The Illinois Petition for Letters of Office (Supervised Administration) is the court document that asks an Illinois Circuit Court to officially appoint an executor or administrator and place the estate under ongoing court oversight under the Illinois Probate Act of 1975. The petition launches the probate case, gives the representative legal power to gather assets, and triggers the six-month window for creditor claims under 755 ILCS 5/18-3.
Filing this petition wrong stalls grief-stricken families for weeks. The Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts reports that probate accounts for nearly 10% of civil filings statewide, and Cook County alone processes more than 30,000 estate cases each year through its Probate Division.
Here is what you will learn in this guide:
- 📜 How to complete every box on the Cook County CCP-0301 petition and the statewide equivalent
- 🏛️ Where to file, what fee to pay, and how to e-file through Odyssey eFileIL
- ⚖️ When to choose supervised administration over independent administration under 755 ILCS 5/28-1
- 🛡️ How surety bonds, heirship affidavits, and guardians ad litem fit into your filing
- ❓ Twelve plus FAQs that answer the field-level questions filers most often miss
What the Form Is and Who Must File It
The Petition for Letters of Office is the formal request that opens a decedent’s probate estate in an Illinois Circuit Court and asks the judge to issue Letters Testamentary (when there is a will) or Letters of Administration (when there is no will). The petition tells the court who died, where they lived, what they owned, who their heirs are, and who should be appointed to administer the estate. Without this petition, no one has legal authority to sell the decedent’s house, close their bank account, or sue on the estate’s behalf.
Supervised administration means the representative must return to the court for approval of major actions, including selling real estate, paying claims, and making distributions, under 755 ILCS 5/28-1. Heirs or beneficiaries usually request supervised administration when they distrust the named executor, when minor children inherit, or when family conflict is likely. Independent administration, by contrast, lets the representative work without ongoing court approval, but any interested person can demand supervision at any time.
The petitioner is usually the surviving spouse, an adult child, the executor named in the will, a creditor, or a public administrator. Illinois law sets a priority order in 755 ILCS 5/9-3: the surviving spouse comes first, then legatees, then children, then grandchildren, then parents, and then other heirs. A bank, trust company, or attorney can also serve if nominated. Filing the petition does not automatically make you the representative. The judge must enter an order, and only then does the Clerk issue the Letters of Office.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Probate moves faster when you walk into the Clerk’s office with a folder, not a memory. The Circuit Clerk will reject petitions that lack the original will, a certified death certificate, or a correct heirship statement. Gather everything below before you open the form. If you discover an item is missing later, you may need to file an amended petition, which adds court time and notice costs.
- Original will and any codicils. The original must be deposited with the Clerk within 30 days of death under 755 ILCS 5/6-1. A photocopy will not be accepted for admission to probate without a separate lost-will petition.
- Certified death certificate. Order at least three certified copies from the Illinois Department of Public Health. Banks, title companies, and the IRS each demand their own.
- Decedent’s full legal name, date of birth, date of death, and last address. A typo here misroutes the case to the wrong county.
- Names, ages, and addresses of all heirs and legatees. Missing one heir voids the notice required under 755 ILCS 5/9-5.
- A reasonable estimate of the personal estate (cash, stocks, vehicles) and the gross annual rental of any real estate. This drives the bond amount and the filing fee tier.
- Names and addresses of any minor or disabled heirs. A guardian ad litem must be appointed for them.
- Proposed representative’s full legal name, address, and a statement that they are a U.S. resident, are 18 or older, are of sound mind, and have not been convicted of a felony, as required by 755 ILCS 5/9-1.
- Surety bond information. If a bond is required, the representative must contact a surety company before the hearing. Without a bond on file, the Letters will not issue.
- Filing fee or fee waiver application. Cook County fees run from roughly $364 to $568 in 2026; check the Clerk’s fee schedule for your case category.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
The petition is not a single statewide PDF. Each Illinois county Circuit Clerk publishes its own version that mirrors the requirements of Article IX of the Probate Act. The Cook County form is CCP-0301 (Petition for Letters of Office), and it carries a revision date in the lower-left footer. Always confirm you are on the latest revision before filing.
