Probate in Illinois, handled for you
Illinois recently raised its small-estate affidavit limit to $150,000, so more families than ever can transfer assets without a court case at all. Estates above that line go through the circuit court, where an estate over the small-estate limit generally needs to be opened with an attorney. Kindred handles the administration either way and tells you up front which path you're on.
Illinois requires a licensed attorney for a formal probate — and we include one. In Illinois, a representative opening a formal estate in the circuit court is generally required to act through a licensed attorney, because the representative acts on behalf of the estate and its beneficiaries. Kindred handles the administrative work and coordinates the attorney for the formal filing; for small estates under the affidavit, no court case (and no attorney filing) is needed.
The four things families ask first
Hourly / flat fee
Read moreA formal Illinois probate usually runs about 9 to 14 months, driven by the 6-month creditor-claim period; a small-estate affidavit can transfer assets in days.
Read more$150,000 (raised effective August 15, 2025; vehicles are excluded from the count)
Read moreCircuit Court, Probate Division, in the county where the person lived
What it could cost in Illinois
≈ 45 hours of admin and legal work, all billed at lawyer rates.
Kindred + your attorney
Estimated difference vs. a full-service firm
$5,500
+ about 150 hours of your own time
Full-service estimated at $250–$400/hr for ~45hours; the attorney figure is an illustrative fixed fee. Illustrative only — not a quote or legal advice. Figures vary by estate. We're not a law firm; an independent attorney always handles the legal work.
Worth knowing in Illinois
$150,000 small-estate affidavit
Illinois raised the limit to $150,000 on August 15, 2025 (vehicles excluded). If the estate fits, you can transfer personal property with an affidavit — no court case. It's the first thing to check.
Frequently asked
What is the small estate affidavit limit in Illinois?
$150,000, as of August 15, 2025 — raised from the old $100,000 limit (many pages online still show the old number). Vehicles are excluded from the count. If the estate fits and the heirs agree, you can transfer personal property with the affidavit instead of opening a probate case. Real property in the decedent's name alone generally still needs probate.
Do I need a lawyer for probate in Illinois?
For a formal estate opened in the circuit court, generally yes — the representative acts on behalf of the estate and is expected to act through a licensed attorney. For a small estate under the $150,000 affidavit limit, no court case and no attorney filing is needed. Kindred handles the administration and coordinates an attorney only where a formal estate requires one. Kindred is not a law firm.
How long does probate take in Illinois?
A formal probate usually runs 9 to 14 months because creditors get 6 months to file claims after notice is published. A small-estate affidavit avoids the court timeline entirely and can transfer assets in days.
Last verified June 2026. Figures are illustrative and vary by estate — not a quote or legal advice. Kindred is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice; we handle the administrative work and coordinate an independent attorney where one is legally required.
You don't have to carry this alone.
Tell us about the estate on a free, no-obligation call. We'll map out exactly what needs to happen — and how we'd take it off your plate.
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