Search Court Records by Name
Enter first name, last name, and state to prepare a court records search.
Cook County Probate Court Records, Estate Filing, Wills, Guardianship & Clerk Help
If you need a Cook County probate case, estate filing, will deposit, certified copy, Letters of Office, guardianship help, or eFiling instructions, start with the official Probate Division and Clerk of the Circuit Court Probate Division. This guide gives you the correct office, Room 1202 contact path, online search limits, practical fee checks, forms, and next steps without sending you through private record sites first.
Where Do Cook County Probate Matters Go?
Start with the Circuit Court of Cook County Probate Division and the Clerk of the Circuit Court Probate Division. The court’s Probate Division is at the Richard J. Daley Center, 50 W. Washington Street, Chicago, IL 60602. The courtrooms are on the 18th floor, while the Clerk’s Probate Division office for filings, new cases, estate status, and probate records is in Room 1202.
The Probate Division hears matters involving wills and estate administration. Official Cook County pages describe decedent estate matters such as petitions for Letters of Office, will contests, claims against estates, citations to discover or recover assets, and petitions to establish heirship. For guardianship, the Probate Division also handles adult and minor guardianship estate matters.
Choose the Cook County Probate Step You Actually Need
Cook County probate users usually need one of six things: search a case, file or open an estate, file a will, request certified copies, handle guardianship, or use forms and eFiling. Pick the closest task below so you do not use the wrong court page, wrong Clerk division, or private record site.
Search a Cook County probate case or docket
General docket status, case number, party name, estate name, filing year, or hearing-related lookup.
Use Clerk Online Case Information first, then contact Room 1202 if the record must be official.
The Clerk says online case information is not the official record of the court.
How to Search or Request Cook County Probate Records
Use these steps before paying, filing, mailing an original will, relying on a screenshot, or visiting the Daley Center. Probate records can involve decedent estates, adult guardianship estates, minor guardianship estates, claims, heirship petitions, citations, and will filings, so the exact task matters.
Confirm this is Cook County, Illinois
Do not confuse Cook County, Illinois probate with a Cook County in another state or with a private background-check website. Use official Cook County court and Clerk resources.
Choose the exact probate category
Decedent estate, will filing, Letters of Office, certified will copy, adult guardianship, minor guardianship, claim, citation, heirship, eFiling, or fee waiver all have different next steps.
Use strong search details
Use a case number when available. If not, prepare the decedent’s full legal name, estate name, filing year, guardian name, disabled adult or minor name, attorney name, or document type.
Start with official case information
Open the Clerk’s Online Case Information page for general case status. Treat it as a public docket resource, not as a certified court record.
Contact Room 1202 for official copies or filing status
For certified copies, letters, official court records, new probate case filing, pending estate status, or will-related questions, use the Clerk’s Probate Division in Room 1202.
Official Cook County Probate Court Links
These links are included because each one answers a real probate task: locating the court, checking a case, opening an estate, finding forms, eFiling, checking copy rules, or getting help when you do not have a lawyer.
Opening a Probate Estate and Getting Letters of Office in Cook County
The Clerk’s Probate Division guidance says that to open a probate estate, the person generally needs to hire an attorney, the attorney completes court forms and electronically files them, and the listed filing cost is $479. After the judge enters the order appointing a representative, the Clerk’s Office issues Letters of Administration when applicable.
When estate administration is needed
Use this route when assets, debts, creditor notices, title transfers, claims, or court-supervised distribution require a formal estate file.
When authority proof is needed
Banks, title companies, insurers, agencies, and attorneys may require Letters of Office or a certified court order instead of a docket printout.
Do not ignore the attorney requirement language
The Clerk’s own estate-opening guidance points users to hiring an attorney and free or low-cost legal services. Verify your situation before filing pro se.
Use Room 1202 for pending estate questions
The Probate Division page directs inquiries about filing new cases or checking pending estate status to the Clerk Probate Division in Room 1202.
Filing caution: This article does not replace legal advice. Estate filing can involve original documents, attorney preparation, eFiling, notices, orders, bonds, claims, court appearances, and representative duties.
Filing a Will or Requesting a Certified Will Copy in Cook County
The Clerk’s Probate PDF states that a will of a deceased person should be delivered to the Probate Division in person or by mail using tracking or certified mail. It also says to include the date of death and a self-addressed stamped envelope if you want a Will Receipt for your records.
