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Tazewell County, IL Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Tazewell County detail |
|---|---|
| Court | Circuit Court of the Tenth Judicial Circuit, Tazewell County |
| Filing office | Tazewell County Circuit Clerk, Tazewell County Courthouse, 342 Court Street, Room 204, Pekin, IL 61554 |
| Mailing | Clerk of the Circuit Court, Attention: desired office, 342 Court St, Pekin, IL 61554 |
| Phone | (309) 477-2214. No separate probate line is published. |
| Fax | (309) 353-7801 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. No lunch closure or separate filing cutoff is published. |
| Filing fee | PROBATE (PR) estate filing is $376.00, appearance fee is $201.00 and certified letters of office are $2.00 each, all from the Circuit Clerk's October 1, 2025 civil fee schedule. Confirm the current amount with the Circuit Clerk before filing. |
| Local forms | No local decedent-estate petition packet is published. The clerk publishes a small estate affidavit form, guardianship forms and statewide forms such as the e-filing exemption and fee waiver. |
| E-filing | Required in Illinois civil cases, including probate, through eFileIL for filers with and without a lawyer. A self-represented filer who cannot e-file may file the Certification for Exemption From E-filing. An original will cannot be e-filed and must be delivered or mailed to the Circuit Clerk (Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(c)(1)). |
| Case lookup | Tazewell County uses its own Odyssey Portal at https://portal-iltazewell.tylertech.cloud/Portal/. The county states that it no longer uses Judici. If an estate is not visible online, call the Circuit Clerk or ask at Room 204. |
| Remote appearance | Available in civil matters by Zoom at the judge's discretion, at no charge, on a written or in-person request made at least three business days before the proceeding. Evidentiary hearings, settlement conferences, trials and contempt proceedings are excluded. |
| Website | https://tazewellcountyil.com/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Pekin, make a working list of the decedent's assets, debts, title documents, beneficiary designations and co-owned property. That determines whether estate settlement can happen outside court, whether a Tazewell County probate estate is needed, and whether real estate, creditor claims or missing assets will complicate the process.
Sunset helps families search for assets across more than 2,300 financial institutions before they spend money on a filing fee, certified letters of office under 755 ILCS 5 or attorney time. In Tazewell County, that preparation also helps you know whether to e-file a petition, mail or deliver an original will to Room 204, request a remote appearance, or ask the Legal Self-Help Center about available forms.
Which court handles jurisdiction
One courthouse serves Tazewell County: the Tazewell County Courthouse, 342 Court Street, Pekin, IL 61554. The Circuit Clerk's probate filing counter is in Room 204, and probate estates are heard in Courtroom 202. The courthouse serves Pekin, East Peoria, Morton, Washington, Creve Coeur, Marquette Heights, North Pekin, South Pekin, Tremont, Delavan, Minier, Mackinaw, Green Valley, Deer Creek, Hopedale, Groveland, Armington and the surrounding rural townships.
Tazewell County is part of the Tenth Judicial Circuit with Peoria, Marshall, Putnam and Stark Counties. The circuit shares court administration, but it does not share a filing counter. A probate estate for a Tazewell County resident is filed with the Tazewell County Circuit Clerk in Pekin, not in Peoria. Illinois venue is the county where the decedent had a known place of residence, then the county with the greater part of the real estate, then the county with the greater part of the personal estate (755 ILCS 5/5-1).
The jurisdiction process
- Confirm that Tazewell County is the right venue. Illinois probate belongs in the county where the decedent had a known place of residence, then the county with the greater part of the real estate, then the county with the greater part of the personal estate (755 ILCS 5/5-1).
- Locate the will and get it to the Circuit Clerk. Anyone holding the will must file it 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). The original will cannot be e-filed, so deliver or mail it to the Tazewell County Circuit Clerk, 342 Court Street, Room 204, Pekin, IL 61554.
