claim, a will contest is possible, or the representative needs help meeting the Twenty-fourth Judicial Circuit's local accounting and status requirements. Illinois also limits non-lawyers from representing another person's legal interests, so advice is especially important when the estate must appear in a contested matter. Sunset connects families with a vetted Illinois probate attorney serving Randolph County.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families identify financial accounts, insurance, retirement plans, real estate leads and other estate settlement details before a Randolph County filing is prepared.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the information needed for a Randolph County probate filing, including the asset list, family information, creditor information and will details that drive the petition and supporting papers.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate needs legal help, Sunset connects families with a vetted Illinois probate attorney serving Randolph County.
Sunset is free for families. Sunset's estate settlement tools are free for families, and families can choose whether they want attorney help after Sunset organizes the next steps.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file for probate in Randolph County?
File with the Randolph County Circuit Clerk at 1 Taylor Street, Room 302, Chester, IL 62233. Venue belongs in the county of the decedent's known Illinois residence, then where the greater part of Illinois real estate is located, then where the greater part of Illinois personal estate is located (755 ILCS 5/5-1).
What judicial circuit is Randolph County in?
Randolph County is in the Circuit Court of the Twenty-fourth Judicial Circuit, effective December 5, 2022, with Monroe, Washington and Perry Counties. A Randolph County estate is filed in Chester, not in another county in the circuit.
Do I have to e-file a Randolph County probate case?
Yes. Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9 requires e-filing in civil cases, including probate, for filers with and without a lawyer. A filer who qualifies may file the statewide Certification for Exemption From E-filing under Rule 9(d).
Can I e-file the original will in Randolph County?
No. Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(c)(1) says original wills may not be e-filed. Deliver or mail the original will to the Randolph County Circuit Clerk in Chester.
How much does Randolph County probate cost?
The Circuit Clerk posts a probate fee schedule, but the posted page does not show an effective date for the amount. Call (618) 826-5000 before filing to confirm the current filing fee, appearance fee and accepted payment methods.
Can I appear remotely in a Randolph County probate matter?
Only if the assigned judge allows it. Twenty-fourth Judicial Circuit Rule 4-4 leaves remote appearances to the assigned judge's discretion, and the resident circuit judge designates the vendor by county.
Are there local probate forms in Randolph County?
The Circuit Clerk publishes a small estate affidavit form. No local petition, order, oath, inventory or account template is published, and Illinois has no statewide standardized decedent-estate form set.
How do I look up a Randolph County probate case?
Use the Randolph County Judici entry point at https://www.judici.com/courts/cases/case_search.jsp?court=IL079015J. Judici is a private vendor, not the court. If an estate is not listed there, call the Circuit Clerk.
How long does an executor have to account in Randolph County?
Under Twenty-fourth Judicial Circuit Rule 11-8, an executor or administrator must present an account within 14 months after letters issue and then annually. The court can set a hearing and take further action if the account is not filed.
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.