Taxation & Estate Planning

Probate in DuPage County, Illinois

By Joel A. Schoenmeyer

Most of my posts relate to Cook County probate, but today I'd like to spend some time talking about probate in DuPage County. Some notes:

Forms for DuPage County are available here. One important note: for testate estates, Cook County requires you to prepare a "Copy of Will" form, signed by the attorney and petitioner, to which you must attach... surprise surprise... a copy of the decedent's Will. DuPage County doesn't require this form.

DuPage is much more phone-friendly than Cook (mostly, I assume, because it's smaller). The main number for the court clerk's office is (630) 407-8700, and they can connect you to the probate department for specific questions.

DuPage is also very mail-friendly. You can mail in an original Will or probate petition to be filed. The main page of the clerk's website (here) shows a street address and a mailing address. I've always mailed to the street address.

The above combination makes things pretty easy, as do two additional facts:

1. Unlike Cook, there's not a backlog of probate estates in DuPage. I called on a Monday, and was told I could come in any day after Thursday of that week. (Yes, you can call to set up a court date -- yay!) The Cook County backup appears to be at least four weeks.

2. Probates are now handled informally in DuPage, at 8:15 a.m. (rise and shine!). You go to the Chancery Court Reception office on the 2nd floor, and are shown into a conference room. The clerk comes in, examines your documents, and gives you the OK to know that your estate will be opened. The last time I did it, the process took all of five minutes.

Full post as published by Death and Taxes Blog on February 02, 2009 (boomark / email).