Will County Probate Court Records

Will County probate court records are kept by the Circuit Clerk of Will County at the courthouse in Joliet. These files cover wills, estate cases, guardianship filings, and other probate matters heard in the 12th Judicial Circuit Court. If you need to search for a probate case in Will County, the Circuit Clerk offers a free online case lookup tool that lets you search by name or case number. You can also visit the clerk's office in person or send requests by mail. This page covers how to find, search, and get copies of probate court records in Will County, Illinois.

Will County Circuit Clerk Office

The Circuit Clerk of Will County is the main office for all probate court records in the county. Andrea Lynn Chasteen serves as the current Circuit Clerk. Her office handles case filings, maintains court files, and provides copies of probate court records to the public. The office sits inside the Will County Courthouse in downtown Joliet.

You can reach the clerk's office at the address and phone number below. Staff can help you look up a case, get copies of documents, or answer questions about filing. Walk-in visits are welcome during regular business hours. If you plan to visit, it helps to have the case number or the full name of the person whose records you need. The clerk's staff will pull the file and make copies for a small fee.

Address: 100 W. Jefferson Street, Joliet, IL 60432
Phone: 815-727-8592
Website: circuitclerkofwillcounty.com

The Circuit Clerk's website has a full section on probate court records and filing procedures. You can find details on the Will County probate page, which explains what forms to use, how to file a will, and what fees apply to different case types. This is a good first stop before you visit the courthouse or file anything new.

The Circuit Clerk's site is the official source for Will County probate court records and filing info.

Search Probate Court Records Online

Will County offers a free case lookup tool on the Circuit Clerk's website. This is the fastest way to search probate court records without going to the courthouse. The tool lets you search by party name, case number, or date range. Results show the case type, filing date, parties, and docket entries. You can access it at the Will County Case Lookup page.

To search for probate court records, go to the case lookup page and enter the last name of the deceased person or the party you are looking for. You can also type in a case number if you have one. The system will pull up matching results. Click on a case to see the full docket with all filings and court dates. This tool is free to use and does not need an account or login.

The Will County Circuit Clerk also has a public access section at circuitclerkofwillcounty.com/public-access with more tools and info about what records are open to the public. Not every document in a probate file may be viewable online, but the docket and basic case info should show up. If you need full copies of filings, you may have to go in person or send a written request.

The free case lookup tool on the Circuit Clerk's site lets you search Will County probate court records by name or case number.

Filing Probate Court Records

New estate cases in Will County must be filed electronically through the eFileIL portal. This is the statewide e-filing system used by all Illinois Circuit Courts. Attorneys and self-represented parties use eFileIL to submit petitions, motions, and supporting documents for probate cases. Once a filing goes through, it becomes part of the official probate court records for that case in Will County.

There is one exception to the electronic filing rule. Original wills must be filed as physical documents. Will County lets you mail in an original will. The clerk's office recommends that you make copies of the will before mailing it, since the original stays with the court. Send the will to the Circuit Clerk at 100 W. Jefferson Street, Joliet, IL 60432. After the clerk receives and files the will, the case information enters the electronic system and shows up in online searches of probate court records.

E-filing has made the process faster in Will County. Documents hit the court's database sooner than paper filings did in the past. You can track your case status through the case lookup tool once the filing is processed. If you run into issues with the e-filing system, the Illinois Courts website has guides and support contacts.

Probate Court Records Fees

Fees for probate court records in Will County depend on what you need. Filing a will for safekeeping costs nothing. That is true across most of Illinois. But opening an estate case comes with court fees that vary based on the size of the estate and the type of administration.

Claims against an estate have a sliding fee scale in Will County. If the claim is under $150, there is no filing fee. Claims over $10,000 cost $60 to file. Amounts in between fall somewhere on the scale. Letters of Office, which are the documents the court issues to confirm a representative's authority, cost $2.00 each. You may need several copies for banks, title companies, and other institutions.

Copy fees follow the standard Illinois pattern. Regular copies run $2.00 for the first page and $0.50 for each additional page. Certified copies cost more. If you need certified probate court records for legal use, expect to pay a few extra dollars per page. Call the clerk's office at 815-727-8592 to check the latest fee amounts, since rates can change.

