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Rock Island County, IL Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Rock Island County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Circuit Court of the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit, Rock Island County |
| Filing office | Rock Island County Circuit Clerk, Rock Island County Courthouse, 1317 3rd Avenue, Suite 101, Rock Island, IL 61201 |
| Mailing address | 1317 3rd Avenue, Suite 101, Rock Island, IL 61201 |
| Phone | (309) 558-3538 |
| Fax | (309) 786-3029 |
| [email protected] | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. No lunch closure or filing cutoff is posted by the Circuit Clerk. |
| Filing fee | Probate of the estate of a decedent or missing person is $384.00, effective October 1, 2025. Filing a will alone is no fee on the same schedule. Confirm the current amount with the Circuit Clerk before filing. |
| Local forms | Yes. Rock Island County publishes court-approved decedent's-estate forms, and Fourteenth Judicial Circuit Part 8 requires approved probate forms to be used. |
| E-filing | Required for civil cases, including probate, through eFileIL. A self-represented filer may use the Rule 9(d) exemption process if unable to e-file. An original will cannot be e-filed and must be delivered or mailed to the Circuit Clerk under Rule 9(c)(1). |
| Case lookup | Rock Island County uses Judici at https://www.judici.com/courts/cases/case_search.jsp?court=IL081025J. If an estate does not appear there, ask the Circuit Clerk or use the public-access terminal in the clerk's office. |
| Remote appearance | Probate case management hearings use the court's Probate Zoom call. For other probate matters, request instructions by email or file a motion to appear electronically when the hearing is otherwise in person. |
| Website | https://www.rockislandcountyil.gov/189/Circuit-Clerk |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file, list the assets, debts, names and addresses of heirs and legatees, and whether the decedent left an original will. Rock Island County's Petition for Probate and for Letters, Inventory and Probate Case Status Report ask for specific asset, heirship, notice and administration information, so a complete estate settlement plan starts with the facts rather than the form.
Sunset can help locate accounts and assets across more than 2,300 institutions before you choose a path. That work is especially useful in Rock Island County because the decision affects whether you use the county's approved probate packet, the local small estate affidavit form, the daily walk-in call, or a lawyer for a house sale or contested issue.
Which court handles jurisdiction
One courthouse serves all of Rock Island County: the Rock Island County Courthouse, 1317 3rd Avenue, Rock Island, Illinois. The Circuit Clerk publishes no branch or satellite probate filing location, so estate filings for Rock Island County go to the Circuit Clerk in Suite 101.
Rock Island County includes Rock Island, Moline, East Moline, Silvis, Milan, Coal Valley, Hampton, Port Byron, Andalusia, Hillsdale, Cordova, Taylor Ridge and the surrounding rural townships. The county is part of the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit with Mercer, Whiteside and Henry Counties. The circuit shares local rules and a remote-appearance order, but it does not share a filing counter. A Rock Island County estate is filed in Rock Island, not in Aledo, Morrison or Cambridge.
Under the Illinois Probate Act of 1975, venue is the county where the decedent had a known place of residence. If there is no known Illinois residence, venue moves to the county holding the greater part of the decedent's real estate, then to the county holding the greater part of the personal estate (755 ILCS 5/5-1).
The jurisdiction process
- Collect the original will, death certificate information, asset list, debt list, heir and legatee addresses, and any facts needed for Rock Island County's approved Petition for Probate and for Letters. If someone has the will, it must be filed with the Circuit Clerk immediately after death (755 ILCS 5/6-1).
- Download the Rock Island County approved probate forms from the county probate page. Use the local Petition for Probate and for Letters, heirship forms, oath and bond, proposed order and any required waivers, because Fourteenth Judicial Circuit Part 8 requires approved probate forms.
- E-file the petition and supporting documents through eFileIL under the probate case category. If you cannot e-file, use the statewide Certification for Exemption From E-filing under Rule 9(d) and file exempt papers as Rule 9(e) allows. Deliver or mail the original will to the Rock Island County Circuit Clerk in Suite 101 because an original will cannot be e-filed under Rule 9(c)(1).
