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Stephenson County, IL Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Stephenson County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Circuit Court of the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit, Stephenson County |
| Filing office | Stephenson County Circuit Clerk, 15 North Galena Avenue, 2nd Floor, Freeport, IL 61032 |
| Mailing address | No separate mailing address is published. Use 15 North Galena Avenue, 2nd Floor, Freeport, IL 61032. |
| Phone | (815) 235-8266. Press 3 for the Civil Division. No probate-only line is published. |
| Fax | (815) 599-8477 |
| [email protected] | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. No lunch closure is listed. |
| Filing fee | Administration of a decedent's estate is listed at $356.00, effective October 1, 2025. The appearance, answer, or response fee for a decedent's estate is listed at $181.00, effective October 1, 2025. |
| Local forms | Yes. Stephenson County publishes a narrow probate forms folder with a contract claim form and a letters of office form under 755 ILCS 5. |
| E-filing | Civil probate petitions are filed through eFileIL unless an exemption applies. An original will cannot be e-filed and must be delivered or mailed to the Circuit Clerk. |
| Case search | Judici, Stephenson County court ID IL089015J. If a probate case does not appear online, call the Circuit Clerk. |
| Remote appearance | Routine, non-evidentiary civil matters, including probate, generally may use Zoom under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 45 and Fifteenth Judicial Circuit Local Rule 4.4. Stephenson County Courtrooms 1 and 4 list prior judge approval for Zoom. |
| Website | Stephenson County Circuit Clerk and Court page |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything in Freeport, identify the assets, debts, beneficiaries, and any original will. A clear asset picture tells you whether the estate settlement can stay outside court or needs a Stephenson County case with letters of office under 755 ILCS 5.
Sunset can help search more than 2,300 financial institutions for accounts and insurance, then organize what you find for the Circuit Clerk, a bank, or a probate attorney. That preparation reduces repeat trips, rejected filings, and uncertainty about the next estate settlement step.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Stephenson County Circuit Clerk serves probate filings for all Stephenson County communities from the courthouse in Freeport. The filing office is the Clerk of the Circuit Court, 15 North Galena Avenue, 2nd Floor, Freeport, IL 61032.
Illinois venue is decided by county. Under 755 ILCS 5/5-1, probate or administration is filed first in the county of the decedent's known residence, then the county where the greater part of Illinois real estate is located, then the county where the greater part of personal estate is located. If Stephenson County is the proper county, file in Stephenson County rather than another county in the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit.
The jurisdiction process
- Find the original will, if any, and deliver or mail it to the Stephenson County Circuit Clerk. A will filed by itself is handled under 755 ILCS 5/6-1, and the local schedule lists $0.00 for that filing, effective October 1, 2025.
- Choose the correct path. If court administration is needed, prepare the petition and supporting papers for an executor, administrator, administrator with the will annexed, or administrator to collect, as the facts require.
- Use eFileIL for the civil probate petition unless an exemption applies. Do not e-file the original will. Send paper originals to the Circuit Clerk at 15 North Galena Avenue, 2nd Floor, Freeport, IL 61032.
- Pay the local filing fee. Stephenson County lists administration of a decedent's estate at $356.00, effective October 1, 2025, and an appearance, answer, or response fee of $181.00, effective October 1, 2025.
- Arrange required notice. Creditor notice is published once each week for 3 successive weeks, with the claim date not less than 6 months from first publication or 3 months from mailing or delivery, whichever is later, under 755 ILCS 5/18-3.
- Attend the first hearing if one is set. Routine, non-evidentiary probate hearings generally may be handled by Zoom under Rule 45 and Local Rule 4.4, but Courtrooms 1 and 4 list prior judge approval for Zoom.
- After appointment, obtain letters of office under 755 ILCS 5. Stephenson County lists letters of office at $2.00 each, effective October 1, 2025.
- Administer the estate. Collect assets, handle claims, sell property if authorized, account to interested persons, and follow any court orders. Independent administration under 755 ILCS 5/Art. XXVIII generally reduces routine court filings unless supervision is required.