- Prepare the petition and supporting papers. Illinois has no statewide decedent-estate form set, and Tazewell County does not publish a local estate-opening packet. Ask the Circuit Clerk or the Legal Self-Help Center whether a current local form is available, or have the petition drafted. The petition asks to admit the will, if any, and to issue letters of office under 755 ILCS 5.
- E-file the petition through eFileIL under the Probate case category. If you cannot e-file, file the standardized Certification for Exemption From E-filing and then file in person or by mail under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(d) and 9(e). The original will still goes physically to the Circuit Clerk.
- Pay the local filing fee or file a fee waiver. The Tazewell County Circuit Clerk's October 1, 2025 civil fee schedule lists a PROBATE (PR) estate filing fee of $376.00 and an appearance fee of $201.00. Confirm the current amount with the Circuit Clerk before filing.
- Prove heirship and attend any required hearing. Tenth Circuit Rule 65 allows heirship to be shown by court testimony, affidavit under 755 ILCS 5/5-3, deposition or a verified petition. Probate estates are heard in Courtroom 202 in the Tazewell County Courthouse.
- Request remote appearance if needed. In civil matters, a judge may allow Zoom appearance under Tenth Circuit Local Rule 86. Make the request in writing or in person at least three business days before the proceeding. Some proceedings, including evidentiary hearings, settlement conferences, trials and contempt matters, are excluded.
- Qualify as representative. The representative takes an oath and gives bond unless the will or court excuses a written bond as allowed by 755 ILCS 5/12-2. File your address with the Tazewell County Circuit Clerk and keep it updated during administration.
- Receive letters of office. Letters of office are the Illinois authority document under 755 ILCS 5. On a will, they may be letters testamentary under 755 ILCS 5/6-8; without a will, they may be letters of administration under Article IX. Certified letters of office cost $2.00 each under the Tazewell County Circuit Clerk's October 1, 2025 fee schedule.
- Give required notices. After the order, mail notice to heirs and legatees as required by 755 ILCS 5/6-10. Publish the creditor notice once a week for three successive weeks in a newspaper published in the county where the estate is administered, then file proof of publication. The claims date must be at least six months from first publication or three months from mailing, whichever is later (755 ILCS 5/18-3).
- Administer the estate. Prepare the inventory, including legal descriptions for real estate under Tenth Circuit Rule 66, collect assets, pay allowed claims, keep records and handle objections in writing. Independent administration is granted by default unless the will forbids it or an interested person objects, under Article XXVIII and 755 ILCS 5/28-2.
- Account and close. File the required account and receipts. Tenth Circuit Rule 76 requires the final account to show that court costs have been paid, that filed claims have been allowed or dismissed, and that receipts are filed for allowed claims that have been paid. Then request discharge and close the estate settlement.
Executor duties
Tenth Judicial Circuit probate rules add several local tasks to the statewide duties of an executor or administrator in Tazewell County. When you take the oath, file your address with the Tazewell County Circuit Clerk and report later address changes during the administration. If the estate owns real estate, the inventory must include the legal description of each parcel and the street address if there is one.
Claims based on a written instrument must be accompanied by a copy, and the original must be shown to the court at the hearing unless it is lost or destroyed. Objections to accounts, reports or awards must be in writing and must state the grounds. A final account must be verified and must show that court costs have been paid, that filed claims have been allowed or dismissed, and that receipts are filed for allowed claims that have been paid.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Tazewell County
Illinois does not publish a statewide standardized decedent-estate packet, and the Tazewell County Circuit Clerk does not publish a local petition, order, oath, inventory or account form for opening a decedent's estate. The clerk's forms page does publish statewide forms that can matter in probate, including the Certification for Exemption From E-filing, the civil fee waiver application and the Appearance.
The Tazewell clerk also publishes a small estate affidavit form, an Annual Guardian Report and a Guardianship for a Disabled Adult packet. Those are not a full probate-estate opening packet. The clerk also posts a generic Blank Petition and a generic Notice of Hearing, but they are not labeled as probate forms. Before drafting a petition to admit a will and issue letters of office under 755 ILCS 5, ask the Circuit Clerk or the Legal Self-Help Center in Room 103 whether a current local form is available.