DuPage filers use forms posted on the DuPage Circuit Clerk site, Lake County uses its own Probate Division forms, Will County uses forms on the Will County Clerk page, and Kane County publishes its forms through the Kane County Clerk. The Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice also publishes statewide standardized probate forms that work in counties without a local version.
You can download the form, type into the PDF, and either print it for in-person filing or upload it through Odyssey eFileIL. Self-represented filers with limited income may apply for a paper-filing exemption under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9 by submitting a Certification for Exemption from E-Filing. Free help is available at the Illinois Free Legal Answers portal and through Illinois Legal Aid Online.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out the Illinois Petition for Letters of Office (Supervised Administration), Line by Line
The walkthrough below tracks the field order on Cook County’s CCP-0301, which closely mirrors the statewide standardized form. If your county uses different box numbers, read each H3 by its label, not its number, and you will find the matching field.
Caption: County, Case Number, and Estate Title
This is the top block of the form, before any numbered paragraph. The caption tells the court which county has jurisdiction, lists the decedent by name, and reserves space for the case number the Clerk assigns at filing.
Type the county name in all caps, leave the case number blank, and enter the estate title as ESTATE OF MARIA LOPEZ, Deceased. Use the decedent’s full legal name as it appears on the death certificate. If the decedent went by a nickname or alias, add a/k/a and list each alias.
A common edge case is a decedent who recently changed names through marriage or divorce. List both names with a/k/a so banks recognize the Letters when they search by old account names. The most common mistake here is using the wrong county. Venue must be the county where the decedent had a permanent residence at death under 755 ILCS 5/5-1, not where the death occurred or where the heirs live. Filing in the wrong county forces dismissal and a refile elsewhere.
A misconception is that “case number” gets typed in by the petitioner. It does not. The Clerk stamps it after filing, and altering the box can flag the petition for rejection.
Paragraph 1: Decedent’s Name, Address, and Date of Death
This paragraph identifies the decedent and locks in the court’s jurisdiction over the estate.
Write the decedent’s full legal name in title case, the complete street address of their last residence, and the date of death in MM/DD/YYYY format. Example entry: Maria Lopez, 4421 W. Cullom Avenue, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois 60641; date of death 02/14/2026.
The nuance here is decedents who maintained two homes. Use the residence the decedent treated as permanent, the place where they were registered to vote, paid state income tax, or kept their driver’s license. A snowbird who died in Florida but voted in Illinois is still an Illinois resident.
The most common mistake is writing the address of the nursing home or hospital where the decedent died. That triggers a venue objection from any heir who knows the truth, and the case may be transferred or dismissed. The misconception is that “date of death” means the date the body was found. It is the date listed on the certified death certificate, full stop.
Paragraph 2: Approximate Age and Cause-of-Death-Free Description
The form asks for the decedent’s age at death, not their birthday. Enter the whole number of years (for example, Maria Lopez was 67 years of age at death).
The why behind this field is statistical and jurisdictional. The court uses age to flag minors (rare in probate), to confirm the decedent had legal capacity to make the will, and to identify potential elder-abuse patterns. The example: Decedent was 67 years of age at the date of death.
The edge case is unknown age, which happens with abandoned decedents or those without records. Write Approximately ___ years of age, exact age unknown and attach an affidavit explaining the basis for your estimate. The mistake is writing the date of birth in the age box. That returns the petition for correction. The misconception is that exact age must be exact to the day. The court accepts whole years.
Paragraph 3: Names, Post Office Addresses, and Relationships of Heirs and Legatees
This is the heirship paragraph, and it is the field that pro se filers get wrong most often. List every heir at law, even if the decedent left a will that disinherits them, because heirs are entitled to notice under 755 ILCS 5/9-5.
