Bureau Circuit Court, Illinois Document Filing Requirements

CRITICAL

Applies to

Pretrial stipulation

Each party must list all exhibits, including financials and appraisals, intended for its case in chief; unlisted exhibits will not be admitted absent good cause.

Petitioner and Respondent shall list all exhibits including financials and appraisals expected to be offered in evidence during their case in chief. (Those not listed will not be admitted without good cause shown.)

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice of hearing

Post-hearing notice after a motion heard without prior notice must identify the cause, judge, hearing date, and court order.

The notice shall state the title and number of the cause of action, name of the judge who heard the motion, date of hearing, and the order of the court.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Final account of ward estate

If the ward is entitled to the estate, the guardian cannot be discharged at final settlement unless the ward appears and acknowledges the settlement, unless the court is satisfied of the stated facts and that attendance is impracticable.

(h) Final Account of Ward's Estate. On the final settlement of ward's estate, if the person entitled to the estate is the ward, the guardian will not be discharged unless the ward appears in court and acknowledges the settlement. The personal attendance of the ward or his acknowledgment of the settlement may be waived if the court is satisfied, by affidavit of the ward or by other evidence, that the final settlement is correct, that the ward is in possession of all of his estate, and that the personal attendance of the ward is impracticable.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Summary statement points authorities

Unless waived by the court, parties must submit a statement citing all cases and statutes they expect to argue at least five days before a contested trial; it may be in summary form, and the requirement ordinarily does not apply to traffic, ordinance, or small claims cases.

Unless waived by the court, at least five (5) days prior to a contested trial, the parties shall submit to the court and opposing counsel a summary statement of points and authorities citing all cases and statutes which they expect to argue. The statement may be in summary form similar to that provided in Supreme Court Rule 341(e)(1). Unless otherwise directed by the court, this rule shall not apply to traffic, ordinance, and small claims cases.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Objection

Objections to exhibits must be made in writing and state specific grounds.

Objections by opposing party must be made in writing (stating specific grounds.)

CRITICAL

Applies to

Form

(d) The form shall include language advising the defendant borrower to bring certain financial information (such as the borrower’s monthly income, work status and expenses) that may assist in discussions for a loan modification and should contain a list of local counseling agencies that may be available to assist borrowers in foreclosure.

(d) The form shall include language advising the defendant borrower to bring certain financial information (such as the borrower’s monthly income, work status and expenses) that may assist in discussions for a loan modification and should contain a list of local counseling agencies that may be available to assist borrowers in foreclosure.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Petition for adjudication of indirect criminal contempt

An indirect criminal contempt proceeding must begin with a verified petition that describes the alleged conduct with particularity.

An indirect criminal contempt proceeding shall be initiated by the filing of a petition for adjudication of indirect criminal contempt. The petition shall be verified and set forth with particularity the nature of the alleged contemptuous conduct.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice of attorney fee petition

A notice for an attorney's-fee petition against the attorney's client must substantially comply with the specified notice wording.

(b) Notice for any Petition for attorney's fees on behalf of an attorney against his client shall be in substantial compliance with the following: You are hereby notified that on ___________, _______ day of ____________, at _________ or as soon thereafter as counsel may be heard, the undersigned shall appear before the Honorable Judge ________________, in Room _________, at the LaSalle County Courthouse, Ottawa, Illinois, and then and there present a Petition for Attorney's Fees pursuant to Section 508 of the IMDMA, The law requires that you be advised of your right to a copy of that Petition and an itemized copy of the bill, copies of which are attached, and further provides for a right to a hearing on the Petition and a right to be represented at your expense at that hearing by an attorney other than one associated with the undersigned. If you do not appear, a judgment may be entered in accordance with the Petition.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Pretrial stipulation

Each party must attach a written list of all persons who have knowledge of relevant facts.

10. WITNESSES: Each party shall attach a written list of all persons having knowledge of relevant facts.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Mediation report

For parties participating in mediation, the mediator must submit a report to the court and counsel by the status date, including the information required by 8.22.

On or before the status date, for parties who are participating in mediation, the mediator shall submit a report to the court and the parties’ legal counsel, which shall include the information required by 8.22.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Prove up package

The person seeking to affect marital status or their attorney must present the listed prove-up documents to the judge in a single package before testimony, at the time set by the individual judge; otherwise, the matter will not be heard at the requested time.

(a) It shall be the responsibility of the person seeking to affect the marital status, or his or her attorney, to present to the prove-up judge, in a single package, prior to the commencement of testimony in the timeframe to be established by the individual judge the following: 1) Judgment for Dissolution of Marriage 2) Signed original of any written agreement of the parties that will be testified to and received in evidence and is to be incorporated in the Judgment for Dissolution of Marriage 3) Allocation Judgment allocating parental responsibilities and parenting time, fully completed and signed by each party (if minor children). 4) Uniform Order for Support and Child Support Data Sheet, fully completed and signed by each party, with statutory child support calculations attached (if minor children and/or children who are 18 but have not graduated high school. 5) Certificate of completion of Parenting Class. 6) Fully completed Certificate of Dissolution (b) Failure to provide said package to the Court prior to the hearing shall result in the Court not hearing the matter at the requested time for hearing”.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Publication service documents

A person or entity seeking jurisdiction by publication must provide the Circuit Clerk with all necessary documents, including copies for mailing.

(b) The person or entity seeking to obtain jurisdiction by publication shall provide copies of all necessary documents to the Circuit Clerk, including copies for mailing.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Inventory

Inventory descriptions of stock must include the stated share, class, corporate-title, and incorporation details.

Descriptions of stock shall include the number of shares, class of stock, exact corporate title and state of incorporation if necessary for the purpose of identification.

