State guide
Illinois
Illinois adult guardianship is an Article XIa Probate Act matter handled in the circuit court's probate division. Illinois also has a separate Supported Decision-Making Agreement Act, while adult disability guardianship forms are still commonly maintained by circuit clerks such as Cook County rather than as a statewide adult form suite.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- Court that handles adult guardianship
- Adult guardianship petitions are filed in the circuit court's probate division, often referred to as the probate court, under the Probate Act of 1975.
- What it's called
- guardian of the person and guardian of the estate
- Official forms and self-help
- Official page →
- Filing fee
- $379.00 in Cook County Probate Division for a new disabled-person guardianship of the person, estate, or both; statewide fees vary by county.
- Less-restrictive alternatives
- Illinois has the Supported Decision-Making Agreement Act, 755 ILCS 9, and the Probate Act also provides for limited guardianship instead of plenary guardianship when appropriate.
- Law
- 755 ILCS 5/11a-1 et seq.; 755 ILCS 9/
Official resources in Illinois
Official statewide forms hub; it currently shows statewide minor guardianship forms but not a statewide adult disability suite.
Largest-county probate division page with probate services, guardianship information, and related contacts.
Largest-county official forms portal containing adult disabled-person guardianship forms and orders.
Key facts for Illinois
- Cook County's Probate Division hears Probate Act matters involving disabled persons, minors, and wards.
- Cook County's Probate Division fee schedule lists $379.00 to open a disabled-person guardianship of the person, estate, or both.
- Illinois law recognizes supported decision-making agreements in 755 ILCS 9.
- Cook County's official forms portal includes adult disability guardianship forms such as petitions and plenary or limited guardianship orders.
- Illinois courts currently publish statewide approved forms for minor guardianship, but adult disability forms remain county-based on official court sites.
- A guardian of an adult person with a disability must complete training within one year unless the court waives it.
County court guardianship pages in Illinois
| Court | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Probate Division, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County Cook | Chicago | 312-603-6441 | Largest-county probate division for guardianship and other probate filings; page lists hours and Daley Center location. |
| Guardianship Assistance Desk for Minors Cook | Chicago | 312-603-0135 | Largest-county court help desk for self-represented minor guardianship petitioners in Cook County. |
| Illinois Guardianship and Advocacy Commission Cook | Chicago | 312-793-5900 | Cook Probate page lists this office for cases where no one is available to serve and assets are less than $25,000. |
| Office of the Public Guardian of Cook County Cook | Chicago | 312-603-0800 | Cook Probate page lists this office for cases needing a guardian where assets are greater than $25,000. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- Check the probate division and circuit clerk website for the county where the respondent lives; adult forms and local procedures are county-specific.
- If you are in Cook County, review both the Probate Division page and the clerk's forms portal before filing because the fee schedule and adult forms are separate pages.
- Consider whether a supported decision-making agreement or limited guardianship would meet the need before seeking plenary guardianship.
Not seeing your court or county?
Not every court publishes its rules online. Try these, in order:
- General Start with the statewide information above.
- Closest verified Nearest places where we have verified local data outside this state (distance from Illinois's population center, for comparison only):
- Waukesha County Probate Court Information Line, Wisconsin · about 114 miles
- Scott County Clerk of Court, Iowa · about 120 miles
- Milwaukee County Probate Office, Wisconsin · about 123 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office.Cook County Probate Division
Website →Phone: (312) 603-0135 (as listed on that page, checked Oct 4, 2026)Your city or county office: Local governments →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the Illinois page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us with a link to the official page.