Cook County Probate Court: An Evanston Family’s Guide

Cook County probate runs through the Probate Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County, at the Richard J. Daley Center in downtown Chicago, not the Skokie courthouse. Evanston and North Shore families in Cook County, Illinois file decedent estate cases there, usually online through eFileIL.

Key takeaways
  • Cook County decedent-estate probate is centralized at the Daley Center downtown.
  • The Skokie courthouse serves the North Shore, but not for decedent estates. 
  • Most filings go through eFileIL; the original will is deposited in person. 
  • Independent administration is the default and needs fewer court appearances.
  • Simple estates commonly take about 9–12 months.
If a parent in Evanston has died and you’re not sure where to even file, you’re not alone. It’s probably not the courthouse you’d guess, either. The building you drive past in Skokie handles plenty of local matters, but a decedent’s estate usually isn’t one of them. Here’s where your case actually goes, and what to expect once it opens.

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Where Evanston probate cases are actually filed

If you live in Evanston, your probate case is filed with the Probate Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County at the Richard J. Daley Center, 50 W. Washington St., in downtown Chicago. Evanston sits in Cook County, so a decedent’s estate goes to the county’s central probate court, not a suburban courthouse. In Illinois, the county where the person lived at death sets the venue for probate under the Probate Act of 1975 (755 ILCS 5). For an Evanston resident, that county is Cook. The Probate Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County hears these cases at the Daley Center, and the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County keeps every file and the fee schedule. Before you file, it helps to know what commonly trips families up. A lot of people assume any Cook County courthouse will do, or that a will by itself transfers property. If you want a head start, read the estate mistakes Evanston families make before you begin.

The Cook County Probate Division at a glance

The Cook County Probate Division handles decedent estates. It admits wills, appoints an executor or administrator, and issues the legal authority to manage what the person left behind. In Cook County, this Probate Division (Decedent Estates) sits at the Daley Center, and the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County keeps each case file. The division’s Decedent Estates section reviews petitions for letters of office, will contests, heirship, and claims against the estate. When your case opens, the court assigns a judge and a calendar, and that sets your courtroom and hearing schedule. The personal representative (the executor named in a will, or the administrator the court appoints) has to act in the estate’s interest and keep clear records. For families who would rather not manage all of this alone, Illinois probate services can handle the filings and court dates for you.

Letters of office: your legal authority to act

Letters of office are the court order that gives you legal authority to act for the estate. In Cook County, the Probate Division issues them once the court admits the will (or appoints an administrator when there’s no will) and the representative qualifies. Banks, title companies, and the IRS usually want to see these letters before they release funds or transfer property. Without letters of office, you generally can’t get into accounts, sell the house, or pay creditors. Getting them is the practical reason most families open probate in the first place.

Daley Center vs. Skokie courthouse: which one applies to you?

For a decedent’s estate, the answer is almost always the Daley Center, not Skokie. In Cook County, decedent-estate probate is centralized at the Richard J. Daley Center in downtown Chicago, while the Second Municipal District courthouse in Skokie handles many other local case types.  Here is where you file, based on where the person lived:
Town or residence County Where the estate is filed
Evanston Cook Daley Center, Probate Division — downtown Chicago
Wilmette, Glencoe, Winnetka Cook Daley Center, Probate Division
Skokie, Northbrook Cook Daley Center, Probate Division
Highland Park, Lake Forest Lake Lake County Courthouse — Waukegan
Map showing Evanston and North Shore probate cases filed at Cook County's Daley Center, Illinois.
  The Circuit Court of Cook County lists the Probate Division’s location and courtrooms at the Daley Center. An Evanston probate attorney who files there regularly can confirm your venue quickly. If you’re not sure whether your family’s estate needs full probate or a simpler path, a short conversation can save weeks of guesswork.

Independent vs. supervised administration in Cook County

Independent administration is the default in Illinois. It lets the representative manage the estate with limited court involvement, while supervised administration puts the court in the middle of the major steps. Under 755 ILCS 5/28-1, most Cook County estates run independently unless an interested party asks the court to require supervision.  Independent administration means fewer hearings and faster distributions. The court can end it under 755 ILCS 5/28-4 if a beneficiary or creditor shows good cause, which is a big part of why cooperation among heirs matters.
Independent versus supervised administration comparison for Cook County probate in Illinois.
Feature Independent administration Supervised administration
Court approval for routine acts Not usually required Required for major steps
Court filings Fewer More — inventory, accountings
Typical pace Faster Slower
Best for Cooperative heirs and a clear will Conflict or contested estates
Picture an Evanston, Illinois family whose mother left a clear will naming one adult child as executor. With cooperative heirs, they open the estate at the Daley Center and proceed under independent administration, showing up in court only when the judge asks them to. A contested estate down the block might land in supervised administration instead, with the court reviewing each major move.