WARNING

Applies to

Mediation records

Mediation records furnished to the Supreme Court must include counts of mediations conducted, those resulting in agreement, and those resulting in no agreement.

The information shall include the number of mediations conducted, the number of mediations resulting in an agreement and those resulting in no agreement.

WARNING

Applies to

Account

For an account presented by a bank or trust company, the court may waive presentation of non-distribution vouchers if an officer certifies that the vouchers are on file there.

If the account is presented by a bank or trust company, the court may waive the requirement of presenting vouchers for disbursements (other than distributions) upon presentation of a certificate of an officer stating that the vouchers are on file at the bank or trust company.

WARNING

Applies to

Continuing legal education verification

Attorneys must submit verification of continuing-education attendance to the Office of the Chief Circuit Judge when they attend or upon request.

To remain on the approved list, each attorney shall attend continuing legal education courses consisting of at least ten hours every two year period and submit verification of attendance to the Office of the Chief Circuit Judge at the time of attendance or upon request.

WARNING

Applies to

Civil records request

A civil-records request must be written and include the requester’s name, address, daytime telephone number, case number if known, and the information sought.

A written request must be made that includes your name, address, daytime telephone number, case number if known and the information you are looking for.

WARNING

At the final pre-trial conference, the Court may direct the parties to submit a summary of points and authorities, a list of potential witnesses and trial duration, and anticipated trial motions, including motions in limine.

In addition to the requirements of (1) and (2) above, the Court may direct the parties to submit at this conference the following: i. A Summary Statement of Points and Authorities citing all cases and statutes expected to be argued. ii. A list of potential witnesses and expected duration of trial. iii. Any motions that any party anticipates will be addressed at trial, including Motions in Limine.

WARNING

Applies to

Child representative information sheet

Attorneys must complete and return the circuit’s Child Representative Information Sheet with a statement or other verification of continuing-education attendance.

Each attorney must complete the Child Representative Information Sheet provided by this circuit and return it with a statement or other verification of attendance at continuing education.

WARNING

Applies to

Account

If receipts or waivers and consents from all interested parties are filed, the court may excuse presentation of vouchers or canceled checks for non-distribution disbursements.

If receipts of, or waivers and consents by all interested parties are filed, the court may waive the requirement for presenting vouchers or canceled checks for disbursements other than distributions.

WARNING

Applies to

Petition to withdraw funds

The court may require the petitioner to provide evidence that the requested funds are needed for the ward's or the ward's dependents' benefit.

The petitioner may be required to furnish evidence that the sums to be withdrawn or proceeds of sale or redemption are necessary for the ward's support, comfort, education, or other benefit to the ward or his dependents.

WARNING

Applies to

Administrative hearing notice

The hearing notice must state the hearing’s time, date, and place, identify the matter to be reviewed, and include the committee’s proposals.

The notice shall be by regular U.S. Mail, state the time, date, and place of hearing, the matter to be reviewed, and include a copy of the proposals of the committee.

WARNING

Applies to

Petition for expenditure from ward estate

It further shall list all payments being received by the ward or by

It further shall list all payments being received by the ward or by

INFO

Applies to

Account

The court may accept a summary accounting for an unincorporated business or specified real-estate interests in the representative’s possession.

With respect to an unincorporated business or real estate or beneficial interest in real estate in the possession of the representative, the court may accept a summary accounting of the operation.

INFO

Applies to

Voir dire questions

If counsel may not directly examine prospective jurors, counsel may submit written questions to the court for consideration during voir dire.

If the court does not permit direct examination of prospective jurors by counsel pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 234, counsel may submit written questions to the court for its consideration for use in voir dire examination.

INFO

Applies to

Account

Vouchers and canceled checks other than those for distributions may be withdrawn after the account is approved.

Said vouchers and canceled checks, except those for distribution, may be withdrawn after approval of the account.

INFO

Applies to

Petition

When the estate is below the statutory small-estate amount and contains neither real estate nor a pending personal-injury action, an eligible applicant may petition for distribution without further administration; the specified applicant depends on whether the ward is a disabled adult or minor, and the judge may order distribution if there are no unpaid creditors and it is in the estate’s and ward’s best interests.

If the value of the ward's estate being administered is or becomes less than the "small estate" amount specified in Section 25-2 of the Probate Act of 1975 and no part of the estate consists of real estate or a pending cause of action for personal injuries, a petition may be filed requesting the distribution of the estate without further administration. In the case of a disabled adult, application shall be made by his guardian or by his spouse, or if he has no spouse, by a relative having responsibility for his support. In the case of a minor, application shall be made by his guardian or by a parent or a person standing in loco parentis. If it appears that there is no unpaid creditor and that it is for the best interest of the estate and the ward, the judge may order the guardian to file his final account and make distribution as the judge directs.

INFO

Applies to

Voir dire questions

Even when counsel may supplement the court’s voir dire, counsel may submit questions and ask the court to pose them to prospective jurors.

Even though the court allows counsel to supplement its voir dire examination, counsel may submit a question or questions to the court and request the court to ask such question of the prospective jurors during the court's examinations.

INFO

Applies to

Written order

After entering final judgment, the court may direct that a written order be submitted.

When the court enters a final judgment in any cause of action, it may direct that a written order be submitted.

INFO

Applies to

Final pretrial stipulation

Counsel are advised to prepare and attach a brief statement of each party’s position on any disputed issue.

It is advisable that counsel prepare a brief statement on any disputed issue which should be attached hereto setting forth the position of each party.

INFO

Applies to

Statement of nature of case

Opposing counsel may suggest amendments before the statement is read to the venire.

Opposing counsel may suggest amendments to the statement prior to it being read to the venire.