Petition for Letters of Administration

IMPORTANT: THIS IS A PREPARATION GUIDE — NOT THE OFFICIAL COURT FORM

Illinois requires the use of official court forms for petitions for letters of
administration. In Cook County, use form CCP 0302; other counties may have their
own required forms. This template provides the substantive legal content to help you
prepare — but you must transfer your content to the official form before filing.
Official forms are available at https://www.illinoiscourts.gov/documents-and-forms/approved-forms/
or through your county circuit clerk's office.
Do not file this document directly with the court.

PETITION FOR LETTERS OF ADMINISTRATION

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF [COUNTY] COUNTY, ILLINOIS
PROBATE DIVISION

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Caption and Case Information
2. Petitioner Information
3. Decedent Information
4. Basis for Jurisdiction
5. Heirs at Law
6. Grounds for Administration
7. Prayer for Relief
8. Verification
9. Certificate of Service

1. CAPTION AND CASE INFORMATION

IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF:

[DECEDENT FULL LEGAL NAME], Deceased.

Case No.: [____________________________________]

2. PETITIONER INFORMATION

Name: [PETITIONER FULL LEGAL NAME]
Address: [STREET ADDRESS], [CITY], Illinois [ZIP CODE]
Relationship to Decedent: [RELATIONSHIP]

3. DECEDENT INFORMATION

4. BASIS FOR JURISDICTION

a. The Decedent was domiciled in [COUNTY] County, Illinois at the time of death.

b. The Decedent died on [__/__/____].

c. The Decedent died intestate (without a valid Last Will and Testament).

d. ☐ After diligent search and inquiry, Petitioner is unaware of any will or codicil of the Decedent.

e. ☐ No prior petition for letters has been filed in this or any other court.

5. HEIRS AT LAW

The heirs at law under the Illinois Probate Act intestate succession provisions (755 ILCS 5/2-1 et seq.):

☐ Any of the above heirs is entitled to administer or nominate an administrator equally with or in preference to the Petitioner: [NAME(S)]

6. GROUNDS FOR ADMINISTRATION

a. The Decedent died possessed of property in Illinois requiring administration.

b. Estimated value of the estate:

c. Petitioner has preference for appointment under 755 ILCS 5/9-3 as [STATE PRIORITY BASIS].

d. Petitioner is qualified under 755 ILCS 5/9-1.

e. ☐ Petitioner nominates [ADMINISTRATOR NAME] to serve as Administrator (if Petitioner is an heir nominating another person).

f. Type of administration:
☐ Supervised administration (755 ILCS 5/28-1)
☐ Independent administration (755 ILCS 5/28-2) — requires consent of all interested persons

g. Bond:
☐ Petitioner will furnish bond per 755 ILCS 5/12-1
☐ Petitioner requests waiver of bond with consent of all interested persons

7. PRAYER FOR RELIEF

WHEREFORE, Petitioner respectfully prays:

a. Letters of Administration be issued to [ADMINISTRATOR NAME] upon qualification;

b. The Court determine that the Decedent died intestate;

c. The Court determine the heirs at law;

d. ☐ Independent administration authority be granted per 755 ILCS 5/28-2;

e. Bond be fixed or waived;

f. Such other relief as the Court deems proper.

8. VERIFICATION

I, [PETITIONER FULL LEGAL NAME], on oath state that the statements in this Petition are true and correct to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief, pursuant to 735 ILCS 5/1-109.

Petitioner Signature: ______________________________________

Printed Name: [PETITIONER FULL LEGAL NAME]

Date: [__/__/____]

Subscribed and sworn to before me this [____] day of [____________], [________].

Notary Public: ______________________________________
My Commission Expires: [__/__/____]

9. CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I certify that on [__/__/____], a true copy of this Petition and Notice of Hearing was served on all known heirs:

☐ Personal Service
☐ Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested
☐ First Class U.S. Mail
☐ Publication (as ordered by the Court)

Signature: ______________________________________
Printed Name: [PETITIONER / ATTORNEY NAME]
Illinois ARDC No.: [________________] (if applicable)
Address: [________________________________]
Telephone: [________________________________]
Email: [________________________________]

ATTACHMENTS CHECKLIST:

☐ Certified copy of Death Certificate
☐ Administrator's Bond (755 ILCS 5/12-1) or Petition for Waiver
☐ Oath of Office
☐ Written consents for independent administration (if applicable)
☐ Proposed Order Granting Letters of Administration
☐ Proposed Letters of Administration
☐ Filing fee payment