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
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Filing & Fees
Fee Schedule Signals
Source ↗Probate Filing Fees
| Filing Type | Fee |
|---|---|
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
Source ↗Records portal
Check live court-record information when available. Search results may not include every probate record.
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
Source ↗Sources (13)
- https://www.illinoiscourts.gov/courts/Circuit-Court/circuit-court-clerks/illinois-circuit-court-clerks-by-district-and-circuit
- https://effinghamcountyil.gov/circuit-clerk/
- https://fourthcircuitil.com/
- https://researchil.tylerhost.net/CourtRecordsSearch/Home
- https://efile.illinoiscourts.gov/
- https://www.illinoiscourts.gov/documents-and-forms/approved-forms/
- https://www.ilga.gov/Legislation/ILCS/Fulltext?DocName=075500050K25-1
- https://www.ilga.gov/Legislation/ILCS/Fulltext?DocName=075500050K9-8
- https://www.ilga.gov/Legislation/ILCS/Fulltext?DocName=075500050K18-3
- https://www.ilga.gov/Legislation/ILCS/Fulltext?DocName=075500050K6-1
- https://www.ilga.gov/Legislation/ILCS/Fulltext?DocName=070501050K27.1b
- https://www.ilga.gov/Legislation/ILCS/Fulltext?DocName=070501050K27.3f
- https://effinghamcountyil.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/FILING-FEES-SCHEDULE.pdf