Cook County Probate

When an individual passes away in Illinois, it is sometimes necessary for his/her estate to pass through the local probate court. If you have a loved one who passed away while living in Cook County, Illinois, his/her probate estate will need to pass through the Cook County Probate court located in downtown Chicago, Illinois.

Cook County Probate Court

The Cook County Probate Courts are located on the 18th Floor of the Daley Center in the heart of downtown Chicago. The Probate call is heard on Mondays through Fridays at 10:00 a.m. Because of the high volume of Probate matters in Cook County, there are multiple judges to handle all of the Probate cases. Also, the high volume of cases tends to make the entire process much slower than many of the surrounding counties. In addition, probate cases in Cook County are typically more scrutinized as they pass through the Court system.

How do I know if Cook County is the right county for my loved one's probate estate?

An Illinois probate case must pass through the local county probate court where a deceased individual was living at the time of his/her death. Thus, if your loved one's primary residence was in Cook County, and if your loved one received his/her mail at this residence, then the Court will presume that Cook County is the county of domicile. This is true even if your loved one owned real estate or other property in another county, state, or country.

How long does the probate process take in Cook County?

As with most probate cases in Illinois, a typical probate case can be fully completed in Cook County in approximately six to twelve months. However, if there are issues that complicate the estate (such as contested issues among the interested parties to the estate), it could take much longer.

Contact our Firm

Our firm has helped many individuals with routine and complicated probate estates in Cook County. If you have questions regarding a probate estate, complete the form below to set up a free initial consultation today!