Costs in probate

All probate proceedings in Cook County will incur the following costs:

1. Fee for filing the initial Petition seeking to open the probate estate. In a decedent's estate, this fee is $ 314.00. In a guardianship estate, this fee is $154 or $199 depending on the assets of the estate.
2. Claims publication notice, usually published with the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, costs $190.
3. In a decedent's estate where the decedent did not have a will, a surety bond will need to be purchased from an insurance company. The premium on the bond will vary in relation to the amount of the assets in the estate, but generally runs from several hundred to several thousand dollars. The greater the value of the estate, the higher the premium on the bond.
4. Examples of other third party costs:
   • Moving and storage fees incurred for moving and storing personal property
   • Fees paid to appraisers of the decedent's real estate or valuable personal property
   • Fees paid to accountants for assistance with income tax preparation either on behalf of the decedent's final return or for the estate
   • Insurance premiums on policies insuring the decedent's real estate or valuable personal estate following the decedent's death
   • Fees for assistance in cleanup up or cleaning out the decedent's home