The Illinois Notice of Probate is a legal document used to initiate the probate of an estate in the state of Illinois. Probate is the process of legally settling a deceased person's estate and distributing their assets to their beneficiaries. The Notice of Probate is filed with the court and serves to inform the public and the deceased's heirs that probate proceedings are taking place. It also notifies potential creditors of the estate of the chance to file a claim against the estate. There are two types of Illinois Notice of Probate: formal and informal. Formal probate is a court-supervised process that takes place when a will is contested or when an estate is complex. Informal probate is a simpler process that takes place when there is no will or when no disputes arise concerning the will. In either case, the Notice of Probate will list the name of the deceased, the date of death, the names of the executor and heirs, and the court in which the proceedings are taking place.