Legal Notices

ATTENTION: CHANGES TO CIVIL, CRIMINAL AND TRAFFIC FEES EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2019

The fees of the court have changed pursuant to the Criminal and Traffic Assessment Act, Public Acts 100-987, 100-1161, and 100-994, and Cook County Ordinance 19-2843.

The Criminal and Traffic Assessment Act is comprehensive legislation that consolidates the fees and assessments of the court throughout the State of Illinois into 13 schedules for criminal and traffic cases and 4 schedules for civil cases. The Act is effective July 1, 2019.

Branch Courts are closing at Belmont & Western and 51st & Wentworth beginning January 7, 2019

Cases from Belmont and Western

All Misdemeanor Cases heard at this courthouse in Branch 29 will move to Branch 29 at the courthouse at 5555 W. Grand Ave., Chicago.

All Felony Cases heard at this courthouse in Branch 42 will move to the 2nd Municipal District courthouse at 5600 Old Orchard Rd., Skokie, IL.

Cases from 51st and Wentworth

Those whose court locations may change will receive notice by mail from the Clerk of the Circuit Court. Defendants may also contact the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s Criminal Department at 312-603-4641.

Download the flyer for more information

All Felony Cases heard in Branch 50, currently located at 5555 W Grand, will move to the 2nd Municipal District courthouse at 5600 Old Orchard Rd., Skokie, IL.

All charges relating to the electronic filing of cases and pleadings, imposed by the court, clerk of the court, county, or a person with whom the court, clerk, or county may contract, are taxable as court costs. 735 ILCS 5/5-127

Pursuant to Public Act 99-0835 and the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 705 ILCS 405/5-915(1), a person may petition the court at any time for expungement of law enforcement records and juvenile court records relating to an incident and upon termination of all juvenile court proceedings relating to that incident, in only the following circumstances: the minor was arrested and no petition for delinquency was filed; the petition was dismissed without a finding of delinquency; the minor was found not delinquent of that offense; the minor was placed under supervision pursuant to section 5-615, and the order of supervision was successfully terminated; or the minor was adjudicated for an offense, which would be a Class B misdemeanor, Class C misdemeanor, or a petty or business offense if committed by an adult. In these circumstances, the court shall order expungement of all State Police, Clerk of the Circuit Court and law enforcement agency records relating to the incident.

Pursuant to Public Act 99-0881 and the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 705 ILCS 405/5-915(3), juvenile expungement petitions are considered no fee filings.

Pursuant to Public Act 99-0881 and the Criminal Identification Act 20 ILCS 2630/5.2(b)(1), a person who has been convicted of an unexpungeable criminal offense may petition the court for expungement of expungeable offenses, also on the record, if the arrests or charges not initiated by arrest sought to be expunged resulted in release without charging; acquittal; dismissal; an order of supervision that was successfully completed; an order of qualified probation that was successfully completed; or a conviction that was vacated or reversed. (Minor traffic violations may only be expunged or sealed if a person was arrested and released without charging. See 20 ILCS 2630 (a)(3)(B).)

Pursuant to Public Act 99-0881 and the Criminal Identification Act 20 ILCS 2630/5.2(d)(1.5), no fee shall be required to file expungement and sealing petitions, from January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2017, if the arrests or charges not initiated by arrest sought to be expunged or sealed resulted in release without charging; acquittal; dismissal; or a conviction that was vacated or reversed. (Minor traffic violations may only be expunged or sealed if a person was arrested and released without charging. See 20 ILCS 2630 (a)(3)(B).) As of January 1, 2018, the Clerk of the Circuit Court is statutorily required to resume collection of the applicable Clerks of Courts Act fees. See 705 ILCS 105/27.2a et seq.

The General Counsel is the designated official to accept service of process and subpoenas directed to the Clerk’s Office: Office of the General Counsel, Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court, Richard J. Daley Center 1001, 50 W. Washington Street, Chicago, Illinois 60602.

Non-subpoena requests for copies of court records should be directed to the Division or District where the records are located.  

Requests for electronic court data should be made pursuant to the Administrative Office of Illinois Courts (AOIC) Electronic Access Policy for Circuit Court Records of the Illinois Courts and General Administrative Order 02-03 of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Electronic Bulk Data Dissemination Policy. 

