Find Probate Court Records in Des Plaines

Probate court records for Des Plaines residents are managed by the Cook County Circuit Clerk's Probate Division at the Richard J. Daley Center in downtown Chicago. Des Plaines sits in the Second Municipal District, but all probate matters go through the central courthouse. With a population of about 59,156, Des Plaines sees a steady flow of estate and guardianship filings each year. You can look up these records online or visit the Probate Division in person. This guide walks through the steps to search, request, and get Des Plaines probate court records.

Des Plaines Probate Court Records Office

Des Plaines is part of Cook County, so all probate court records are filed at the Cook County Circuit Clerk's Probate Division. The office sits on the 12th floor of the Daley Center at 50 W. Washington St., Room 1202, Chicago, IL 60602. Circuit Clerk Mariyana T. Spyropoulos runs the office. Even though Des Plaines is in the Second Municipal District with a courthouse in Skokie, probate is not heard there. Every probate case in Cook County goes to the Daley Center. This is true for all 130 plus municipalities in Cook County, not just Des Plaines.

The Probate Division has five courtrooms that hear decedent estate cases alone. Adult guardianship and minor estate cases have their own rooms too. Des Plaines residents who need to open an estate, file a will, or start a guardianship case must do it at this central location. Staff at the Probate Division can help with basic filing questions.

You can reach the Probate Division at (312) 603-7546. The general Circuit Clerk line is (312) 603-5030. For questions about how to file, contact Joseph Fleming at (312) 603-7546 or by email at joseph.fleming@cookcountyil.gov. The Circuit Clerk Probate Division page lists hours, forms, and instructions that apply to all Des Plaines probate court records.

Search Probate Court Records Online

Cook County runs an online case information portal that covers all Des Plaines probate court records. You can search by party name or case number. Results show docket data like filing dates, case types, party names, and court dates. The portal is free and does not need a login.

Keep in mind this tool shows docket info only. It does not let you view or print the full court filings. To get copies of the actual documents in a case, you need to visit the Clerk's office or send a mail request. Probate cases use a case number that starts with the year and a "P" prefix. If you know the year the case was filed, use it to narrow your search. The system pulls up matches and you can click each one to see more details about the case, including scheduled hearings and orders on file.

The Cook County court system also has a Probate Division information page on the court website. This page explains how probate cases work and what types of matters the division hears. It is a good starting point if you need to understand how the court handles estates and guardianship cases for Des Plaines residents.

Note: The online portal shows electronic dockets only, not the full official records.

Des Plaines Probate Court Records for Estates

The most common probate court records in Des Plaines are decedent estate cases. When someone in Des Plaines dies, a family member or attorney files a petition with the Cook County Probate Division to open the estate. The court appoints an executor (if there is a will) or an administrator (if there is not). From that point, every document filed becomes part of the probate court records for that case. You can find petitions, wills, asset inventories, creditor claims, and final accounts in the case file.

The Illinois Probate Act (755 ILCS 5) sets the rules for how estates are handled across the state. Cook County follows the same laws, but adds its own local procedures. For Des Plaines residents, this means the filing steps and forms are the same as for anyone else in Cook County. The Probate Act covers who can be named as executor, how creditors are notified, and what deadlines apply to each stage of the case.

The Cook County court website has a page about probate decedent estates that breaks down the process in plain terms.

That page covers the steps from the initial petition through the close of the estate, including what forms are needed at each stage.

Filing Probate Court Records

Electronic filing is required for most probate cases in Cook County. Des Plaines residents and their lawyers must use the eFileIL portal to submit petitions, motions, and other court papers. Once a document is filed through the system, it becomes part of the official probate court records for that case. The filing shows up in the Clerk's database right away.

Some items still need to go in by hand. Original wills must be filed as paper documents at the Clerk's office on the 12th floor. There is no fee to file a will for safekeeping in Cook County. You bring the original to the office and staff process it. Sealed filings also need to be dropped off in person. The court has forms for probate filings on the Probate Division court forms page.

That forms page lists the documents you may need when filing a new estate case or motion in an existing one. Forms cover everything from the initial petition to the final closing report.

Probate Court Records Fees

The Cook County Circuit Clerk charges set fees for copies of probate court records. A standard copy is $2.00 for the first page. Pages 2 through 20 cost $0.50 each. After page 20, each page is $0.25. Letters of Office cost $2.00 per copy. Filing a will for safekeeping has no fee. These same rates apply to all Des Plaines probate court records because the Cook County Clerk handles them.

Filing fees for new probate cases vary by type. A standard estate petition has fees that depend on estate size, as set under the Probate Act (755 ILCS 5) and related fee statutes. Guardianship petitions have a different schedule. Small estate affidavits may cost less. Call the Clerk's office at (312) 603-5030 for the current fee for your specific filing type. Fees can change, so always check before you go.

You can pay at the courthouse with cash, check, or money order. For filings through eFileIL, the portal collects fees at the time you submit.

How to Get Copies

There are three ways to get copies of Des Plaines probate court records.

The first option is in person. Go to the Circuit Clerk's Probate Division at 50 W. Washington St., Room 1202, Chicago, IL 60602. Bring the case number or the full name of the person whose records you need. Staff pull the file and make copies while you wait. The office is open Monday through Friday. Try to arrive early because the Probate Division gets busy, especially in the morning. Des Plaines is about 20 miles from the Daley Center, so plan for travel time on top of any wait at the counter.

The second option is mail. Send a letter to the Circuit Clerk of Cook County at 50 W. Washington St., Suite 1001, Chicago, IL 60602. Include the party name, case number (if you have it), and a note about which documents you want. Add a check or money order for the copy fees. Allow a week or more for processing and return mail.

Third, you can view docket data online through the case portal. This shows basic case info but not full documents. For the actual filings in a case, an in-person or mail request is the way to go.

Note: Bring exact change or a check when visiting the Clerk's office in person.

Des Plaines Legal Resources

If you need help with a probate case, the Illinois Legal Aid guide on court records walks through the full process for getting copies, including forms and fees. This is a free resource that covers all Illinois courts, including Cook County. The Cook County Circuit Court has a self-help center at the Daley Center for people filing probate cases without a lawyer. Staff can point you to the right forms and explain basic steps. They can not give legal advice, but they can help with procedure.

The Illinois Courts approved forms page has standard probate forms that work in Cook County. You can download and print them at no cost. Des Plaines residents looking for a probate attorney can try the Illinois State Bar Association lawyer referral service. Many estate lawyers in Cook County offer a low-cost first meeting so you can get a sense of what your case involves before you commit to full legal help.

Cook County Probate Court Records

Des Plaines is in Cook County. All probate court records for Des Plaines residents are filed at the Cook County Circuit Clerk's Probate Division at the Daley Center in Chicago. Visit the full Cook County guide for more on the Probate Division, fees, and courthouse details.

Nearby Cities

These cities near Des Plaines also have probate court records guides. Most are in Cook County and use the same Probate Division at the Daley Center.