Circuit Court of Cook County Filing Rules

Each nominee and each adult living in the home must complete the DCFS Authorization for Background Check (Form 689) and return it by email to the Probate Division Court Coordinator/Staff Attorney.

All motions must include a proposed order, or they will not be ruled on.

The face of the summons must be submitted with the default motion packet.

Notices of motion must include the Calendar I email address and Case Coordinator.

Discovery motions must include a statement certifying personal consultation and reasonable attempts to resolve disputes, per Illinois Supreme Court Rule 201(k).

All Calendar R court communications must use the designated email, cc all parties, and are limited to specific permitted uses.

Communications to court staff must include case name, docket number, next court date, and copy all parties.

Judge Thomas A. Morrissey's chambers email address is law.cal5cc@cookcountyil.gov.

All Calendar A email communications to the Court must use the designated email, copy all parties, and are limited to permitted purposes.

Chambers email is law.calfec@cookcountyil.gov; all phone calls to chambers must be conducted in person.

Movants with fully-briefed motions as of Feb 1 2024 with no ruling must submit hard-copy courtesy copies by March 15 2024, or risk motion abandonment.

Copies of default motion papers must be delivered to chambers at least 5 court days before the prove-up or default hearing.

Courtesy copies required for all motions and related papers per Rule 6.

Courtesy copies are required 7 days before hearing; 20 pages or less may be emailed, over 20 pages must be hand delivered. E-filed submissions still require courtesy copy via email.

Movant must bring courtesy copies to court when all briefs are filed by the motion status date.

Initial CMC is set 60 days after complaint filing, with electronic notices sent to all parties.

Routine motions must be filed no later than three court days before the presentation date.

Emergency motions must be submitted via email by 9:30 AM.

Proposed orders must be emailed to the Court on the day the case is on the call; failure to do so may result in involuntary dismissal for want of prosecution (DWP).

Status reports and status orders must be sent to the Calendar 53 email address 45-60 days after the initial case-management conference or the previous report.

All motions and briefs must include page numbers.

All exhibits must be page numbered and tabbed.

Briefs submitted as courtesy copies must be double-spaced, 12-point font, 1-inch margins, double-sided, numbered pages, max 15 pages.

All briefs must be double-spaced, 12-point font, with 1-inch margins.

Exhibits attached to pleadings must be clearly marked.

Contested motions must be scheduled via Odyssey system unless piggy-backing to existing date.

Non-routine motions must be scheduled with the Court Coordinator or e-filed.

Agreed motions and orders must be submitted via email by 9:30 AM Monday-Thursday or at a case management conference.

Routine motions are presented M-F 9:00am; in-person submissions are left in the designated bin in courtroom 2201.

Motions, prove-up documentation, trial exhibits, and proof of service affidavits must be e-filed through the Clerk's ODYSSEY system.

Emergency motion movants must give notice to opposing parties per circuit court rules.

After scheduling an emergency motion, the movant must immediately notify all parties and affected persons.

Routine motions must be emailed to the Court Coordinator and draft orders to the Court Clerk at least two court days before entry.

Contested motions must be set for Monday-Wednesday 9 AM in person, with notice to all parties and copy to court via email.

Motions presented at FCMC require notice to opposing counsel and addition to the bench sheet by Monday 11:00am.

Briefs must be double-spaced, 12-point font, 1-inch margins, with page limits: 15 pages for initial/support, 15 for opposition, 7 for reply, exclusive of exhibits.

Settlement Memoranda limited to 5 pages; exhibits limited to 10 pages.

Motion and supporting brief combined limited to 15 pages; response briefs 15 pages; reply briefs 7 pages. Excludes exhibits and attached pleadings. Double-spaced, 12-point font, 1-inch margins required.

Briefs are limited to 15 pages unless the Court allows otherwise.

Briefs are limited to 15 pages (unless leave granted) and must use Times New Roman 12pt double-spaced formatting.

Opposing party must serve a written response to a motion in limine within 10 days.

Sur-replies are only permitted with court approval via a written motion.

Reply briefs for 2-615, 2-619, 2-622, and discovery motions require specific leave of court.

Initial CMCs are held Wednesdays at 9:30am; FCMCs are held Wednesdays at 10:00am, 10:30am, and 11:00am.

To schedule a settlement conference, confer with opposing counsel, email 2-3 suggested dates to the court email, include case name and number, and copy all counsel.

Trial continuance requests must be in writing, supported by a detailed compelling affidavit, and heard as soon as possible or at least 5 business days before trial unless based on emergency/exigent circumstances.

Trial dates are firm; continuances are rarely granted and require good cause, an early motion, and an affidavit.

Motions for continuance must be presented no later than 2 days before the hearing date.

Trial continuance motions require good cause, affidavit, and 5 days' notice.

After a motion's oral argument is continued without a new date, movant must file a motion to set a new hearing date or contact a law clerk.

Briefs for contested motions must not be submitted until all briefing is complete, then one electronic and one physical set of courtesy copies are required.

Contested motions require a briefing schedule order; materials must be delivered in one package for oral argument. Forum Non Conveniens motions get written decision, no oral argument.

Parties may delay submitting courtesy copies of briefings under a briefing schedule until the Clerk’s Status date.

Exhibits must be provided separately in a single packet with table of contents and tabs.

Trial materials must be joint submissions; separate allowed only with good faith disagreement.

Sealing requires a motion addressing specific documents, good cause, and prior attempt to agree on redactions.

Original medical reports (CCP-211) must be filed with the Clerk of the Court under seal for in-person guardianship proceedings.

Fee petitions filed under seal or for in camera review require prior leave of court to be accepted.

Fee petitions filed under seal or for in camera review require prior leave of Court, including special State's Attorney fee petitions.

Motions to file under seal or for protective orders require leave of court and must include specific statements and an affidavit; they cannot apply to all documents.