Quick answer: generally no — independent administration is the default for roughly 90% of Illinois estates, and it lets the representative sell without a court order. Only supervised administration, triggered by an objection or a protective concern, requires approval. Run your own numbers in the Illinois probate real estate sale calculator.
The default, not the exception
What actually triggers supervision
Supervised administration follows only if an interested person formally objects under §28-2(b), or if the court finds supervision necessary to protect a minor or a person with a disability — short of one of these, independent administration proceeds automatically.
A specific bequest is its own carve-out
Real estate specifically left to a named legatee needs that legatee's written consent before the representative can sell it — a general power-of-sale clause elsewhere in the will doesn't override this specific protection.
Notice still goes out, even without a hearing
The representative publishes notice once each week for three successive weeks and mails notice to known creditors — a public step that happens regardless of whether a court hearing on the sale itself is required.
A hard two-year backstop
Under §18-12, all claims are barred two years after death, whether or not letters of office were ever issued for the estate — a firm outer limit regardless of how the administration itself proceeded.
A local probate attorney can review your estate — many offer a free consultation.
Cook County, DuPage, and Lake County each handle their own probate calendar, but the independent-administration default and the §18-3 claims window apply identically across Illinois.