Fees
Tazewell County publishes its own civil fee schedule, and there is no statewide Illinois probate filing fee. The fee-setting framework is 705 ILCS 105/27.1b, and the county's current published probate numbers come from the Tazewell County Circuit Clerk's October 1, 2025 civil fee schedule. Confirm the current amount with the Circuit Clerk before you file or request certified copies.
| Fee item | Amount |
|---|---|
| PROBATE (PR) estate filing | $376.00, as of October 1, 2025 |
| PROBATE (PR) estate that does not exceed the clerk's lower local line | $244.00, as of October 1, 2025. Ask the Circuit Clerk when this line applies. |
| Appearance fee, other than guardianship of a minor | $201.00, as of October 1, 2025 |
| Certified letters of office | $2.00 each, as of October 1, 2025 |
| Account other than final account | $25.00, as of October 1, 2025 |
| Claim of $150.00 but less than $500.00 | $25.00, as of October 1, 2025 |
| Claim of $500.00 but less than $10,000.00 | $40.00, as of October 1, 2025 |
| Claim of $10,000.00 or more | $60.00, as of October 1, 2025 |
| Small estate affidavit line on the local schedule | No fee, as of October 1, 2025 |
| Certified document with seal | $6.00 plus copy fee, as of October 1, 2025 |
| Photocopies | $2.00 for the first page, $0.50 per page for the next 19 pages and $0.25 per page for remaining pages, as of October 1, 2025 |
Local nuance
Tazewell County-specific considerations
Tazewell County is governed by the Tenth Judicial Circuit probate rules, Rules 60 to 78. Those rules require the executor or administrator to file an address with the clerk when taking the oath and to report address changes during administration. They also require real estate inventory entries to include the legal description of each parcel and the street address if there is one.
After a will is admitted, the clerk places a copy in the court file and keeps the original will separate for six months; it is not released except by court order under Tenth Judicial Circuit Rule 63(b). Claims notice is a separate statewide publication step under 755 ILCS 5/18-3. Tazewell County hearings are recorded verbatim by a certified court reporter or digital recording equipment under Tenth Circuit Rule 14.
Probate estates in Tazewell County are heard in Courtroom 202 under the Tenth Judicial Circuit's 2026 assignments, effective January 1, 2026 until further order of the court. The circuit also publishes a peremptory court call cadence for probate cases at intervals not to exceed six months, but it does not publish a filing-to-hearing wait or regular probate call day. Claims notice remains governed by 755 ILCS 5/18-3.
Small-estate Alternatives
Tazewell County is unusual because the Circuit Clerk publishes a small estate affidavit form and the October 1, 2025 fee schedule lists a small estate affidavit line as no fee. A small estate affidavit is presented to the bank, transfer agent or other holder of the asset, not filed as a court case with the Circuit Clerk, and it cannot transfer real estate.
Use caution before signing the form posted on the Tazewell clerk's site. The posted version is an older version of the statutory affidavit and uses wording that the statute has since changed. Check the current statewide requirements on Sunset's Illinois probate page or with an Illinois probate attorney before signing.
