Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court

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Case Types:	Cases involve children under the age of 18 requiring authoritative intervention including addicted minors, dependent and neglected or abused children.
Dates:	1899-1926 with gaps, 1926-1964 destroyed (only a sample preserved thereafter), 1964-present
Courts:	Juvenile Court, 1899-1964; Family Division 1964-1970; Juvenile Division 1970-1994; Child Protection Division 1995-Present

Content:

Case files may contain information of a personal nature, including demographic data such as family background, education, health, etc. Child Protection cases may only be viewed by the child, legal parents, attorneys, judges, judicial officers, social service agencies, and law enforcement agencies directly involved with the case, or otherwise by court order. Cases that have been impounded, or in other words sealed from viewing, may only be viewed by court order releasing the cases for review.

Content generally includes: Petition for Adjudication of Wardship, Attorney Appearance Form, Response to Petition for Adjudication of Wardship, Continuance orders, Affidavit for Service by Publication, Order for Adjudication, Order of Disposition, Permanency Order, Order to Close Case, case service plans, etc.,

Illinois Code of Civil Procedure

Illinois Supreme Court Rules

Circuit Court Rules and Orders

Circuit Court of Cook County – An Informational Guide

Clerk of the Circuit Court Child Protection Division Forms

Clerk of the Circuit Court General Forms

Illinois Juvenile Court Act of 1987

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

1) Filing a Notice of Appeal

2) Motion for Change of Venue

3) Motion for Substitution of Judge

4) Release of Records

5) Release of Impounded Records

1. Filing a Notice of Appeal

· The parent of the minor representing himself/herself (Pro Se Litigant) must come to the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court, Child Protection Division located at Cook County Juvenile Center, 1100 S. Hamilton (Ground Level) to request to file a Notice of Appeal.

· A member of the appellate staff will provide to the appellant (parent of minor) an Appellate Packet to be filled out.

· The Appellate Packet consists of

a. Notice of Appeal;

b. Motion to Appoint Appellate Bar Attorney, To Order Transcript; and to Release Impounded Materials;

c. Order on Motion To Appoint An Appellate Bar Attorney's;

d. Order to Include Materials in the Record on Appeal'

e. Order to Prepare Transcripts; and

f. Affidavit of Assets and Liabilities.

· The appellant is requested to fill out and submit the Notice of Appeal form to our office.

· The appellant is requested to fill out the remainder of the Appellate Packet and submit the orders to the appropriate agencies within the Child Protection Division.

· The appellant must maintain contact with the Clerk's Office for information regarding the completion of the appellate record. The contact number is (312) 433-4836.

· Upon the completion of the appellate record, the appellant must pay the applicable fee(s).

The appellant is responsible for pick up of the appellate record from the Clerk's Office and filing it with the Appellate Court.

2. Motion for Change of Venue - a written request presented to the judge asking that the case matter be transferred out of the present jurisdiction and into another jurisdiction because of certain and significant factors existing in the present jurisdiction that may unduly prejudice the case.

3. Motion for Substitution of Judge - a written or oral request presented to the judge asking that the case matter be transferred before another judge. When a case is first filed, the motion can be for any reason(s) and the reason(s) do not have to be disclosed to the court. However, if the judge has already rendered a significant ruling in the matter, the motion for substitution of judge must be "for cause" in that the person making the motion has to provide the court with a significant reason as to why the case will be unduly prejudiced if it remains before the current judge.

4. Release of Records is the same as "Release of Impounded Records� - (See below)

5. Release of Impounded Records - a written or oral request to the judge that records sealed from the public be released to the person requesting the records or to a person or persons named by the requestor. Impounded records can only be released pursuant to a court order.