For each heir or legatee, list full legal name, complete mailing address, age (or adult or minor), and relationship to the decedent. Example entry: Carlos Lopez, 2210 N. Lawndale Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60647, adult son. If an heir is a minor, list a date of birth and the parent or guardian who will receive notice on the minor’s behalf.
The edge case is a missing heir whose address is unknown. Write whereabouts unknown after diligent search and be prepared to file a separate affidavit of diligent inquiry. Service by publication may be required under 735 ILCS 5/2-206. The mistake is omitting an estranged child or a half-sibling because the family does not “count” them. Illinois law counts them, and a missing heir voids any default order entered without notice. The misconception is that legatees in the will replace heirs at law. They do not. Both lists must appear, often as separate sub-paragraphs, when supervised administration is requested.
Paragraph 4: Existence and Date of Will (Testate Cases)
This paragraph swears to the court that the document attached is the decedent’s last will. Check the box that says Decedent left a will dated ____ and fill in the will’s execution date in MM/DD/YYYY format.
Example entry from filer James Whitaker: Decedent left a will dated 06/12/2019, which is filed herewith. The original will, signed and witnessed, must be physically filed with the petition; a scanned copy alone will not work for admission to probate without a lost-will proceeding.
The edge case is a will with a self-proving affidavit under 755 ILCS 5/6-4(b). That affidavit lets the court admit the will without live witness testimony, and it should be flagged in this paragraph. The mistake is filing a photocopy when the original exists. The Clerk will reject it, and the case must be refiled. The misconception is that a holographic (handwritten, unwitnessed) will is valid in Illinois. It is not, except in extremely narrow military exceptions.
Paragraph 5: Approximate Value of the Estate
This paragraph drives both the bond amount and the filing fee tier. Enter two numbers: the approximate value of the personal estate (cash, vehicles, stocks, jewelry) and the approximate gross annual rental of real estate owned by the decedent. Real estate value itself is not what is requested here, only the rental income.
Example entry: Personal estate of approximately $185,000 and real estate producing approximate gross annual rental of $0. If the home is owner-occupied and not rented, write $0 in the rental box.
The edge case is jointly held property and accounts with named beneficiaries. These pass outside probate and should not be included in this paragraph. The mistake is inflating the personal estate to include the homestead’s market value. That balloons the bond and fee unnecessarily. The misconception is that this number must be exact. It is an estimate, and you can amend it after the inventory is filed under 755 ILCS 5/14-1.
Paragraph 6: Name and Post Office Address of Proposed Representative
This is where you nominate the executor or administrator. Type the full legal name and complete mailing address. Example entry: Aisha Bell, 1530 E. 53rd Street, Apt. 4B, Chicago, Illinois 60615.
The edge case is a corporate fiduciary like a bank trust department. List the institution’s legal name and the trust office address, not a branch. Add the title of the trust officer who will sign the oath. The mistake is naming someone who is disqualified, including non-U.S. residents, anyone under 18, or anyone convicted of a felony, all of which violate 755 ILCS 5/9-1. The misconception is that the will’s nominee must serve. They may decline by filing a renunciation, which then opens the role to the next priority person.
Paragraph 7: Request for Supervised Administration
Here is the paragraph that distinguishes this petition from an independent-administration filing. Check the box or insert the language Petitioner requests that the estate be administered under supervised administration pursuant to 755 ILCS 5/28-1 et seq.
Example entry from Aisha Bell: Because two of decedent’s heirs are minors and the proposed representative is not the decedent’s spouse, supervised administration is requested.
The edge case is a petition that starts as independent administration but converts to supervised after a beneficiary objects under 755 ILCS 5/28-4. The mistake is leaving this paragraph blank when supervised oversight is what you actually want. A blank box defaults the case to independent administration, which strips out the court check-ins. The misconception is that supervised administration is automatically required when minors inherit. It is strongly preferred, but not automatic, and the petitioner must affirmatively request it.
