About Petition for Probate of Will and for Letters Testamentary
To petition the court to admit a testator's will to probate and obtain letters testamentary authorizing an executor to administer the estate.
When you'd use it: When a decedent has left a valid will and the executor or interested party seeks court authorization to probate the will and manage the estate.
Where to get the official form
The official version of Petition for Probate of Will and for Letters Testamentary is published as a PDF by the Illinois courts. We checked this link and it resolved to a form on an official court or government website — always download the current version directly from the source rather than a third-party copy:
Verified official PDF
Download Petition for Probate of Will and for Letters Testamentary (PDF) →
Source: co.st-clair.il.us
Link last checked: May 31, 2026
How to file Petition for Probate of Will and for Letters Testamentary in Illinois
- Step 1 — Confirm you have the correct formUse Petition for Probate of Will and for Letters Testamentary when when a decedent has left a valid will and the executor or interested party seeks court authorization to probate the will and manage the estate. Double-check it's the right form for your situation — Illinois probate forms are revised periodically, so verify the name and number against your court's current form list before you start.
- Step 2 — Complete every required fieldFill out Petition for Probate of Will and for Letters Testamentary carefully and review it for errors before filing. Probate cases can already take months — a small mistake on the form can set your timeline back further.
- Step 3 — Get it notarized or witnessed if requiredSome probate forms must be signed in front of a notary or witnesses. Check the instructions on the form itself, and arrange notarization before you file if it's required.
- Step 4 — File it with the correct courtSubmit Petition for Probate of Will and for Letters Testamentary to the probate court or county clerk handling the estate — usually in the Illinois county where the deceased lived. Ask the clerk how they prefer to receive filings (in person, by mail, or e-filing).