Probate Division, Room 1202
Use Room 1202 at the Daley Center for Probate Division Clerk services. Confirm current office rules before bringing original documents.
Use tracking or certified mail
Because a will is an original legal document, follow Clerk instructions carefully and include the requested details and return envelope.
Provide strong identifiers
To speed up a certified will copy request, provide either the probate case number or the deceased person’s name and date or year of death when available.
Will-copy fee detail: The Clerk PDF lists will-copy pricing as $2.00 for the first page, $.25 for pages 2–20, $.50 for each additional page, plus $2.00 certification per document. Another Clerk page also lists copy/certification pricing for certified copies, so verify the current amount with the Clerk before mailing payment.
Cook County Probate Filing, Copy and Certification Costs Users Ask About
Probate costs depend on the exact action. The Clerk’s Probate Division page lists $479.00 as the cost for filing to open a probate estate. The Clerk’s PDF and Clerk page also provide copy and certification details for will and probate records. Use these as a planning checklist, then verify the current total before paying.
Fee warning: Do not treat this page as a cashier quote. Fees can change and can depend on the document, certification, mailing, postage, filing method, and case type. Always verify with the Clerk’s Probate Division before mailing payment or relying on a cost.
Adult Guardianship and Minor Guardianship in Cook County Probate Division
Cook County’s Probate Division includes adult guardianship estates and minor guardianship estates. The Clerk’s Probate PDF explains that guardianship is a court appointment for a person who cannot independently manage affairs due to disability or minor status, and that a petition for guardianship must be filed in the Clerk’s Office.
Help Desk for Minors
The Circuit Court maintains a Guardianship Assistance Help Desk for Minors at 69 W. Washington Street, Room 1020, Chicago, IL 60602. The listed phone is (312) 603-0135.
Adult guardianship help
The Clerk PDF lists the Adult Guardianship Assistance Desk at 205 W. Randolph Street, Suite 1610, Chicago, IL 60606, phone (312) 376-1880.
Filed petitions may take weeks
The Clerk PDF says parties appear in court about three to six weeks after guardianship papers are filed, giving time for notice and review.
Staff can help with forms, not representation
Help desks and Clerk staff may provide information and assistance, but they do not represent petitioners in court or provide legal advice.
Cook County Probate Forms, eFileIL and Fee Waivers
The Circuit Court’s Probate Division forms page says its listed forms are common Probate Division forms, but there are many more; it also warns that standardized forms might not fit every circumstance. Cook County eFiling uses eFileIL for many civil filings, while Clerk guidance notes that wills are an exception to mandatory civil eFiling.
Use Probate Division forms first
Start with official Probate Division forms, Clerk form search, and Illinois Supreme Court forms. Do not use a private template without checking fit.
Electronic filing for civil areas
Cook County eFile information explains the statewide eFileIL system for attorneys and self-represented litigants.
Ask if you cannot pay costs
The Probate Division case information page points users to fee-waiver instructions and resources for people without lawyers.
Practical rule: Check whether the filing is a decedent estate, guardianship, will deposit, claim, citation, heirship petition, or copy request before choosing a form or eFiling path.
What a Cook County Probate Record May Help You Confirm
A probate docket can point you toward the estate, courtroom, calendar, filings, representative, claims, citations, and orders. But the Clerk’s online case data is not the official court record. If a bank, title company, agency, attorney, or heir needs proof, ask for the exact official copy or certification.
Cook County Probate Division Location, Phone and Visit Checklist
The main Probate Division is at the Richard J. Daley Center. The court’s Probate Division page says probate courtrooms are on the 18th floor, while the Clerk’s Probate Division office is on the 12th floor in Room 1202. For new case filing or pending estate status, the listed Probate Clerk number is (312) 603-6441.
Room 1202
Richard J. Daley Center
50 W. Washington Street, Room 1202
Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: (312) 603-6441
Bring or prepare
- Case number, estate name, or deceased person’s full legal name.
- Date or year of death if requesting a will copy.
- Exact document needed: letters, certified will, order, claim, petition, docket copy, or file copy.
- Payment method and self-addressed stamped envelope if mailing is involved.
- Attorney contact information if an estate is being opened.
Legal advice caution: The Clerk’s Probate PDF states the Clerk is barred by law from providing legal advice. Staff can provide procedural information, but they cannot tell you what legal action to take.
Map to Cook County Probate Division at Richard J. Daley Center
Use this map for general direction planning. Confirm courtroom, calendar, office hours, security rules, remote appearance rules, copy requirements, and whether the matter can be handled online or by mail before traveling downtown.