Paragraph 8: Bond Amount and Surety
Type the bond amount, which is generally 1.5 times the value of the personal estate plus one year of estimated rental, under 755 ILCS 5/12-2. Example entry: Bond is requested in the amount of $277,500 with corporate surety.
The edge case is a will that waives the bond requirement. Quote the will’s bond-waiver clause and request that no bond be required. Even with a waiver, the court can still order a bond if heirs object. The mistake is naming an individual surety who cannot meet the statutory net-worth requirement, which forces a do-over. The misconception is that bonds are insurance for the representative. They are not. They protect the heirs and creditors against representative misconduct.
Paragraph 9: Prayer for Relief
This is the closing paragraph that asks the court to act. It typically reads: Petitioner prays that the will be admitted to probate, that Letters of Office issue to the proposed representative, and that the estate be administered under supervised administration.
Example entry from James Whitaker: WHEREFORE, Petitioner prays that the Last Will and Testament of decedent dated 06/12/2019 be admitted to probate; that Letters Testamentary issue to James Whitaker; and that the estate proceed under supervised administration.
The edge case is intestate cases, where the prayer drops the will-admission language and asks for Letters of Administration. The mistake is forgetting to include the supervised-administration request in the prayer, which can be read as a waiver. The misconception is that the prayer is boilerplate. Judges read it carefully, and a sloppy prayer signals a sloppy case.
Verification and Signature Block
Illinois petitions must be verified, which means signed under penalty of perjury under 735 ILCS 5/1-109. Sign your full legal name, print it underneath, add the date in MM/DD/YYYY format, and include your address, phone number, and email.
Example entry: /s/ Aisha Bell, Aisha Bell, 1530 E. 53rd Street, Apt. 4B, Chicago, IL 60615, (773) 555-0142, aisha.bell@email.com, 05/21/2026.
The edge case is e-filed petitions, which use the /s/ electronic signature convention rather than a wet ink signature. The mistake is signing without the verification language, which renders the petition voidable. The misconception is that the attorney signs for the petitioner. The petitioner must personally sign the verification, even when represented by counsel.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
Below are three named filers walking through CCP-0301 from caption to verification. Each table shows the petition section in the left column and what that filer types in the right column.
Scenario 1: Maria Lopez Estate, Intestate, Surviving Spouse Petitions
Maria Lopez died without a will. Her widower, Roberto Lopez, files in Cook County and asks for supervised administration because their adult daughter lives out of state and prefers court oversight.
| Petition Section | What Roberto Enters |
|---|---|
| Caption | ESTATE OF MARIA LOPEZ, Deceased, Cook County |
| Decedent address & DOD | 4421 W. Cullom Avenue, Chicago, IL 60641; 02/14/2026 |
| Age at death | 67 years |
| Heirs | Roberto Lopez, spouse; Sofia Lopez, adult daughter |
| Will | No will; intestate |
| Estate value | Personal estate $185,000; rental $0 |
| Proposed representative | Roberto Lopez, surviving spouse |
| Supervised admin request | Yes, pursuant to 755 ILCS 5/28-1 |
| Bond | $277,500 with corporate surety |
| Prayer | Letters of Administration to Roberto Lopez |
Scenario 2: Whitaker Estate, Testate, Adult Son as Named Executor
Eleanor Whitaker died with a 2019 will that named her son James Whitaker as executor. The will included a self-proving affidavit and a bond waiver.
| Petition Section | What James Enters |
|---|---|
| Caption | ESTATE OF ELEANOR WHITAKER, Deceased, DuPage County |
| Decedent address & DOD | 812 Forest Avenue, Wheaton, IL 60187; 03/02/2026 |
| Age at death | 81 years |
| Heirs and legatees | James Whitaker, adult son; Lily Whitaker, adult daughter |
| Will | Will dated 06/12/2019 with self-proving affidavit |
| Estate value | Personal estate $410,000; rental $0 |
| Proposed representative | James Whitaker, executor named in will |
| Supervised admin request | Yes, requested by petitioner |
| Bond | Waived per Article V of will |
| Prayer | Will admitted; Letters Testamentary to James Whitaker |
Scenario 3: Bell Estate, Testate, Daughter Petitions After Named Executor Declines
Marcus Bell left a will naming his brother as executor, but the brother filed a renunciation. Aisha Bell, the adult daughter, petitions to serve. Two minor grandchildren are legatees, so a guardian ad litem will be appointed.
