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Use This County Probate Reference Before You File

This page is built for the detailed county-level checks that generic probate guides usually miss: local filing fees, Circuit Court contact details, administrative orders, e-filing rules, and hearing logistics for DeKalb County.

Local Fee Schedule

Review county-specific probate filing charges before you estimate total case cost.

Court Rules and Orders

Check the local rules, judge procedures, and administrative orders that can change how a case moves.

Clerk and Filing Logistics

Confirm where to file, whether e-filing is allowed, and how hearings or notices are handled locally.

DeKalb County Circuit Court Guide

Twenty-Third Judicial Circuit of Illinois · Circuit Court information · Updated July 2026

(815) 895-7131Circuit Court

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Filing & Fees

Fee Schedule Signals

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Probate Filing Fees

Filing TypeFee
Formal Administration
Standard probate for larger estates
$376
Small Estate Affidavit
For estates under threshold (no court filing needed)
$0

Note: DeKalb County's published civil fee schedule lists Probate (PR) case filing at $376.00, with the probate appearance fee at $201.00, a probate jury demand at $137.50, additional letters of office at $2.00 each, and claims on estates from $25.00 to $60.00 by claim size. The decedent-estate total is the civil Schedule 2 case filing fee set by the county board under 705 ILCS 105/27.1b (maximum $266 outside Cook County; probate cases are assigned to Schedule 2 by Illinois Supreme Court order M.R. 29741) plus the flat $100 guardianship and advocacy operations fee charged on decedent estate administration filings under 705 ILCS 105/27.3f. The small estate affidavit (755 ILCS 5/25-1) is presented directly to banks and other asset holders, not filed with the court, so it has no court filing fee. Newspaper publication costs are paid directly to the newspaper. County fee schedule accessed 2026-07-18. Verify the current amounts with the DeKalb County Circuit Clerk before filing.

DeKalb County's published civil fee schedule lists Probate (PR) case filing at $376.00, with the probate appearance fee at $201.00, a probate jury demand at $137.50, additional letters of office at $2.00 each, and claims on estates from $25.00 to $60.00 by claim size. The decedent-estate total is the civil Schedule 2 case filing fee set by the county board under 705 ILCS 105/27.1b (maximum $266 outside Cook County; probate cases are assigned to Schedule 2 by Illinois Supreme Court order M.R. 29741) plus the flat $100 guardianship and advocacy operations fee charged on decedent estate administration filings under 705 ILCS 105/27.3f. The small estate affidavit (755 ILCS 5/25-1) is presented directly to banks and other asset holders, not filed with the court, so it has no court filing fee. Newspaper publication costs are paid directly to the newspaper. County fee schedule accessed 2026-07-18. Verify the current amounts with the DeKalb County Circuit Clerk before filing.

Required Documents

    E-Filing & Filing Methods

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    eFileIL (Odyssey File and Serve)Case SearchProbate Forms

    Records portal

    Check live court-record information when available. Search results may not include every probate record.

    Open the records portal
    Filing Methods: e file, in person, by mail

    Timelines & Proceedings

    Deadlines & Creditor Claims

    Key Deadlines

    Will Deposit
    Verify locally
    Creditor Claims
    6 months

    Creditor Claims

    Period Starts
    first publication of the claim notice
    Statute
    755 ILCS 5/18-3; 755 ILCS 5/18-12

    Related Proceedings

    Property Recording

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