Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in Illinois

Re: will

Whoever had or found the will after your father-in-law's death had a duty to file it with the clerk of the court for the county in which he lived at his death. If this was done, the clerk will allow you to view and copy (for a nominal charge) the will. If this was not done, you should see a lawyer to force the will to be filed.

Re: will

Check county of residence. Find number for clerk of the probate court.

Call them, giving name & approximate date of death. They'll check records for whether there was a will filed, or a probate estate opened.

If there was a will filed, they'll make a copy for a price.

If there's an estate it gets more complicated, trying to get whole file, etc. But getting the will should tell you what you need to know.