| Petition Section | What Aisha Enters |
|---|---|
| Caption | ESTATE OF MARCUS BELL, Deceased, Cook County |
| Decedent address & DOD | 1530 E. 53rd Street, Chicago, IL 60615; 04/05/2026 |
| Age at death | 59 years |
| Heirs and legatees | Aisha Bell, adult daughter; Jordan Bell, age 9; Nia Bell, age 7 |
| Will | Will dated 11/04/2021 |
| Estate value | Personal estate $92,000; rental $14,400 annually |
| Proposed representative | Aisha Bell, adult daughter (named executor renounced) |
| Supervised admin request | Yes, minors involved |
| Bond | $152,400 with corporate surety |
| Prayer | Will admitted; Letters Testamentary to Aisha Bell; GAL appointed |
How to File the Completed Form
Illinois requires civil filings to be submitted electronically through Odyssey eFileIL under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9, with limited exceptions for self-represented filers. Choose the channel that fits your case and your comfort level.
Online via eFileIL. Create an account, choose your county, select the Probate – Estate case category, upload the petition, the original will (if any), the death certificate, the surety bond, and the proposed order. Pay the filing fee by credit card or e-check. Cook County’s 2026 fee for a supervised estate runs roughly $364 to $568 depending on case category, posted on the Cook County fee schedule. Processing usually takes 1 to 3 business days for acceptance, and the Clerk emails a stamped copy as proof of filing.
In person at the Circuit Clerk. Some Clerks accept original wills only in person because the original paper document must be deposited under 755 ILCS 5/6-1. Bring the petition, the original will, the certified death certificate, three extra copies, and a check or money order. The Clerk hands you a file-stamped copy as proof.
Paper filing under the Rule 9 exemption. Self-represented filers with limited income may e-file paper using a Certification for Exemption from E-Filing. Mail or hand-deliver the certification with the petition. Processing time can stretch to 7 to 10 business days. Keep the certified mail receipt as proof of filing.
Fax filing is generally not accepted for new probate cases, although a few rural counties allow it for follow-up motions. Confirm with the local Clerk before relying on fax.
What Happens After You File
Once the petition is accepted, the case is assigned a docket number and a probate judge. The Clerk enters the case on the call, and the judge sets a hearing date, often within 30 days. You must mail formal notice to every heir and legatee at least 14 days before the hearing under 755 ILCS 5/9-5, and you must file proof of mailing with the court. If you skip notice, the order is voidable and the case can be reopened years later.
At the hearing, the judge reviews the petition, the will (if any), the bond, and any objections. If everything checks out, the judge enters an Order Admitting Will to Probate and Appointing Representative, and the Clerk issues Letters of Office once the bond is filed and the oath is signed. Letters are short certificates, often a single page, that banks and title companies use to confirm your authority.
After Letters issue, the representative has duties on a clock. The representative must publish notice to creditors in a local newspaper, mail notice to known creditors, and wait six months for claims under 755 ILCS 5/18-3. An inventory of estate assets is due within 60 days under 755 ILCS 5/14-1. Because this is supervised administration, the representative must file accountings and seek court approval before selling real estate, paying claims, or distributing assets. Final distribution and case closure usually take 12 to 18 months for a routine estate.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
- Filing in the wrong county. Venue must be the decedent’s county of permanent residence, and a wrong-venue filing is dismissed.
- Submitting a photocopy of the will. The original is required, and a copy delays admission until a lost-will proceeding is finished.