Recent updates
| Change | What changed |
|---|---|
| October 1, 2025 civil fee schedule | The Tazewell County Circuit Clerk's current published schedule lists the PROBATE (PR) estate filing fee at $376.00, the appearance fee at $201.00, certified letters of office at $2.00 each, each account other than a final account at $25.00, and claim fees of $25.00, $40.00 and $60.00, all as of October 1, 2025. Confirm current amounts with the Circuit Clerk. |
| County case lookup portal | Tazewell County states that it no longer uses Judici for court records and directs the public to its own Odyssey Portal. The portal can be searched by the general public without registration, subject to remote-access limits. |
| 2026 courtroom assignments | The Tenth Judicial Circuit's assignments effective January 1, 2026 place Tazewell County probate estates in Courtroom 202 on the civil call until further order of the court. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Tazewell County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Jointly owned property or property with a beneficiary designation may pass outside the estate. If assets were in the decedent's sole name, the spouse files with the Tazewell County Circuit Clerk, e-files the petition, delivers or mails the original will to Room 204 and confirms the $376.00 PROBATE (PR) estate filing fee from the October 1, 2025 schedule with the Circuit Clerk. Deed recording after a transfer is handled by the County Clerk and Recorder at 11 S. 4th Street, not by the Circuit Clerk. | Sunset identifies accounts, reviews title and beneficiary information, and helps decide whether estate settlement needs a Pekin probate filing. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | Many steps can be handled remotely through eFileIL, the Circuit Clerk's phone line and the county's portal. The original will still must be delivered or mailed to Room 204, and remote appearance requires a request at least three business days before the proceeding. If no case is opened and a small estate affidavit is used, the Tazewell clerk posts a form, but the posted version is older, so check current statewide requirements before signing. | Sunset gathers asset information, organizes documents, flags the original-will delivery step and helps connect the family with local counsel if the affidavit route is not enough. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale of real estate generally requires letters of office under 755 ILCS 5 from a Tazewell County estate. The inventory must include the legal description and street address of each parcel. The October 1, 2025 schedule lists certified letters of office at $2.00 each, an appearance fee of $201.00 and each account other than a final account at $25.00. Creditor notice is published once a week for three weeks and opens the six-month claims window (755 ILCS 5/18-3). | Sunset helps find assets and debts, prepares the information needed for the inventory and estate settlement, and connects the parent with a vetted Illinois probate attorney for the real estate sale and closing steps. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps |
|---|---|
| Tazewell County Circuit Clerk | Filing office for estates at 342 Court Street, Room 204, Pekin, IL 61554, (309) 477-2214. The site has the fee schedule, forms library, e-filing help, court records portal and a web contact form. |
| Tazewell County Circuit Clerk fee schedule | Published as the October 1, 2025 civil fee schedule. It lists the local PROBATE (PR) estate filing fee, appearance fee, claim fees and certified letters of office charges. |
| Tazewell County court records portal | The county's free public Odyssey Portal for Smart Search and hearing searches. Online access may be narrower than courthouse access under the statewide remote access policy. |
| Tazewell County Legal Self-Help Center | Located in the courthouse law library, Room 103. A navigator is available depending on availability, with computers, internet, court forms, printed legal information, printers, scanners and referrals. Call the county's published number, (309) 478-5790, to check availability. |
| Tenth Judicial Circuit Self-Represented Litigant Help Desk | A Tenth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee project with virtual pro bono attorneys offering brief advice, referrals and limited scope assistance for eligible self-represented litigants. |
| Prairie State Legal Services, Peoria office | The legal aid office serving Tazewell County, at 101 SW Adams St., Suite 800, Peoria, IL 61602, (309) 674-9831 and toll free (800) 322-2280. Confirm whether it can take a decedent's estate matter. |
| Tenth Judicial Circuit local court rules | Rules for Peoria, Tazewell, Marshall, Putnam and Stark Counties, including probate rules, remote appearance Rule 86 and the probate-rule amendment order. |
| Tenth Judicial Circuit remote hearings information | Explains how to request and join a Zoom proceeding. Tazewell County questions go to the Circuit Clerk at (309) 477-2214. |
| eFileIL | The statewide electronic filing system. The Tazewell clerk links to Odyssey eFileIL and publishes its own step-by-step e-filing help sheets. |
| Illinois Courts approved statewide standardized forms | Every Illinois court must accept these forms. In an estate, the relevant ones are the Certification for Exemption From E-filing, the civil fee waiver application and the Appearance. There is no decedent-estate form on the statewide list. |
| Illinois Legal Aid Online estate guide | Statewide plain-language information about settling an estate after someone dies. |
When to hire an attorney
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions to help identify accounts, policies and balances before you decide whether Tazewell County probate is needed. That asset picture makes estate settlement easier to plan.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset helps organize the information needed for the petition, heirship, inventory and supporting documents, then points you to the Tazewell County Circuit Clerk's filing office, eFileIL and the original-will delivery step.