The State Judiciary is not subject to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).  It is, therefore, not necessary to cite to FOIA to obtain copies of public records.

Pursuant to Public Act 99-0281 and Illinois Clerks of Courts Act 705 ILCS 105/27.3g(a), all Clerks of the Circuit Court shall charge and collect a fee of $2.00, in addition to any other fees, at the time of filing the first pleading, paper or other appearance filed by each party in all civil cases.

No additional fee shall be required if more than one party is represented in a single pleading, paper or other appearance.

A party may consent to e-mail service by listing a designated e-mail address on documents or by use of e-mail service. Any party may rescind consent of e-mail service in a case by serving a notice on all parties or the attorneys of record. A party or attorney who has rescinded consent to e-mail service in a case may not serve another party or attorney by e-mail in that case. 
 

In civil proceedings, papers filed by parties who will accept service by e-mail shall include the statement “Service via e-mail will be accepted at [e-mail address].”
 

ATTENTION PROPERTY OWNERS AND OCCUPANTS

NOTICE REGARDING THE 9:30 ASSIGNMENT CALL MONDAY, WEDNESDAY OR FRIDAY, COURTROOM 1704.

IF YOU RECEIVED A NOTICE THROUGH THE MAIL, BY SHERIFF OR BY THE CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OR FROM A NEWSPAPER PUBLICATION TO APPEAR IN ROOM 1704 FOR A HEARING REGARDING SOLD REAL ESTATE TAXES ON YOUR PROPERTY THIS MEANS THE REDEMPTION PERIOD HAS EXPIRED AND TYPICALLY THE TAX PURCHASER MAY SCHEDULE A HEARING TO MOVE FORWARD TO ASK THE COURT FOR A DEED TO THE PROPERTY.

IF THE LAST DAY TO REDEEM YOUR TAX SALE FELL DURING THE PERIOD OF MARCH 18, 2020 TO AND INCLUDING JUNE 5, 2020, THE COOK COUNTY CLERK HAS PROVIDED YOU A GRACE PERIOD TO MAKE A REDEMPTION TO AND INCLUDING JUNE 19, 2020. YOU MUST CONTACT THE COUNTY CLERK FOR INFORMATION ON HOW TO MAKE A REDEMPTION DURING THE GRACE PERIOD. A TAXPAYER BULLETIN FROM THE COUNTY CLERK CAN BE DOWNLOADED HERE.

PLEASE NOTE:

1. NO HEARINGS HAVE BEEN HELD REGARDING THE CASES ON THE 9:30 ASSIGNMENT CALL SINCE MARCH 20, 2020.
2. THE CASES HAVE BEEN CONTINUED TO A FUTURE DATE FOR HEARING OR HAVE BEEN DISMISSED. IN ORDER TO FIND OUT ABOUT THE STATUS OF YOUR CASE YOU SHOULD:
   1. File aPRO SE(self-represented ) appearance or seek legal counsel who can advise you of your legal rights if you would like to defend against loss of the property listed in the notice and receive any further case notices. YOU CAN ALWAYS HIRE AN ATTORNEY OF YOUR CHOICE TO TRY TO CHALLENGE THE TAX DEED CASE. A LIST OF THE ATTORNEYS WHO FREQUENTLY PRACTICE IN THIS AREA CAN BE DOWNLOADED HERE (OR CAN BE FOUND ON THE COOK COUNTY WEBSITE); AND/OR
   2. Call the Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court at 312-603-5817 to find out the status of the case and the next court date. You may also call the attorney for the tax deed petitioner to find out the case status, try to settle, and or ask about options but know that the tax deed petitioner does not legally represent you. The attorney information can be found on a court order or by looking up the case number with the Clerk of the Circuit Court (cookcountyclerkofcourt.org/courtcasesearch then 'County Division Search' and 'PIN, or Case Number or name search' If you received a Take-Notice the Case Number is in the upper right-hand corner of the notice; AND/OR
   3. Call the Office Cook County Clerk at (312) 603-5645; AND/OR
   4. Call or mail the Office of Chief Judge County Division at the following location Korin.Navarro@cookcountyil.gov (312)603-4324 leave as much of the following information as possible, such as
      • Your Name
      • The case number 2020 COTD_____
      • The property address
      • The Property Index Number (PIN#)
      • Return email or phone number