- Pay the Rock Island County probate filing fee. The estate-of-decedent filing fee is $384.00, effective October 1, 2025, and the will-only filing category is no fee on the same schedule. Confirm the current amount with the Circuit Clerk before filing.
- Address heirship and notice. The court must determine heirship (755 ILCS 5/5-3). Where the local petition seeks letters of administration or letters with will annexed, follow the petition's notice instructions under 755 ILCS 5/9-5 or obtain the county's waiver and consent forms from the people entitled to notice.
- Use the daily probate walk-in call when the matter fits. Rock Island County publishes probate walk-in every day from 9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. in Courtroom 402 for matters such as uncontested estate openings and closings, petitions to sell real estate, annual reports, annual accounts and agreed orders. Do not treat that call as a filing-to-hearing wait.
- Ask about remote appearance before the hearing. Probate case management hearings use the court's Probate Zoom call. For other probate matters, request instructions by email with your name and case number, or file the statewide Motion to Appear Electronically and proof of delivery if the hearing is otherwise in person.
- After the order is entered, qualify by oath and bond as required (755 ILCS 5/12-2). The court grants independent administration under Article XXVIII unless the will forbids it or an interested person objects under the Probate Act; supervised administration is administration under the Probate Act other than Article XXVIII (755 ILCS 5/1-2.16, 755 ILCS 5/28-2).
- Obtain letters of office from the Circuit Clerk after appointment (755 ILCS 5). Letters of office issued on a will are letters testamentary; letters issued when there is no will or no qualifying executor are letters of administration. Certified copies of letters cost $2.00 per page, effective October 1, 2025.
- Mail notices to heirs and legatees, publish any required notices, and file proof where required. The representative publishes the claims notice once each week for three successive weeks in a newspaper published in the county where the estate is administered, and the claims date must be at least six months from the first publication or three months from mailing, whichever is later (755 ILCS 5/18-3).
- Administer and close the estate. File the inventory, handle claims, sell or transfer property as authorized, file the annual report or account required by Fourteenth Judicial Circuit Part 8, and use the county's final report, receipts, waivers and discharge order when the estate is ready to close.
Executor duties
Rock Island County adds a local reporting duty that matters even in independent administration under Article XXVIII. Fourteenth Judicial Circuit Part 8 requires legal representatives of estates to file an annual report or account, and the county probate page says annual reports or accountings are required in decedent's estates and all guardianships.
Do not rely on a generic anniversary date. Part 8 and the current appointment-order form state the timing differently, so use the date in the order entered in your estate. The report should include a schedule for closing the estate and an explanation of any problem delaying closing.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Rock Island County
Rock Island County is unusual for Illinois because it publishes a full local set of court-approved decedent's-estate probate forms. Fourteenth Judicial Circuit Part 8 says the approved probate forms shall be used, and filings that are not on approved forms or not according to rule may be filed only by leave of court.
| Form group | What Rock Island County publishes |
|---|---|
| Opening the estate | Petition for Probate and for Letters, Acceptance of Office, Appearance for Letters of Administration, Declination of Office, Waiver of Notice, Appearance for Letters of Office and Consent, and Order Appointing Representative of Decedent's Estate. |
| Heirship and will proof | Affidavit of Heirship with surviving spouse, Affidavit of Heirship with no surviving spouse, Forms for Will Prove Up, Notice to Heirs and Legatees, Renunciation of Will and Order Declaring Heirship. |
| Administration | Inventory, Claim Notice, Claims Against Estate, Certificate of Depository Receipt, Probate Case Status Report and Case Management Order. |
| Closing | Final Report of Independent Representative, Receipt Consent and Waiver on Closing of Decedent's Estate, Order of Discharge and Order of Transfer to Inactive Docket and Closing of Estate. |
| Statewide forms still used | Certification for Exemption From E-filing, Fee Waiver for Civil Cases and Appearance. Illinois has no statewide standardized decedent-estate form set, so the county forms carry the estate packet. |
The county forms are captioned for the Probate Division of the Circuit Court of the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit, Rock Island County. That caption does not create a separate probate counter; filings still go to the Rock Island County Circuit Clerk in Suite 101.