Find a local probate attorney. When a Tazewell County estate has real estate, creditor issues, contested heirs or court accounting questions, Sunset can connect you with a vetted Illinois probate attorney serving Tazewell County.
Sunset is free for families. Sunset's estate settlement tools are free for families, including asset discovery, document organization and attorney matching when legal help is the right next step.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file for probate in Tazewell County?
File with the Tazewell County Circuit Clerk at the Tazewell County Courthouse, 342 Court Street, Room 204, Pekin, IL 61554. Illinois venue starts in the county where the decedent had a known place of residence, then moves to the county with the greater part of the real estate, then the county with the greater part of the personal estate (755 ILCS 5/5-1).
Do I have to e-file a Tazewell County probate case?
Yes. E-filing is required in Illinois civil cases, including probate, for filers with and without a lawyer. If you cannot e-file, use the standardized Certification for Exemption From E-filing. The original will is different: it cannot be e-filed and must be delivered or mailed to the Circuit Clerk (Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(c)(1)).
What do I do with the original will in Tazewell County?
Deliver or mail the original will to the Tazewell County Circuit Clerk in Room 204 in Pekin. Anyone holding the will must file it immediately after death (755 ILCS 5/6-1), and a person named as executor has 30 days after learning of the appointment to open a case or decline (755 ILCS 5/6-3). After admission, Tenth Judicial Circuit Rule 63(b) keeps the original will separate from the court file for six months, and the clerk will not release it without a court order. Claims notice in an estate is governed separately by 755 ILCS 5/18-3.
How much does it cost to open an estate in Tazewell County?
The Circuit Clerk's October 1, 2025 civil fee schedule lists the PROBATE (PR) estate filing fee at $376.00, the appearance fee at $201.00 and certified letters of office at $2.00 each. Confirm the current amount with the Circuit Clerk before filing.
Which courtroom hears probate estates in Tazewell County?
Probate estates are assigned to Courtroom 202 in the Tazewell County Courthouse under the Tenth Judicial Circuit's 2026 courtroom assignments, effective January 1, 2026 until further order of the court. No filing-to-hearing wait or probate hearing day is published.
Can I appear remotely in a Tazewell County estate?
Possibly. Civil remote appearances are available by Zoom at the judge's discretion under Tenth Judicial Circuit Local Rule 86. Request remote appearance in writing or in person at least three business days before the proceeding. Evidentiary hearings, settlement conferences, bench or jury trials and contempt proceedings are excluded.
Are there local probate forms in Tazewell County?
There is no local decedent-estate petition packet online. The clerk publishes a forms library, but the probate-adjacent items are a small estate affidavit and guardianship forms. The clerk also links statewide forms such as the e-filing exemption, fee waiver and Appearance.
How do I look up a Tazewell County probate case?
Use the county's Odyssey Portal at https://portal-iltazewell.tylertech.cloud/Portal/. The county states that it no longer uses Judici. Online access can be narrower than courthouse access under the statewide remote access policy, so call the Circuit Clerk at (309) 477-2214 or ask at Room 204 if the estate is not visible.
Do I have to travel to Pekin for a Tazewell County estate?
Not always. Many filings are handled through eFileIL, and civil remote appearances may be allowed by the judge. The original will still must be delivered or mailed to the Circuit Clerk in Pekin, and the judge may require an in-person appearance for some proceedings.
Is the Tazewell County Circuit Clerk the same as the County Clerk?
No. Probate filings go to the Tazewell County Circuit Clerk at the courthouse, 342 Court Street, Room 204. The Tazewell County Clerk and Recorder is a different office in the McKenzie Building at 11 S. 4th Street and handles vital records, elections and land recording.
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.