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].”