Illinois Executor and Estate Kit: the $150,000 Small Estate Route, First Month Checklist and Estate Ledger

Who it is for

Whoever is settling the estate of someone who lived in Illinois. Handed to the bank or other holder. Handed to whoever holds the property or owes the debt; the statute doesn't require filing the affidavit with a court or clerk.

Not the right fit if

The person didn't live in or own property in Illinois, or a will contest or family dispute means you need an estate attorney. Not a form preparation or legal service.

Why it is different

• Sources, checked November 2026: Illinois Public Act 104-0346 (small estate affidavit, effective 8/15/2025) (Illinois General Assembly); 24th Judicial Circuit of Illinois: Small Estate Affidavit form (PDF); 755 ILCS 5/25-1, Small estate affidavit, as amended by P.A. 104-624, eff. 1-1-27 (Illinois General Assembly); Illinois Public Act 104-0624 (effective 1/1/2027) (Illinois General Assembly); Nolo (secondary source): Probate Shortcuts in Illinois (Nolo); 755 ILCS 5/4-3, Signing and attestation (Illinois General Assembly); 755 ILCS 5/4-1, Capacity to make a will (Illinois General Assembly); Public Act 102-0167, Electronic Wills, Electronic Estate Planning Documents, and Remote Witnesses Act (Illinois General Assembly); Nolo (secondary source): How to Make a Will in Illinois (Nolo).
• All 12 Illinois facts are confirmed: on an official page, or where none could be read, on a vetted secondary source marked as such.

What is inside

• Illinois small estate route. Gross value of the personal estate, not counting motor vehicles registered with the Secretary of State, up to $150,000 for deaths on or after August 15, 2025 (Public Act 104-0346); $100,000 before. Real estate isn't counted, and the affidavit doesn't transfer it; it needs its own route. No waiting period: section 25-1 sets none. The affidavit gives the date of death and attaches a copy of the death certificate. Signed before a notary. The statutory affidavit ends with a notary jurat. Handed to the bank or other holder. Handed to whoever holds the property or owes the debt; the statute doesn't require filing the affidavit with a court or clerk. Small Estate Affidavit (statutory form, 755 ILCS 5/25-1). The form is set out in the statute; circuit courts post copies, like this one from the 24th Circuit. Summary administration: As Nolo's summary describes it: a petition to the local probate court that, if approved, lets the assets be distributed without regular probate; it isn't available when heirs disagree about the estate. The affidavit sets aside a spouse's award of $20,000 plus $10,000 for each minor or dependent child living with the spouse; with no spouse, the children share the same amounts.
• How a Illinois will had to be signed. Two or more credible witnesses, who attest in the testator's presence. No separate affidavit is needed. Per Nolo's Illinois page, a will that is signed and witnessed correctly is self-proved without a self-proving affidavit, and a notary isn't needed to make the will legal. Not recognized, per Nolo's Illinois page. A witness who stands to inherit under the will may lose that inheritance (Nolo, citing 755 ILCS 5/4-6).
• Illinois estate ledger (Excel). Assets, debts, payments and distributions; it compares the countable assets with $150,000, picking the figure for the date of death, leaves real estate out of the count and leaves vehicles out.
• First 30 days, tracker and letters. The first month in order, a documents and accounts tracker, and plain letters to a bank, a utility and Social Security.