How long does Cook County probate take?

In Cook County, an estate under independent administration commonly takes about 9 to 12 months. A big reason is the creditor claims period: Illinois gives creditors roughly six months to file claims after notice is published under 755 ILCS 5/18-3.  The estate generally can’t close until that window runs out and the debts and taxes are settled. For the statewide sequence of steps, see how probate works across Illinois; this guide stays focused on Cook County venue and logistics. Contested wills, unclear heirs, or estate tax issues can push the timeline past a year. Illinois Legal Aid Online has a plain-language overview of settling an estate after a death if you want to see the phases in order.

E-filing through eFileIL

Most Cook County probate documents are filed electronically through eFileIL, the Illinois courts’ statewide e-filing system. The main exception is the original will. It has to be deposited in person with the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Probate Division, Room 1202, at the Daley Center. eFileIL lets attorneys and self-represented filers submit petitions and later documents online. The Clerk’s Probate Division accepts the original will at Room 1202, and there’s generally no fee just to deposit a will.  Illinois asks that the original will be filed with the clerk within 30 days of the death, so it’s worth locating it early. Keep a copy for yourself; the court keeps the original.

North Shore note: Cook County vs. Lake County venue

Your county depends on where the person lived, and the North Shore straddles two of them. Wilmette, Glencoe, Winnetka, Northbrook, and Skokie sit in Cook County, so those estates file at the Daley Center. Nearby towns such as Highland Park and Lake Forest sit in Lake County and file at the Lake County courthouse in Waukegan.  Illinois sets probate venue by the decedent’s county of residence under the Probate Act of 1975 (755 ILCS 5). Getting the county right matters, because filing in the wrong court can cost weeks while the case gets transferred. If a loved one moved recently, use their last permanent residence to settle the county, and confirm with the clerk before you file.

Frequently asked questions about Cook County probate

Where do Evanston residents file for probate?

Evanston residents file for probate with the Cook County Probate Division at the Richard J. Daley Center, Room 1202, in downtown Chicago. The Skokie courthouse does not handle decedent estates, even though it serves the northern suburbs for other matters.

Is Cook County probate handled in Skokie or downtown?

Cook County decedent-estate probate is handled downtown at the Daley Center, not in Skokie. The Second Municipal District courthouse in Skokie serves the northern suburbs for many case types, but decedent estates are centralized at the Daley Center.

How long does Cook County probate take?

Cook County probate under independent administration commonly takes about 9 to 12 months; supervised or contested estates take longer. The floor is largely set by the six-month creditor claims window under 755 ILCS 5/18-3.

Do I have to attend every Cook County probate hearing?

Under independent administration, many actions require no court appearance, and the attorney typically appears when the court requires it. Whether you personally attend depends on your case, so ask your attorney which dates need you.

Can probate in Cook County be done online?

Yes. Most probate documents in Cook County are filed online through eFileIL, but the original will must be deposited in person at Room 1202 in the Daley Center.

How much does it cost to open probate in Cook County?

Opening probate in Cook County involves a court filing fee set by the Clerk of the Circuit Court, plus the cost of publishing notice to creditors; attorney fees vary by estate. Check the Clerk of the Circuit Court fee schedule before you file, because these amounts change.

When to bring in a Cook County probate attorney

Some Cook County estates are simple enough to handle with little help. Others carry enough risk that legal guidance pays for itself. Consider talking to a probate attorney if any of these apply:

  • The estate includes real estate in more than one county or state.
  • The will is unclear or missing, or someone plans to contest it.
  • The estate holds a business interest or other hard-to-value assets.
  • Heirs disagree, or a minor or dependent adult is a beneficiary.
  • You’re unsure whether the estate qualifies for a small estate affidavit instead of full probate.

Illinois also allows a small estate affidavit under 755 ILCS 5/25-1 for smaller estates that meet the statutory dollar limit, which can keep the whole thing out of court. 

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This article is general information about Illinois law and is not legal advice for your specific situation. Daci Jett Law provides this content as general legal information. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. For advice about your specific situation, schedule a consultation.