The Child Protection Division has jurisdiction over all allegations of child abuse, child neglect, child dependency, private guardianship and termination of parental rights.
Circuit Court of Cook County Information about court organization, court locations, judge information, court holidays and the trial process can be found at the Circuit Court website.
Glossary of Legal Terms
Illinois Code of Civil Procedure CIVIL PROCEDURE (735 ILCS 5/) Code of Civil Procedure.
Illinois Supreme Court Rules Illinois Supreme Court's list of Illinois Supreme Court Rules
Municipality Fees (705 ILCS 105/27.1b)
Q: Where is the Child Support Division located? A: Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Child Protection Division Cook County Juvenile Center 1100 South Hamilton Avenue Room 13 Chicago, IL 60612
Q: What are the hours of operation of the office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court, Child Protection Division? A: The hours of operation for the Child Protection Division are 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding Court Holidays.
Q: What types of cases are heard in the Child Protection Division? A: Cases heard in the Child Protection Division involve: child abuse, child neglect, child dependency, private guardianship and termination of parental rights. Note: Child support cases are NOT heard in the Child Protection Division. For information regarding child support matters, please call the Child Support Division of the Clerk of the Circuit Court at (312)345-4188.
Q: What are the responsiblities of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County? A: The Clerk of the Circuit Court is, by law, the official keeper of records for all judicial matters brought into the Circuit Court of Cook County. Pursuant to the Clerk's capacity as the keeper of the records, the Clerk cannot provide legal advice.
Q: Where can an Order of Protection be obtained? A: The Illinois Domestic Violence Act (IDVA) recognizes domestic violence as a serious crime. It creates a legal remedy for domestic violence victims called an Order of Protection, and requires that law enforcement officers provide specific types of assistance to victims. An Order of Protection is a written order signed by a judge, which requires an abuser to stop further abuse and/or prevent the abuser from entering the shared home for a period of time. Requests for Orders of Protection in which there have been criminal charges filed or criminal acts reported to the Chicago Police Department, can be processed at the Centralized Domestic Violence Court, 555 West Harrison Street, Chicago, IL.
View All Child Protection Division Frequently Asked Questions
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 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.
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 transferred 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.
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.