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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 Kankakee 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.

Kankakee County Circuit Court Guide

21st Judicial Circuit of Illinois · Circuit Court information · Updated July 2026

(815) 936-5700Circuit 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
$356
Small Estate Affidavit
For estates under threshold (no court filing needed)
$0

Note: The Kankakee County Circuit Clerk's posted fee schedule (civil schedule effective January 1, 2022) lists the Probate (PR) filing fee for the Estate of a Decedent or Missing Person at $356.00, guardianship (GR) at $256.00, and an appearance/answer/response fee of $181.00 with no appearance fee for an executor, administrator, administrator to collect, guardian, guardian ad litem, or special administrator. Decedent accountings other than the final accounting are $25.00 (final accounting free), estate claims are $0 (to $149.99), $25.00 ($150 to $499.99), $40.00 ($500 to $9,999), and $60.00 ($10,000 or more), letters of office are $2.00 each, a probate jury demand is $137.50, and filing a will alone is free; the schedule notes wills cannot be filed electronically. The decedent-estate total is the civil Schedule 2 case filing fee set by the county board under 705 ILCS 105/27.1b (probate cases are assigned to Schedule 2 by Illinois Supreme Court order M.R. 29741) plus the flat $100 guardianship and advocacy operations fee 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. County fee schedule accessed 2026-07-18. Verify the current amounts with the Kankakee County Circuit Clerk before filing.

The Kankakee County Circuit Clerk's posted fee schedule (civil schedule effective January 1, 2022) lists the Probate (PR) filing fee for the Estate of a Decedent or Missing Person at $356.00, guardianship (GR) at $256.00, and an appearance/answer/response fee of $181.00 with no appearance fee for an executor, administrator, administrator to collect, guardian, guardian ad litem, or special administrator. Decedent accountings other than the final accounting are $25.00 (final accounting free), estate claims are $0 (to $149.99), $25.00 ($150 to $499.99), $40.00 ($500 to $9,999), and $60.00 ($10,000 or more), letters of office are $2.00 each, a probate jury demand is $137.50, and filing a will alone is free; the schedule notes wills cannot be filed electronically. The decedent-estate total is the civil Schedule 2 case filing fee set by the county board under 705 ILCS 105/27.1b (probate cases are assigned to Schedule 2 by Illinois Supreme Court order M.R. 29741) plus the flat $100 guardianship and advocacy operations fee 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. County fee schedule accessed 2026-07-18. Verify the current amounts with the Kankakee 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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