Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court

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Content:

Content generally includes:

Civil: Complaint, Appearance, Answer, Motions, Responses, orders, and supplemental pleadings.

Domestic Relations: Petition, Appearance, Answer, Motions, Responses, orders, and supplemental pleadings.

Traffic: Ticket, Appearance, Bond, dispositions, orders.

Misdemeanor: Complaint, Arrest Report, dispositions, Motions, Responses, orders.

Felonies: Indictment, Arrest Report, dispositions, Motions, Responses, orders.

Illinois Code of Civil Procedure -- 735 ILCS 5/

Illinois Code of Criminal Procedure – 725 ILCS 5/

Illinois Supreme Court Rules

Circuit Court Rules and Orders

Illinois Vehicle Code – 625 ILCS 5/

Illinois Criminal Offenses – 720 ILCS 5/

Circuit Court of Cook County – An Informational Guide

Clerk of the Circuit Court Forms

Finding an Attorney

Clerk’s Office Suburban Bureau Brochure

Law Library

Law libraries are located in each Suburban District courthouse. They are open to the public and are available for legal research or reference needs.

District	Room #	Telephone #	Hours of Operation
2 – Skokie	200	(847) 470-7298	Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
3 – Rolling Meadows	221	(847) 818-2290	Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
4 – Maywood	250	(708) 865-6020	Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
5 – Bridgeview	221	(708) 974-6201	Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
6 – Markham	072-A	(708) 210-4125	Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Pro Se Services

A brochure explaining services available to pro se litigants can be obtained in each of the District locations at the Civil Department public service counter. (View Suburban Brochure.) Other pro se services are available depending upon the District. In District 2, court advocates are available to assist individuals seeking a civil order of protection. In District 3, a volunteer attorney is available outside Courtroom 206 at 1:30 p.m. on Fridays to assist pro se litigants. In District 5, Pro Bono Attorneys volunteer every Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. to noon on the lower level of the courthouse. Also Unified Family Court located in room 062 offers assistance with Civil Orders of Protection. In District 6, a customer can sign up in advance to see an attorney, at no cost, for civil law assistance on Thursdays.

For additional assistance to people representing themselves (pro se litigants), please visit the Clerk of Circuit Court Self Represented (Pro Se) Resources page.

Packets detailing the procedures for expungement, sealing and identity theft are available at each suburban location. You may also find more information and the necessary forms on this website.

Brochures with procedures detailing how to file a pro se/ small claims lawsuit are available at this time in District 2 and District 5.

The suburban districts hear most of the same types of cases heard in the First Municipal District, but for cases originating in the suburban cities and villages within each district. Each of the Suburban Districts 2 � 6 hear cases that include the following:

• Civil actions valued at $100,000 or less � usually contract cases

• Actions of replevin for property valued at $100,000 or less � these types of cases involve actions for the retaking of property for various reasons

• Forcible Entry and Detainer Proceedings

• Petitions for name changes

• Law Division filings and Law Division cases in excess of $100,000 � these types of cases include personal injury/ wrongful death, property damage, legal malpractice suits, commercial litigation, libel/slander, and tax and miscellaneous remedies

• Small claims cases � cases in which the monetary amount sought does not exceed $5,000

• Domestic Relations cases � these types of cases include marriages, dissolution of marriages, legal separations, civil orders of protections

• Probate cases � Guardianship of minors only (District 5)

• Criminal proceedings � misdemeanors, felonies, expungements, and sealings are heard

• Traffic Proceedings � all moving vehicle violations

Juvenile Justice Cases � Persons who, before reaching their 17th birthday, have violated any federal or state law or municipal ordinance excluding traffic, boating, or fishing and game law violations (Juvenile Justice cases are not heard in District 4 Maywood). Juvenile Justice

CCG-0603A & CCG-603B , Effective 1/3/2006 (705 ILCS 105/27.2(a))

Municipality Fees (705 ILCS 105/27.2)

Court Forms

Each of the Divisions provides access to official court forms. There are several ways to obtain the forms. In the office, forms are also available from staff at each of the Division’s public service counters. The public can also access court forms on this website.

