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
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Filing & Fees
Fee Schedule Signals
Source ↗Probate Filing Fees
| Filing Type | Fee |
|---|---|
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
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://kankakeecountycircuitclerk.com/
- https://www.illinoiscourts.gov/courts/circuit-court/
- 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://kankakeecountycircuitclerk.com/DocumentCenter/View/7538/Fee-Schedule