Fees
Rock Island County publishes its own Circuit Clerk civil fee schedule. Illinois does not have one statewide probate filing fee because circuit clerk fees are set under 705 ILCS 105/27.1b and the county board sets local amounts by ordinance or resolution.
| Fee item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Probate of estate of decedent or missing person | $384.00, effective October 1, 2025 |
| Filing a will only | No fee, effective October 1, 2025 |
| Claim of $150.00 to $500.00 | $25.00, effective October 1, 2025 |
| Claim of $500.01 to $10,000.00 | $40.00, effective October 1, 2025 |
| Claim over $10,000.01 | $60.00, effective October 1, 2025 |
| Certified copy of letters | $2.00 per page, effective October 1, 2025 |
| Exemplification | $8.00, effective October 1, 2025 |
| Filing an account other than one final account | $25.00, effective October 1, 2025 |
The schedule says the executor, administrator, guardian, petitioner or other interested person pays publication costs directly to the newspaper and pays postage costs to the clerk. Confirm the current fee and any appearance charge with the Circuit Clerk before filing.
Timeline
- Immediately after death, anyone holding the will files it with the Rock Island County Circuit Clerk (755 ILCS 5/6-1). The original will cannot be e-filed, so call the Circuit Clerk before mailing or delivering it to the Suite 101 counter.
- Before filing the petition, download the current Rock Island County approved forms. The county's forms carry recent revision dates, and Fourteenth Judicial Circuit Part 8 requires the approved forms.
- When ready to open an uncontested estate, use eFileIL for the petition and supporting documents, pay the $384.00 probate filing fee, effective October 1, 2025, and bring the matter to the daily probate walk-in call if it fits the court's published list.
- Daily probate walk-in is 9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. in Courtroom 402. The court lists uncontested openings and closings, petitions to sell real estate, annual reports, annual accounts and agreed orders as appropriate walk-in matters.
- After appointment, follow the order, oath and bond requirements, obtain letters of office under 755 ILCS 5, and publish the claims notice once a week for three weeks. The claims date must be at least six months from the first publication or three months from mailing, whichever is later (755 ILCS 5/18-3).
- Calendar the annual report or account date from the appointment order. Rock Island County requires annual reporting in every estate, and the report should explain the schedule for closing and any delay.
Local nuance
Rock Island County-specific considerations
| Local rule or practice | What it means for a Rock Island County estate |
|---|---|
| Approved probate forms | Fourteenth Judicial Circuit Part 8 requires the approved probate forms to be used. Start from the Rock Island County probate forms page rather than drafting from a generic packet. |
| Daily probate walk-in call | Uncontested openings and closings of decedent's estates, petitions to sell real estate, reports of sale, annual reports and annual accounts for estates may be set at the daily 9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. call in Courtroom 402. |
| Annual report or account | Every Rock Island County estate has a local annual reporting requirement. The appointment order sets the date in the particular case. |
| Remote probate case management | Probate case management hearings are handled on the court's Probate Zoom call, and the county page says no in-person appearances are allowed for that call. Other probate matters require the instructions or motion process in the remote-appearance order. |
| No separate probate filing counter | The forms use a Probate Division caption, but the Circuit Clerk lists probate under the Civil Division and filings go to the same Suite 101 filing office. |
Small-estate Alternatives
Rock Island County publishes its own Small Estate Affidavit form on the county probate forms page. The affidavit route is created by 755 ILCS 5/25-1, but the local point is practical: you can start from the Circuit Clerk's Rock Island County form rather than hunting for a generic version.
The affidavit itself is not filed as a probate case and carries no court filing fee. It is presented to the bank, transfer agent or other holder of the asset. The Rock Island County form states that if an out-of-state affiant names no Illinois agent for service, or service on the named person cannot be made, the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Rock Island County is treated as the agent for service of process.