Free and Reduced Cost Legal Services Information

Information regarding free and reduced cost legal services can be obtained in each District. A list of organizations that provide free or low cost legal services is available at any of the public services counters. Local bar associations can also provide further details:

District 2 � North Suburban Bar Association � (847) 564-4800

District 3 � Northwest Suburban Bar Association � (847) 221-2601

District 4 � West Suburban Bar Association � (708) 366-1122

District 5 � Southwest Bar Association �(708) 371-4930

District 6 � South Suburban Bar Association � (708) 239-8500

Expungement and Sealing

Information regarding expungement or sealing procedures and procedures related to identity theft can be obtained from the Expungment Clerk at the Criminal Department in each District and at the following addresses in Chicago, Illinois:

Criminal Department
Richard J. Daley Center
Room 1006

Criminal Division
2650 South California
5 th Floor

Special Services

District 2 � Customer Service Area

Across the hall from the Clerk’s main office in Room 136 is the Clerk’s Customer Service Area. One can obtain court forms, use the public access terminal, obtain information about your case, or be directed to the appropriate area for court or payment of fines and fees.

District 5 � Letters of Office

Letters of Office are orders signed by a judge giving authority to administer the estate and/or affairs of a person. They can be obtained by opening an estate. For minor guardianship cases only, Letters of Office are issued in District 5. The necessary services can be obtained at the Civil Department counter.

District 6 � Traffic Outcall

The traffic outcall takes place when minor traffic cases are heard in the courthouses located at facilities of the prosecuting agencies within the District rather than in the Markham courthouse. The Clerk’s Office sends courtroom clerks to process and document the proceedings and the files are maintained in the District 6 Clerk’s Office.

1) What are your office hours?

2) Where can I go to file an emergency order of protection?

3) In what courtroom is my traffic ticket heard?

4) How can I change my traffic court date?

5) Where do I go to file an expungement and how much does it cost for the process?

6) Do I need an attorney to file a $500.00 lawsuit?

7) What are the fees to file an appearance and jury demand?

8) What is a garnishment?

9) Where can I file a last Will and testament?

10) How do I appeal the outcome of my Criminal case?

1)      What are your office hours?
All locations have office hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

2)      Where can I go to file an emergency order of protection?
In the event of a bona fide emergency (a life is in immediate danger), a petition for an emergency order of protection may be filed at any suburban courthouse. If it is not an emergency, a regular order of protection may also be filed at the courthouse.

3)      In what courtroom is my traffic ticket heard?
Depending on where the ticket was issued, the courtroom is assigned based upon the police agency involved.

4)      How can I change my traffic court date?
The defendant or a representative must appear in court on the date of your summons. If a representative appears, that person must explain why the defendant cannot appear and request a continuance. Otherwise, the date must be advanced through the motion court of the specific district court in question requesting that the judge change the date. (A motion to advance cannot be filed in a case involving an accident.)

5)      Where do I go to file an expungement and how much does it cost for the process?
The petition to expunge must be filed in the courthouse where the arrest was originally handled. There is a $60.00 filing fee for a petition to expunge. A certified copy for an expungement is $9.00. Expunging the State Rap Sheet with the Illinois State Police is $60.00.

6)      Do I need an attorney to file a $500.00 lawsuit?
All locations have procedures designed to allow an individual eighteen years or older to represent themselves in lawsuits to recover claims of $1,500.00 or less. These individuals who are not represented by an attorney are called �pro se� litigants.

7)      What are the fees to file an appearance and jury demand?

Form CCG 603 contains the complete fee schedule.

8)      What is a garnishment?
A garnishment is an order issued from a court to withhold wages, credit, or other properties usually held by a third party associated with the debtor involved in a lawsuit.

9)      Where can I file a last Will and testament?
A will can be filed in the Civil Department of any of the listed suburban locations, or in the Probate Division, located on the 12th Floor of the Richard J. Daley Center, 50 West Washington, Chicago, IL.

10)      How do I appeal the outcome of my Criminal case?
An appeal can be filed within the district location in which your case was tried. The fees for an appeal are as follows:

Less than 100 pages	$110.00
More than 100 pages, less than 200 pages	$185.00
Each page in excess of 200 pages	$.30

Title:	Court Forms
Content:	Each of the Divisions provides access to official court forms. There are several ways to obtain the forms. In the office, forms are also available from staff at each of the Division’s public service counters. The public can also access court forms on this website.