McLean County Circuit Court Guide

Note: McLean County's civil fee schedule effective October 1, 2025 lists the guardianship (GR) and probate (PR) base filing fee at $282.00 with a $207.00 appearance fee, and separately lists the Probate (PR) Administration of a Decedent's Estate filing fee, citing 705 ILCS 105/27.3f, at $382.00. Filing a will under 755 ILCS 5/6-1 is exempt from the filing fee, no appearance fee is charged for consent appearances or for an executor, administrator, administrator to collect, guardian, guardian ad litem, or special administrator (705 ILCS 105/27.1b(v)(4)), accounts other than one final account are $25.00, estate claims run $25.00 ($150 to $500), $40.00 ($500 to $10,000), and $60.00 (over $10,000), equitable-relief filings are $60.00, and certified copies of letters of office are $2.00 per page. Filing and appearance fees include a $10.00 law library fee and an $8.00 neutral-site custody exchange fee. 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 McLean County Circuit Clerk before filing.