Welcome to the . . . . 
McLean County
Will Record Index, 1838–1940

• Search the McLean County Will Record Index now.
• About the McLean County Will Record Index.
• Probate Jurisdiction.
• Content of McLean County Will Records.
• How to obtain copies of the McLean County Will Records.

The McLean County Will Record Index was compiled by Jude Geiger, intern for the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) System at Illinois State University in Normal. The 6,816 records in the database were extracted from the McLean County Will Record (IRAD Accession 3/0096/01).

Each entry found in the index contains the following categories of information: the name of the estate; the volume and page number of the will record; and the date span of the will record volume. A description of the type of case is also frequently listed. Please note that the date span shown for each entry is the date span for the entire volume, not for the individual records.

Names of estates were transcribed directly from the will record. Every attempt was made to obtain accurate spellings of names. However, it was sometimes difficult to decipher handwriting in some entries. Therefore, when searching this index, we suggest that researchers check alternative spellings of names if they do not find an entry for the name for which they are searching.

This database indexes the following volumes of the McLean County Will Record:

Volume 1:	1838	–	1849
Volume 2:	1850	–	1855
Volume 3:	1855	–	1862
Volume 4:	1862	–	1877
Volume 5:	1877	–	1885
Volume 6:	1885	–	1889
Volume 7:	1889	–	1892
Volume 8:	1892	–	1895
Volume 9:	1895	–	1898
Volume 10:	1898	–	1900
Volume 11:	1900	–	1902
Volume 12:	1902	–	1904
Volume 13:	1904	–	1906
Volume 14:	1906	–	1909
Volume 15:	1909	–	1911
Volume 16:	1911	–	1913
Volume 17:	1913	–	1914
Volume 18:	1914	–	1916
Volume 19:	1916	–	1918
Volume 20:	1918	–	1919
Volume 21:	1919	–	1921
Volume 22:	1921	–	1922
Volume 23:	1922	–	1940

Will records created prior to 1848 were maintained by the Probate Court in McLean County. The Constitution of 1848 moved original jurisdiction in probate cases to the newly created County Court. [Constitution of 1848, Article V, Sections 16-18] Therefore, probate records recorded after 1848 were maintained by the County Court acting in probate. The Constitution of 1870 gave the General Assembly the authority to create probate courts in counties with populations of 50,000 or more. [Constitution of 1870, Article VI, section 20] However, probate jurisdiction remained with the County Court in McLean County until January 1, 1964 when the functions of both the probate court and county court were transferred to the circuit court. [Constitution of 1870, 1962 Amendment, Article VI, section 4]
 

Will records shows the names of the deceased, judge, and clerk of the court; the date of death and the date the will was filed; and the names of the heirs, witnesses, and petitioners; with notarization and a transcript of the will with the date it was approved. The transcript shows the date the will was written, the name of the testator, and the signatures of the witnesses. In cases of intestate death, the record contains a declaration of no will and the appointment and bond of an administrator. The record may also contain witness affidavits, petitions, bonds and letters testamentary.
 

Copies of will records found in this index may be obtained by mail or telephone. Inquiries should be made directly to the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) at Illinois State University in Normal. IRAD cannot accept requests by e-mail at this time. Call or write:

Illinois Regional Archives Depository Illinois State University 2016 Warehouse Road Campus Box 1520 Normal, IL 61790-1520

Telephone: (309) 452-6027