Will County Probate Records

Will County probate records are legal documents detailing how a deceased person's estate is distributed. The probate process generates these documents as it verifies the will, identifies heirs, and ensures the proper distribution of assets according to the will or the Illinois state law (if no will exists). This process also involves settling outstanding debts and taxes before distributing the remaining assets.

Individuals consult probate records to ensure they receive their rightful portion of an estate and validate their inheritance rights. In contentious cases, other people use them as legal evidence to resolve inheritance disputes. In Will County, Illinois, genealogists find probate records helpful in tracing family history, as they contain detailed information about heirs, relationships, and residences. Lawyers, executors, and administrators use probate records to fulfill legal responsibilities and ensure estates are handled according to state law.

Will County follows Illinois' standard probate procedures without any county-specific variations. The Clerk of the Circuit Court maintains these records, accessible in person at the courthouse or online through the county's public access system.

Are Probate Records Public?

All records held by governmental bodies, including the Will County Circuit Court probate records, are accessible to the general public as provided for under Illinois Compiled Statutes 140/1.2. This provision allows interested persons to access information about will execution, conservatorships, guardianships, estate distribution, and related legal proceedings. The Clerk of the Circuit Court manages these records and grants access through in-person requests or the county's online public access system.

However, like other Will county court records, selected within probate records are not publicly available due to privacy concerns and specific legal limits, including:

• Case files involving children,
• Private financial data
• Legally sealed topics,
• Documents that include private information about an individual, including medical records or Social Security numbers.

What is Probate Court in Will County?

The Circuit Court in Will County constitutionally retains jurisdiction for all probate cases as the county does not have a designated Probate Court. The Circuit Court oversees the legal process of managing a deceased person's estate. It ensures that estates are properly administered, whether the individual left a will or died intestate. The court also handles a range of probate matters, including issuing letters of administration, distributing assets, ruling on contested wills, and recording wills and legal documents. It also appointed guardians for minors, orders the sale of estate property to pay debts, and manages claims from creditors.

In addition to estate administration, the court handles cases involving missing persons' estates and wrongful death settlements. The Will County Probate Court operates under the Clerk of the Circuit Court and follows Illinois probate law.

The Will County Probate cases are heard in the following courthouses:

Will County Circuit Court
Will County Courthouse
14 West Jefferson Street,
Joliet, IL 60432
Phone: (815) 727-8592
Fax: (815) 740-8074

Will County Circuit Court
River Valley Justice Center
3208 West McDonough Street,
Joliet, IL 60431
Phone: (815) 727-8592
Fax: (815) 740-8074

Will County Circuit Court - Bolingbrook Branch Court
Town Hall and Police Department
375 West Briarcliff Road,
Bolingbrook, IL 60440
Phone: (815) 727-8592
Fax: (815) 740-8074

Will County Circuit Court - Frankfort Branch Court
Frankfort Township Old Hall
11008 West Lincoln Highway,
Frankfort, IL 60423
Phone: (815) 727-8592
Fax: (815) 740-8074

Will County Circuit Court - Plainfield Branch Court
Plainfield Law Enforcement Center
14300 South Coil Plus Drive,
Plainfield, IL 60544
Phone: (815) 727-8592
Fax: (815) 740-8074

Probate Court Case Lookup

To look up probate court cases in Will County, the Clerk of the Circuit Court provides access to official records. As the custodian of probate case records, the Clerk's office makes these documents available to the public upon request. However, privacy laws may limit access to certain records, and requesters may need to provide identification, register, or pay fees to obtain copies.

Interested individuals may search for probate cases through the iPublic application search portal on the 12th Judicial Circuit Court of Will County website. They may also access probate records through the Illinois Courts re:SearchIL Statewide Documents Repository, though this service requires an eFileIL account.

Individuals interested in accessing probate records in person, may visit the Clerk's office on Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at:

Office of the Circuit Clerk
Will County Court House
100 W. Jefferson Street
Joliet, IL 60432
Phone: (815) 727-8592

How to Find Probate Records Online Free

As highlighted in the "Probate Court Case Lookup" section above, the 12th Judicial Circuit Court of Will County provides public records through the iPublic application search portal on its website online for free. Also, the Illinois Courts re:SearchIL Statewide Documents Repository offers online court record access, though users must have an eFileIL account to use this service.

Basic searches and case summaries are free, but obtaining certified copies or detailed documentation may require fees or an in-person visit to the Will County Clerk of the Circuit Court. Individuals may need to visit the Will County Courthouse or request official copies directly from the Clerk's office for complete records.

How Long Does Probate Take in Illinois?

Probate in Illinois typically requires at least 6 months due to a mandatory creditor notice period, but the process can extend for several years depending on the estate's complexity. Most cases conclude within a year, though disputes or complicated assets may cause delays.

Are Wills Public Record?

In Will County, Illinois, individuals file wills with the Will County Circuit Court's Probate Division upon a person's death, and these documents generally become public records once submitted for probate. This submission allows anyone to view them at the courthouse, ensuring transparency in how estates are managed and distributed. The Illinois Probate Act of 1975 requires this filing, making wills part of the court's public records and reinforcing openness in estate administration.

Although most wills remain fully public, judges occasionally seal portions of a will or related probate documents in rare cases, including:

• Case files involving children,
• Private financial data
• Legally sealed topics,
• Documents that include private information about an individual, including medical records or Social Security numbers.

How to Find Out If Someone Has a Will

Members of the public interested in ascertaining if someone has a will should first search for probate records by contacting the Clerk of the Circuit Court. In Will County, interested persons may use the iPublic Website (iPublic) to look up cases under the name of the dead. They may look for an executor or documents admitting a will to probate, showing a will was filed if a case arises. There won't be a case if none shows up or if the lawsuit names an administrator.

Interested persons may also contact the attorney who prepared the will (if known) to ask for a copy. However, privacy laws may limit what they can disclose.

Will County Family Court Case Search

The Clerk of the Circuit Court, who is the official custodian of family case records, provides access to these records so that interested persons may look up family court cases in Will County. The kind of case and Illinois state regulations determine whether these documents are available to the public.

The Clerks of Courts Act (705 ILCS 105/) allows public access to certain court records, but privacy laws restrict access to specific case types. Juvenile records, divorce decrees, and adoption records remain confidential under Illinois law. Limited details about parental responsibilities cases (formerly known as custody cases) may be available. Still, adoption records are impounded and can only be accessed by court order under the Illinois Adoption Act (750 ILCS 50/).

Individuals may search for family court cases online through the iPublic application search portal on the 12th Judicial Circuit Court of Will County website. They may also access records via the Illinois Courts re:SearchIL Statewide Documents Repository, though this requires an eFileIL account.

Individuals interested in accessing probate records in person may visit the Clerk's office on Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at:

Office of the Circuit Clerk
Will County Courthouse
100 W. Jefferson Street
Joliet, IL 60432
Phone: (815) 727-8592