Recent updates
| Update | What changed locally |
|---|---|
| Civil fee schedule effective October 1, 2025 | The Rock Island County Circuit Clerk schedule sets the probate filing fee for the estate of a decedent or missing person at $384.00, effective October 1, 2025, claim filing amounts at $25.00, $40.00 and $60.00, each effective October 1, 2025, certified copies of letters at $2.00 per page, effective October 1, 2025, and a no-fee category for filing a will. |
| Probate forms revised through 2026 | The county's approved probate forms include October 2025, November 2025, March 2026 and May 2026 revision dates. Download current forms from the county probate page before filing. |
| Remote appearance order filed October 3, 2023 | The Fourteenth Judicial Circuit remote-appearance order applies to Rock Island County and explains when a remote appearance is allowed, when a motion is needed, and how probate case management is handled. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Rock Island County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Jointly held property or property with a beneficiary designation may pass outside the estate. Assets in the decedent's sole name may require the Rock Island County approved Petition for Probate and for Letters, e-filing through eFileIL, delivery or mailing of the original will to the Circuit Clerk, and the $384.00 probate filing fee, effective October 1, 2025. An uncontested opening can be a daily walk-in matter. | Sunset helps identify which accounts and assets are inside the estate settlement, prepares the information needed for the county packet, and connects the family with counsel if a deed, title issue or court order is needed. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | Many steps can be handled remotely: e-filing, email questions to the Circuit Clerk, and probate case management by Zoom. If the small estate affidavit route fits, Rock Island County publishes its own affidavit form. The original will still must be delivered or mailed to the Circuit Clerk if one exists. | Sunset helps determine whether accounts are small-estate affidavit candidates, organizes institution information, and helps the out-of-state child understand when Rock Island County paperwork or local counsel is needed. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale usually requires letters of office under 755 ILCS 5. The approved Inventory requires parcel address, type of interest, value and liens. Petitions to sell real estate are named as daily probate walk-in matters. The claims notice opens the six-month claims window under 755 ILCS 5/18-3, publication is paid directly to the newspaper, and certified copies of letters cost $2.00 per page, effective October 1, 2025. The deed is recorded with the Rock Island County Recorder, not the Circuit Clerk. | Sunset helps gather asset and lien information, prepare the probate packet, track annual reporting and closing tasks, and connect the parent with a Rock Island County probate attorney for the sale. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps |
|---|---|
| Rock Island County Circuit Clerk | Filing office for estates: 1317 3rd Avenue, Suite 101, Rock Island, IL 61201, (309) 558-3538, [email protected]. The office has a dedicated computer space for self-represented e-filing and payment, but staff cannot give legal advice. |
| Rock Island County probate forms and probate court information | County-approved decedent's-estate forms, annual report information and daily probate walk-in call details. |
| Rock Island County Circuit Clerk filing fee schedule | Current local civil fee schedule, including the $384.00 probate filing fee, effective October 1, 2025, claim fees, certified copies of letters and the no-fee will filing category. |
| Fourteenth Judicial Circuit local court rules | Rules of Practice for Rock Island, Mercer, Whiteside and Henry Counties, including Part 8 on probate forms and annual reports and Part 14 on clerk's office hours. |
| Rock Island County virtual hearings information | Probate case management Zoom information and the remote-appearance procedure for other hearings. |
| Rock Island County Legal Self-Help Center | Located on the first floor at 1317 3rd Avenue in Rock Island. Offers computers, WiFi, online and paper court forms, printed legal information, free printing and scanning, and navigation help during open hours. It provides information, not legal advice. |
| Prairie State Legal Services, Moline office | Legal aid office serving Rock Island County from 1515 5th Avenue, Suite 200, Moline, (309) 794-1328 and toll free (800) 322-9804. Confirm whether it can help with the specific estate issue before relying on it. |
| Illinois Legal Aid Online, how do I settle an estate after someone dies | Statewide plain-language guide to estate settlement after a death. |
| Illinois Courts approved statewide standardized forms | Statewide forms accepted by Illinois courts, including Certification for Exemption From E-filing, Fee Waiver for Civil Cases and Appearance. The statewide list does not include decedent-estate probate forms. |
| eFileIL | Statewide electronic filing system used for civil filings in Rock Island County probate cases. |
When to hire an attorney
A lawyer is not described as required by the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit rules, and Rock Island County's own probate forms include a pro se checkbox, but counsel often makes sense when the estate includes a house to sell, heirs disagree, a claim is filed, a will contest or will construction issue appears, or the annual report and final account need to satisfy Part 8 before closing. Circuit Clerk staff cannot provide legal advice, and the courthouse self-help center provides legal information only. Sunset connects families to a vetted Illinois probate attorney serving Rock Island County.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families start estate settlement by identifying accounts, insurance, benefits and other assets that may not be obvious from mail or memory. Sunset's search covers more than 2,300 institutions, which helps you decide whether Rock Island County probate is needed before you spend time on forms.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the information needed for the Petition for Probate and for Letters, heirship details, asset inventory and notice steps, then helps you prepare for Rock Island County's approved form set and eFileIL process.