Richard J. Daley Center — Probate Division
Address: 50 W. Washington Street, Chicago, IL 60602. Clerk Probate Division: Room 1202.
Cook County Probate Search Mistakes That Waste Time
Using online docket as an official record
The Clerk says online case information is not the official court record. For official use, request copies or certification through the Clerk.
Going to the courtroom for Clerk records
Probate courtrooms are on the 18th floor, but filing and Clerk record services start with the Probate Clerk in Room 1202.
Trying to open an estate without checking attorney guidance
The Clerk’s estate-opening guidance says an attorney completes forms and eFiles them. Check legal-help options if cost is a problem.
Requesting “the probate file” without a document target
Ask for the exact document: certified will, Letters of Office, order, claim, citation, heirship petition, docket copy, or estate-file copy.
Why a Cook County Probate Case May Not Show Online
No online result does not mean no case exists. Cook County online case information is a general status resource; the official record is maintained by the Clerk. Try these checks before you give up or pay a private website.
Recent filing
A new estate, will filing, guardianship, or claim may not appear immediately in public case information.
Name mismatch
Try legal name, estate name, case number, guardian name, attorney name, or filing year.
Wrong division
Make sure the matter is probate, not civil, domestic relations, criminal, traffic, county, or federal court.
Official-record gap
Online status may not include every filed document, order, certification, or clerk-held record.
Restricted matter
Guardianship, minor, disabled-person, sealed, or sensitive materials may have limited public visibility.
Older or archived record
Older records may require a Clerk request, archive process, or more specific identifying information.
Useful Related ProbateCourtUSA.org Guides
These internal links are included only where they help users compare probate record-search workflows or nearby high-demand probate courts. For Cook County action, use the official Cook County links above.
Cook County Probate Court FAQs
Where is Cook County Probate Court located?
Cook County probate matters are handled at the Richard J. Daley Center, 50 W. Washington Street, Chicago, IL 60602. Probate courtrooms are on the 18th floor, and the Clerk of the Circuit Court Probate Division is in Room 1202.
What is the Cook County Probate Division phone number?
For Clerk Probate Division inquiries, including new case filing or pending estate status, the listed phone number is (312) 603-6441.
How do I search Cook County probate records?
Start with the Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court Online Case Information page. Search with a case number, estate name, decedent name, guardian name, attorney name, or filing year when available.
Is Cook County online case information the official court record?
No. The Clerk explains that online case information is provided as a resource for general case status and is not the official court record. Request official copies or certification from the Clerk when needed.
How much does it cost to open a probate estate in Cook County?
The Clerk Probate Division page lists $479.00 as the cost for filing to open a probate estate. Verify the current amount and whether additional costs apply before filing or paying.
Do I need an attorney to open a probate estate in Cook County?
The Clerk’s probate estate guidance says that to open a probate estate, you need to first hire an attorney and that the attorney completes forms and electronically files them. Check free or low-cost legal-help options if cost is a concern.
Where do I file a will in Cook County?
The Clerk’s Probate PDF says a will may be delivered to the Probate Division in person or by mail using tracking or certified mail. The Probate Division Clerk is in Room 1202 at the Daley Center.
How do I get a certified copy of a will in Cook County?
You may request a certified copy by writing to or visiting the Probate Division. To speed up the request, provide the probate case number or the deceased person’s name and date or year of death if available.
Where can I find Cook County probate forms?
Use the Circuit Court Probate Division forms page and the Clerk of the Circuit Court form search. Standardized forms may not fit every circumstance, so verify the correct form before filing.
Can I eFile Cook County probate documents?
Cook County uses the statewide eFileIL system for many civil filings, and eFiling has been mandatory in Illinois for civil areas with listed exceptions. Wills are listed as an exception in Clerk eFile guidance, so verify the exact probate filing path before submitting documents.
Best Next Step for Cook County Probate Help
For Cook County, Illinois probate matters, start with the official Probate Division and Clerk Probate Division. Use online case information for general status only, then contact Room 1202 if you need official records, certified copies, Letters of Office, will filings, estate-opening guidance, or pending estate status.
This page is an independent informational guide published for ProbateCourtUSA.org. It is not the Circuit Court of Cook County, the Clerk of the Circuit Court, a government office, or a law firm. Always verify urgent or official matters directly with the appropriate court office or a qualified Illinois attorney.