- Omitting an estranged or half-blood heir. Missing heirs void notice and unwind any default orders.
- Using a nickname instead of legal name. Banks reject Letters that do not match the death certificate name.
- Leaving the supervised-administration request blank. A blank box defaults to independent administration and removes court oversight.
- Inflating the personal-estate value with homestead market value. It balloons the bond cost and the filing fee tier.
- Naming a disqualified representative. Non-residents, minors, and felons cannot serve, and the petition must be amended.
- Forgetting the bond. Letters will not issue without a filed bond or a valid waiver.
- Skipping verification under penalty of perjury. An unverified petition is voidable.
- Wet-signing an e-filed petition. Use the /s/ electronic signature convention or risk a Clerk rejection.
- Failing to mail 14-day notice to heirs. The hearing will be reset and the order may be vacated.
- Missing the 30-day deadline to deposit the original will. It exposes the holder to civil liability under 755 ILCS 5/6-1.
Dos and Don’ts
Do
- Do read the form’s revision date in the footer, because outdated forms are routinely rejected by the Clerk.
- Do order extra certified death certificates so banks, the IRS, and title companies all get originals.
- Do call the surety bond company first, since the bond must be in hand before Letters issue.
- Do list every heir at law, even those disinherited, to satisfy notice requirements under 755 ILCS 5/9-5.
- Do request a guardian ad litem when minors or disabled persons are heirs, because the court must protect their interests.
- Do keep a stamped copy of the petition for your own files, since you will reference it in every later filing.
Don’t
- Don’t use a lawyer’s address as the decedent’s residence, because venue depends on the decedent’s home, not the firm’s.
- Don’t combine multiple petitions in one filing, since each estate gets its own case number and fee.
- Don’t forget the verification block, because unverified petitions are voidable.
- Don’t guess at heirship, because incorrect heir lists derail the case for months.
- Don’t ignore the 60-day inventory deadline, since failure exposes the representative to removal.
- Don’t pay creditors before the six-month claim window closes, because preferred claims may be cheated.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
Many filers consider whether to handle the petition pro se or hire a probate attorney. The decision turns on estate complexity, family dynamics, and your comfort with court procedure.
Pros of Filing Pro Se
- Lower cost, since you avoid attorney fees that run from $2,500 to $7,500 for routine supervised estates.
- Faster hands-on control, because you see every document the moment it is filed.
- Direct communication with the Clerk, which can speed up minor corrections.
- Free help available through Illinois Legal Aid Online and county self-help desks.
- Educational value, since you learn the process for future estates in your family.
Cons of Filing Pro Se
- Higher rejection risk, because Clerks reject petitions for tiny formatting errors.
- Personal liability exposure, since the representative can be surcharged for mistakes.
- Time burden, because supervised administration requires court appearances throughout the case.
- Notice errors, which are the leading cause of voidable orders in pro se cases.
- Tax pitfalls, since federal estate, fiduciary income, and Illinois estate tax filings can interact.
Comparing Supervised vs. Independent Administration
Most Illinois estates run on independent administration unless someone affirmatively asks for supervision. The right choice depends on family trust, the size of the estate, and the existence of minor or disabled heirs.
| Feature | Supervised vs. Independent |
|---|---|
| Court check-ins | Supervised requires court approval for sales, claims, and distribution; Independent does not |
| Cost | Supervised costs more in court time and attorney fees; Independent is cheaper |
| Speed | Supervised takes 12 to 18 months minimum; Independent can close in 8 to 12 months |
| Heir protection | Supervised offers more oversight; Independent relies on the representative’s good faith |
| When required | Supervised preferred when minors, conflict, or distrust exist; Independent preferred for cooperative families |
| Conversion | Either side can request a switch any time under 755 ILCS 5/28-4 |
Key Entities You Will Encounter
The probate process is a web of overlapping institutions. Each plays a distinct role in your supervised administration filing.