Find a local probate attorney. When a Rock Island County estate involves a house sale, a contested will, creditor claims, out-of-state family members or a court account, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Illinois probate attorney who handles Rock Island County matters.
Sunset is free for families. Sunset's estate settlement tools help families gather information, understand the local filing path and decide what to do next without charging a fee to get started.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Rock Island County?
File with the Rock Island County Circuit Clerk at the Rock Island County Courthouse, 1317 3rd Avenue, Suite 101, Rock Island, IL 61201. Illinois venue starts in the county where the decedent had a known place of residence, then moves to the county holding the greater part of the real estate, then to the county holding the greater part of the personal estate (755 ILCS 5/5-1).
Does Rock Island County have its own probate forms?
Yes. The Circuit Clerk publishes court-approved decedent's-estate forms, and Fourteenth Judicial Circuit Part 8 requires the approved probate forms to be used unless the court gives leave to file something else.
How much does it cost to open an estate in Rock Island County?
The probate filing fee for the estate of a decedent or missing person is $384.00, effective October 1, 2025. Confirm the current amount with the Rock Island County Circuit Clerk before filing.
Is there a fee to file just the will in Rock Island County?
No. The Rock Island County Circuit Clerk's schedule lists Wills as a no-fee category, effective October 1, 2025. Anyone holding the will must file it with the Circuit Clerk immediately after death (755 ILCS 5/6-1), and a named executor has 30 days after learning of the appointment to open a case or decline (755 ILCS 5/6-3).
Do I have to e-file probate documents in Rock Island County?
Yes. Probate is a civil case, and e-filing is required in Illinois civil cases under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(a). A self-represented filer who cannot e-file may use the 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).
When is probate court held in Rock Island County?
The court publishes a daily probate walk-in call from 9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. in Courtroom 402. Appropriate walk-in matters include uncontested openings and closings of decedent's estates, petitions to sell real estate, reports of sale, annual reports and annual accounts for estates, agreed orders and requests to schedule longer hearings.
Can I appear remotely in a Rock Island County probate case?
Probate case management hearings are held on the court's Probate Zoom call. For another probate matter, request instructions by email with your name and case number. If the hearing is otherwise scheduled in person, file the statewide Motion to Appear Electronically and proof of delivery as the remote-appearance order requires.
Do I have to file something every year in a Rock Island County estate?
Yes. Fourteenth Judicial Circuit Part 8 requires an annual report or account in every estate, and the appointment order in your case sets the date. Calendar the date from your order and include a schedule for closing the estate.
How do I look up a Rock Island County probate case?
Use the Rock Island County Judici page at https://www.judici.com/courts/cases/case_search.jsp?court=IL081025J. If the estate is not listed, ask the Circuit Clerk or use the public-access terminal in the clerk's office.
Do I have to travel to Rock Island for probate?
Not for every step. Many filings are e-filed, probate case management is remote, and the Circuit Clerk can answer copy questions by phone or email. The original will still must be delivered or mailed to the Circuit Clerk, and any hearing the judge keeps in person may require a trip unless the court grants remote appearance.
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.