- Close the estate when administration is complete. File the required closing papers or obtain the necessary releases, depending on whether the estate is independent administration under 755 ILCS 5/Art. XXVIII or supervised administration.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Stephenson County
Stephenson County does not publish a full estate petition packet. It does publish two local probate forms through the Circuit Clerk's Forms page:
| Form | Local use |
|---|---|
| Claims, contract | Used for a creditor claim in a probate estate. |
| Letters of office under 755 ILCS 5 | Used for the Illinois authority document issued after the court appoints an executor or administrator. |
For the petition, oath, bond, inventory, accounting, and closing papers, confirm the expected format with the Circuit Clerk or work with counsel. Illinois Legal Aid Online also offers a small estate affidavit tool under 755 ILCS 5/Art. XXV for eligible personal property transfers outside court.
Fees
Stephenson County publishes a local fee schedule for court filings. The amounts below come from the Stephenson County filing fee schedule effective October 1, 2025. Publication costs are paid to the newspaper, not to the Circuit Clerk.
| Fee item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Administration of a decedent's estate, testate or intestate | $356.00, effective October 1, 2025 |
| Appearance, answer, or response in a decedent's estate | $181.00, effective October 1, 2025 |
| Claims from $0.01 to $150.00 | $0.00, effective October 1, 2025 |
| Claims from $150.01 to $500.00 | $25.00, effective October 1, 2025 |
| Claims from $500.01 to $10,000.00 | $40.00, effective October 1, 2025 |
| Claims of $10,000.01 or more | $60.00, effective October 1, 2025 |
| Letters of office under 755 ILCS 5 | $2.00 each, effective October 1, 2025 |
| Each accounting other than the final account | $25.00, effective October 1, 2025 |
| Probate jury demand, 6 person | $68.75, effective October 1, 2025 |
| Probate jury demand, 12 person | $137.50, effective October 1, 2025 |
| Certification of any document | $10.00 each, effective October 1, 2025 |
| Certified mailing per defendant or envelope | $19.64, effective October 1, 2025 |
| Copies, page 1 | $2.00, effective October 1, 2025 |
| Copies, pages 2 through 20 | $0.50 each, effective October 1, 2025 |
| Copies, page 21 and after | $0.25 each, effective October 1, 2025 |
| Exemplification, triplicate certificate | $8.00 each, effective October 1, 2025 |
Local nuance
Stephenson County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means |
|---|---|
| Zoom is generally available for routine probate | Illinois Supreme Court Rule 45 and Fifteenth Judicial Circuit Local Rule 4.4 allow remote attendance without advance approval for routine, non-evidentiary civil matters, including probate. |
| Two courtrooms list a separate approval condition | The Stephenson County Zoom page lists Courtroom 1 and Courtroom 4 as Zoom only with prior approval from the judge. Check the assigned courtroom before the hearing. |
| No full local estate packet | The Circuit Clerk publishes a contract claim form and a letters of office form under 755 ILCS 5, but not a complete decedent estate petition packet. |
Recent updates
| Update | What changed |
|---|---|
| Local fee schedule effective October 1, 2025 | Stephenson County's court fee schedule lists decedent estate administration at $356.00, effective October 1, 2025, and the appearance, answer, or response fee at $181.00, effective October 1, 2025. |
| Local probate forms folder | The Circuit Clerk publishes a narrow probate forms folder with a contract claim form and a letters of office form under 755 ILCS 5. |
| Zoom courtroom caveat | The county Zoom page lists Courtrooms 1 and 4 as requiring prior judge approval for Zoom appearances. |
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Stephenson County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | First confirm how the home is titled and whether any asset needs letters of office under 755 ILCS 5. If a court case is needed, file with the Stephenson County Circuit Clerk in Freeport. | Sunset helps identify accounts, insurance, and title issues so the spouse can decide whether court administration is needed for the estate settlement. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | If the property qualifies for a small estate affidavit under 755 ILCS 5/Art. XXV, the child may use the affidavit with the holder instead of filing a court case. If a court case is needed, the petition can usually be e-filed, but any original will must be mailed or delivered. | Sunset helps gather account details, prepare the asset list, and connect the child with local counsel if a Stephenson County filing is needed. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale usually requires court authority unless title already passes outside probate. File in Stephenson County if venue fits 755 ILCS 5/5-1 and request letters of office under 755 ILCS 5 for the proper representative. | Sunset helps organize assets, debts, and family information for the attorney and court filing, then supports the estate settlement checklist through sale and closing. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Stephenson County Circuit Clerk | Filing office for probate cases, local forms, fee schedule, Judici link, and Zoom courtroom information. | 15 North Galena Avenue, 2nd Floor, Freeport, IL 61032. Phone: (815) 235-8266. |