Probate Court Records Division

The Circuit Clerk's probate page lays out the full process for filing and managing estate cases in Will County. It covers what forms you need, how to open an estate, and what steps follow after the court appoints a representative. The page also explains the difference between supervised and independent administration, which affects how much court oversight the estate gets.

The probate section on the Circuit Clerk's site walks you through filing steps and requirements.

Under the Illinois Probate Act of 1975 (755 ILCS 5), the Circuit Court has jurisdiction over all probate matters. This includes admitting wills to probate, appointing executors and administrators, settling disputes among heirs, and approving the final distribution of assets. Will County follows these state rules, and the clerk's probate page links to the specific forms required at each stage of the process.

Guardianship cases also go through the probate division. If someone needs to become the legal guardian of a minor child or a disabled adult in Will County, the petition gets filed with the Circuit Clerk and assigned to a probate judge. These cases create their own set of probate court records, separate from estate cases but handled by the same division.

Types of Probate Court Records

Will County probate court records fall into several main categories. Each type of case generates its own set of filings, and all of them are public unless a judge orders a file sealed.

• Decedent's estate cases, including full administration and small estate affidavits
• Guardianship petitions for minors and disabled adults
• Will filings where someone deposits a will for safekeeping before death
• Trust disputes and contests brought before the probate division
• Name change petitions processed through probate

Estate cases make up the largest share. When someone dies owning property in Will County, a family member or attorney typically files a petition to open the estate. The court appoints an executor or administrator, who then manages the estate through the probate process. Every filing along the way, from the initial petition to the final accounting, goes into the probate court records.

Small estate affidavits offer a simpler path for estates valued under $100,000. These skip full court administration. The heir files an affidavit with the clerk, and the case closes faster. Small estate filings still create probate court records, and you can find them through the same case lookup tool.

Get Copies of Probate Court Records

There are three ways to get copies of probate court records in Will County: in person, by mail, or through the online case lookup system for basic case info.

For in-person requests, go to the Circuit Clerk's office at 100 W. Jefferson Street in Joliet. Bring the case number or the full name of the party. The clerk's staff will look up the file and make copies while you wait. You pay the copy fee at the counter. This is the best option if you need certified copies, since certified documents require the clerk's stamp and signature. The office is open Monday through Friday during normal business hours.

Mail requests work too. Write a letter that includes the case number or party name, the specific documents you need, and your return address. Send a check or money order made out to the Circuit Clerk of Will County for the estimated fees. Mail it to 100 W. Jefferson Street, Joliet, IL 60432. The clerk will process the request and mail the copies back to you. Allow a few weeks for processing. If you are not sure about the fee amount, call 815-727-8592 before you send the request.

The Illinois Legal Aid guide on getting court records has step-by-step instructions that apply to Will County and every other county in the state.

12th Judicial Circuit Court

Will County sits in the 12th Judicial Circuit of Illinois. This circuit covers only Will County, so the court's full caseload comes from within the county. The Will County Courts website has info on judges, court schedules, and local rules that apply to probate cases.

Probate cases in the 12th Circuit follow the standard Illinois court rules plus any local rules the circuit has adopted. If you are filing a probate case or responding to one, check the local rules on the Will County Courts site. These rules cover things like hearing schedules, document formatting, and notice requirements that are specific to Will County. Knowing them in advance can save time and help avoid delays in your case.

Legal Help and Resources

If you need help with a probate matter in Will County, several resources are available. The Will County Legal Aid organization can help low-income residents with estate and guardianship issues. You can also contact the Illinois State Bar Association for a lawyer referral.

For self-help, the Illinois Courts approved forms page has standard probate forms you can download and use. These include petitions for estate administration, guardianship forms, and small estate affidavits. The forms work in Will County and every other county in the state. If you are handling a probate case without a lawyer, these forms are a good starting point.

The Will County Circuit Clerk's office can answer basic questions about filing procedures and fees, but staff cannot give legal advice. For legal questions about probate court records or estate matters, you should talk to an attorney who practices probate law in Will County.

Nearby Counties

Will County borders several other counties in northeastern Illinois. If the probate case you need was filed in a neighboring county, check these pages for local Circuit Clerk info and search tools.

Cities in Will County

Residents of these Will County cities file probate cases at the Circuit Clerk's office in Joliet. Select a city below for local probate court records details.

Tinley Park spans both Cook and Will counties. Residents on the Will County side file probate cases in Joliet, while those in Cook County file in Chicago.