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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 Effingham 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.

Effingham County Circuit Court Guide

4th Judicial Circuit of Illinois · Circuit Court information · Updated July 2026

(217) 342-4065Circuit 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
$360
Small Estate Affidavit
For estates under threshold (no court filing needed)
$0

Note: Effingham County's published circuit clerk fee schedule lists the probate case filing fee at $260, itemized on the card as a $256 Schedule 2 civil filing fee under 705 ILCS 105/27.1b plus a $4 law library fee, and lists filing of a will alone at no charge. The statewide $100 guardianship and advocacy operations fee (705 ILCS 105/27.3f) is charged on decedent estate administration filings in addition to the county card, so the stored $360 total is the $260 published filing charge plus the mandatory statewide $100 fee. Estate claim filing fees on the card are $10 (claims over $150 to $500), $20 (over $500 to $10,000), and $30 (over $10,000); each account other than a final account is $10; certified copies of letters of office are $2 per page; a probate jury demand is $135. Publication of the claim notice is paid to the newspaper directly. The small estate affidavit (755 ILCS 5/25-1) is not filed with the court and has no court fee. Verify current amounts with the Effingham County Circuit Clerk before filing.

Effingham County's published circuit clerk fee schedule lists the probate case filing fee at $260, itemized on the card as a $256 Schedule 2 civil filing fee under 705 ILCS 105/27.1b plus a $4 law library fee, and lists filing of a will alone at no charge. The statewide $100 guardianship and advocacy operations fee (705 ILCS 105/27.3f) is charged on decedent estate administration filings in addition to the county card, so the stored $360 total is the $260 published filing charge plus the mandatory statewide $100 fee. Estate claim filing fees on the card are $10 (claims over $150 to $500), $20 (over $500 to $10,000), and $30 (over $10,000); each account other than a final account is $10; certified copies of letters of office are $2 per page; a probate jury demand is $135. Publication of the claim notice is paid to the newspaper directly. The small estate affidavit (755 ILCS 5/25-1) is not filed with the court and has no court fee. Verify current amounts with the Effingham County Circuit Clerk before filing.

Required Documents

    E-Filing & Filing Methods

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    Records portal

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

    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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