| Prairie State Legal Services, Rockford office | Legal aid provider serving Stephenson County for eligible clients. | 303 North Main Street, Suite 600, Rockford, IL 61101. Phone: (815) 965-2902. Toll free: (800) 892-2985. |
| Illinois Legal Aid Online | Statewide self-help guides and an automated small estate affidavit tool under 755 ILCS 5/Art. XXV. | illinoislegalaid.org |
When to hire an attorney
Attorney help often makes sense when the estate includes real estate, a sale, creditor disputes, missing heirs, disagreement over independent administration under 755 ILCS 5/Art. XXVIII, or any request that requires court approval. Because an executor or administrator acts for beneficiaries and creditors, a lawyer can also help avoid filings that the court may not accept from a non-lawyer representative. 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 accounts, policies, and other assets that shape the estate settlement plan before you file in Stephenson County.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset helps organize the family information, asset list, and court-ready details needed for a Stephenson County estate filing, including the information an attorney or the Circuit Clerk will expect to see.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate needs court administration, a real estate sale, creditor work, or a dispute response, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Illinois probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to understand the estate settlement path, gather information, and decide whether Stephenson County probate is needed without paying Sunset for access.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Stephenson County?
File with the Stephenson County Circuit Clerk at 15 North Galena Avenue, 2nd Floor, Freeport, IL 61032. Stephenson County is in the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit, but venue is county-based under 755 ILCS 5/5-1, so a Stephenson County estate is filed in Stephenson County.
Does Stephenson County have a separate probate division?
No. Stephenson County probate is handled as a civil case category in the Circuit Court. The county does not publish a standing probate division or a single probate judge.
Can I e-file a Stephenson County probate case?
Yes, civil probate petitions are filed through eFileIL unless an exemption applies. An original will cannot be e-filed. Deliver or mail the original will to the Circuit Clerk before or with the estate filing.
How much does it cost to open a decedent's estate in Stephenson County?
The Stephenson County schedule lists administration of a decedent's estate at $356.00, effective October 1, 2025. The appearance, answer, or response fee for a decedent's estate is $181.00, effective October 1, 2025.
How do I look up a Stephenson County probate case?
Use Judici for Stephenson County, court ID IL089015J. If the case is not visible online, call the Circuit Clerk at (815) 235-8266 because online access may not show every filing or may require additional search steps.
Can I appear by Zoom for a Stephenson County probate hearing?
Routine, non-evidentiary probate matters generally may be handled remotely under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 45 and Fifteenth Judicial Circuit Local Rule 4.4. Stephenson County's Zoom page lists Courtrooms 1 and 4 as requiring prior judge approval, so check the assigned courtroom before relying on Zoom.
Does Stephenson County provide local probate forms?
Yes, but only a narrow set. The Circuit Clerk's Forms page includes a contract claim form and a letters of office form under 755 ILCS 5. It does not publish a complete petition packet.
Do I have to travel to Freeport for probate?
You may be able to handle routine hearings by Zoom if the assigned courtroom allows it, and many civil filings can be e-filed. You still need to deliver or mail any original will to the Circuit Clerk, and the assigned judge can require in-person attendance for a specific matter.
Can I use a small estate affidavit in Stephenson County?
If the estate qualifies under 755 ILCS 5/Art. XXV, a small estate affidavit is used with the bank, transfer agent, or other property holder, not filed with the Stephenson County Circuit Clerk. It cannot transfer real estate.
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.