The Circuit Court of the county where the decedent lived has jurisdiction over the estate. The Clerk of the Circuit Court accepts the petition, issues Letters, and maintains the case file. The Probate Division judge holds hearings, approves accountings, and signs orders. The Office of the Public Guardian or a court-appointed guardian ad litem protects minors and disabled persons. The surety bond company insures against representative misconduct. The Illinois Department of Revenue receives any Illinois estate tax return when the estate exceeds the $4 million exemption, and the Internal Revenue Service receives Form 1041 and any Form 706 if federal thresholds apply.
Court Rulings That Shape This Filing
Illinois appellate decisions have shaped how supervised petitions are read. In re Estate of Wellman, 174 Ill. 2d 335 (1996), held that the Probate Act’s notice requirements are jurisdictional and cannot be waived informally. In re Estate of Lashmett, 369 Ill. App. 3d 1013 (4th Dist. 2007), confirmed that a representative who fails to file a timely inventory may be removed. The Cook County Probate Division’s General Administrative Order 2014-03 standardized the use of guardians ad litem when minor heirs appear in supervised cases. Each ruling reinforces the same lesson, which is that field accuracy and notice discipline determine whether the estate moves forward or stalls.
FAQs
Is supervised administration required when minor children inherit?
No. It is not automatic, but courts strongly prefer it and will usually grant a supervised request when minors or disabled persons inherit because their interests need ongoing oversight.
Do I need an attorney to file the petition?
No. Pro se filing is allowed, but supervised cases involve repeated hearings and accountings, so most filers benefit from at least a limited-scope consultation with a probate attorney.
Yes or no, can I e-file the original will?
No. The original paper will must be physically deposited with the Clerk under 755 ILCS 5/6-1, even when the petition itself is e-filed.
Do I list heirs who were disinherited in the will?
Yes. All heirs at law must be listed and given notice, even if the will leaves them nothing, because their right to contest the will depends on receiving notice.
Should I write the nursing home address as the decedent’s residence?
No. Use the decedent’s permanent home address, because venue and jurisdiction depend on permanent residence, not the place of death.
Can a non-resident serve as representative?
No. 755 ILCS 5/9-1 bars non-residents from serving unless the court approves a resident agent and special bond conditions.
Do I include the homestead’s market value in the personal-estate box?
No. Only personal property and the gross annual rental of real estate go in that paragraph, because real estate value itself is not what drives the bond calculation.
Yes or no, does a will’s bond waiver always avoid bond?
No. Heirs can still ask the court to require a bond, and the judge has discretion to order one despite the will’s waiver if circumstances justify protection.
Can the petition be amended after filing?
Yes. Petitions can be amended by leave of court, but each amendment costs time and may require renewed notice to all heirs.
Do I need to publish notice to creditors after Letters issue?
Yes. Notice must be published once a week for three successive weeks in a local newspaper, which starts the six-month claim period under 755 ILCS 5/18-3.
Is the case number assigned before I file?
No. The Clerk assigns the case number after acceptance, so leave the case-number box blank when you submit the petition.
Yes or no, does supervised administration prevent family disputes?
No. It does not prevent disputes, but it gives the court a regular check-in opportunity, which often surfaces problems earlier and limits the damage.
Can I switch from supervised to independent administration later?
Yes. Under 755 ILCS 5/28-4 any interested person can move to convert the case in either direction, and the court will rule based on the estate’s needs.
Do I have to use Cook County’s CCP-0301 specifically?
No. Other counties use their own form numbers, but every county form must include the same fields required by Article IX of the Probate Act, so the line-by-line walkthrough above applies broadly.
Related reading
- How to Fill Out Illinois Affidavit of Heirship (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Illinois Final Report (Probate) (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Illinois Inventory of Estate (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Illinois Petition for Letters of Office (Independent Admin) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Illinois Small Estate Affidavit (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out New York Letters of Administration with Will Annexed + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Arkansas Petition for Probate of Will (w/Examples) + FAQs