Adjudication hearing	The adjudication hearing is a trial at which the court determines whether allegations of abuse or neglect concerning a child are sustained by the evidence presented, and if so, whether those allegations are legally sufficient to support state intervention on behalf of the child. If the petition seeking court intervention on behalf of the child is sustained, the court may proceed to the disposition stage of the case.
Disposition hearing	The disposition hearing allows the court to determine, after a finding that the child has been abused and/or neglected, whether it would be in the best interests of the child that the child be made a ward of the court. At the hearing, the court determines who shall have custody and control of the child, and whether out-of-home temporary placement should continue, based upon, in part, the child care agency�s plan to protect the child from further harm.
Permanency hearings	Permanency hearings allow the court to determine the permanent placement of a child. The court decides whether a child should be permanently returned home, or whether efforts to return the child home should cease. Where a family has made substantial progress for the child to be returned home prior to the permanency planning hearing, the court may authorize the return home of the child within a short time after the hearing. When the decision at the permanency planning hearing is not to send the child home, the court may consider adoption before accepting a lower priority option of placement such as extended foster care or long-term custody.
Status hearings	Status hearings take place after the disposition hearing and allow the court to review the progress made by the parties since the conclusion of the disposition hearing. The purpose of the hearing is to make sure that the case progresses and the child spends as short a time as possible in temporary placement.
Temporary custody hearing	The temporary custody hearing (TC) is a preliminary protective hearing to determine if a minor(s) should be immediately removed from the custody of the accused parent(s) or caretaker(s) and placed under the temporary and protective care of the State of Illinois based on evidence presented which indicates that the child has been unlawfully harmed or will be unlawfully harmed.
Termination of parental rights hearings	The termination of parental rights hearings allows the court to determine whether the custodial and all other legal rights of a parent(s) to his or her child should be severed based upon evidence clearly showing that the parent is unable or unwilling to provide for the safe care of the child.

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.

Case File Review

During hours of operation (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.), customers must provide a current and valid picture identification card verifying them as the legal parent, guardian, attorney, social service worker, or law enforcement person currently involved in the case. A customer may view no more than five (5) files at one time. The I.D. will be returned to the customer upon the return of the file.

Photocopying of Files

Upon the request of the customer, documents may be copied at the front counter of the file room. Copying fees are as follows:

Copying Fees
First Page $2.00
Pages 2 - 19 $.50 each
All remaining pages $.25 each

Filing of Motions, Petitions, and other Documentation

Customers may file documents at the front counter or in the courtroom. All documents will be stamped as �Filed� with a date and time stamp. The original signature document will be placed in the court file. Filed, date-time stamped copies will be given to the customer. There is no fee for this service.

Filing of Appearance Forms

Attorneys and persons representing themselves without an attorney (pro se) may file an appearance form at the front counter or in the courtroom. There is no fee for this service.

Subpoena Certifications

Subpoenas may be sealed and executed by the Clerk�s Office at the front counter. There is no fee for this service.

Certification of Documents

Documents may be certified for a cost of nine dollars ($9.00) per court order.

1) What Judge is my case assigned to?

2) When is the next court date in my case?

3) My child has been adopted without my consent. What forms do I need to regain custody?

4) How do I appeal my case?

5) I am the attorney for a parent. How do I obtain a certified copy of the file?

6) I am unemployed. Can the copying costs of my child's case file be waived for me?

7) How can I be brought to the next court hearing and get information on my child's case?

8) I am a grandparent of a child who has a case at your court. Can I review the file because I would like guardianship of my grandchild?

9) My judge is treating me unfairly. How can I have my case transferred before another judge?

1)      What Judge is my case assigned to?
Cases are assigned according to the geographical area of residency of the parent(s).

2)      When is the next court date in my case?
Cases are usually scheduled once a month.

3)      My child has been adopted without my consent. What forms do I need to regain custody?
A parent should seek the advice of an attorney regarding this matter.

4)      How do I appeal my case?
A Notice of Appeal must be filed within 30 days of the court's decision. An attorney should be consulted regarding the procedures in filing an appeal.

5)      I am the attorney for a parent. How do I obtain a certified copy of the file?
If you have filed an attorney appearance on behalf of the parent, you will be able to receive a copy of the file. If no appearance has been filed, you must present a written statement from the parent requesting that you be given a copy of the file. The statement must either include a photocopy of a picture driver's license or comparable state issued I.D., or a notarized signature.

6)      I am unemployed. Can the copying costs of my child's case file be waived for me?
The copying fees can only be waived if a court order is entered declaring the parent to be indigent.

7)      How can I be brought to the next court hearing and get information on my child's case?
You or your attorney must contact the Office of the State's Attorney to petition a "Writ of Habeas Corpus". The petition will bring you into court.

8)      I am a grandparent of a child who has a case at your court. Can I review the file because I would like guardianship of my grandchild?
No. According to the Juvenile Court Act of Illinois, grandparents are not listed as parties who may review the case file of a minor, unless otherwise ordered by the court

9)      My judge is treating me unfairly. How can I have my case transferred before another judge?
You or your attorney must file a written petition for a "Substitution of Judge". You should consult an attorney regarding the procedures in filing the petition.

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.