Lee County Circuit Court Guide

Note: Lee County's fee schedule effective October 1, 2025 files probate (PR) cases on civil filing Schedule 2 at $256.00 plus a $95.00 guardian advocacy fee, a published total of $351.00 to open a probate estate, with the probate appearance fee at $181.00, each account other than the final at $25.00, estate claims at $25.00 in each published band, claims or petitions seeking equitable relief at $60.00, and certified copies of letters of office at $2.00. 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 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 Lee County Circuit Clerk before filing.