Winnebago County, IL Probate Information

Winnebago County adds several local timing and filing duties to the representative's statewide obligations. Local Rule 15.005 places every open estate, including an independently administered decedent's estate, on a progress call immediately after the twelfth month following issuance of letters of office under 755 ILCS 5, so the executor or administrator should be ready to report on the estate's progress.

Local Rule 15.12(e) requires the first account of administration within 60 days after the expiration of 12 months after letters issue. Later accounts are not required more often than once every three years unless the court orders otherwise. Local Rule 15.02 also requires a court-approved or court-excused appraisal before real or personal property is sold or transferred by court order during the claim period.

For remote or hybrid hearings, Local Rule 2.10 requires exhibits and papers for the judge to be exchanged and shared with the court by 4:30 p.m. three business days before the proceeding. In Winnebago County, a proposed order submitted through eFileIL after a hearing may come back marked rejected while it is still being printed and forwarded to the judge for review.

Winnebago County publishes only a limited probate form block for PR and GR matters. For decedent's estates, the local forms are Oath of Office and Bond With Estates, No Surety, CC-122 V2, Report, Decedent's Estate Status Report, CC-112 V2, and Request Additional Letters of Office, P-8684 V1.

The clerk does not publish a petition to admit a will, a petition for letters of office under 755 ILCS 5, a proof of heirship form, an inventory, a claim form, an accounting form or a small estate affidavit under 755 ILCS 5/Art. XXV. Illinois Courts approved forms include items such as the civil fee waiver forms, the civil appearance and the Certification for Exemption from eFiling, but they do not provide a complete decedent's estate packet.

The original will is separate from the e-filed petition. The clerk's Wills page directs filers to bring the original will and any codicils of a deceased Winnebago County resident to Room 108, where the clerk assigns a will number and provides a Will Receipt. Bring the decedent's date of birth and date of death. Call (815) 319-4500 before mailing an original will.

Winnebago County publishes a probate-specific fee schedule effective July 20, 2026. These are clerk charges from that schedule. Newspaper publication is charged by the publishing vendor, and service charges are selected separately when service is requested.

1. Before filing, gather the will, asset list, debt list and names of heirs or beneficiaries. If there is an original will, take it to Room 108 and bring the decedent's date of birth and date of death.
2. After opening, follow the court's scheduling instructions. Winnebago County does not publish a probate hearing day or filing-to-hearing estimate.
3. For a remote appearance request on a date otherwise set in person, Local Rule 2.10(B)(2) requires a written motion at least three business days in advance with notice to all parties.
4. For a remote hearing, Local Rule 2.10(E)(5)(a) requires exhibits and papers for the judge to be exchanged and shared with the court by 4:30 p.m. three business days before the proceeding.
5. After letters of office under 755 ILCS 5 issue, Local Rule 15.005 places the estate on the next progress call immediately after the twelfth month following issuance of letters.
6. Within 60 days after the expiration of 12 months after letters issue, Local Rule 15.12(e) requires the first account of administration. Later accounts are not required more often than once every three years unless the court orders otherwise.
7. For a final account or a current account intended to bind parties, Local Rule 15.09 requires written notice at least ten days before the hearing, or 20 days by airmail for a person outside the continental United States.