Circuit Court of Cook County Document Filing Requirements

CRITICAL

Applies to

Routine motion

Must include

proposed order

Routine motions must include a proposed order.

Any routine motion should be emailed to the Court at law.calZcc@cookcountyil.gov, or dropped off in 2204, on the date set for presentment, with a proposed Order.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Petition to approve settlement

Petitions to approve settlement must include itemized costs, description of all lien claims, and probate language if required.

Petitions shall include: (1) an itemized list of costs; (2) a description of all lien claims, even if the lien does not attach to the proceeds; and (3) appropriate language where further probate proceedings are required, a sample of which is: IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that the settlement is approved, provided that the settlement amount approved herein shall be paid only to a Guardian appointed by the Probate Division or Circuit Court where the minor or disabled person resides, and this Order shall be effective only after entry in the appropriate Probate Division of an Order approving the bond or other security required to administer the settlement and distribution provided for in this Order.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Agreed motion or order

Must include

proposed order

Agreed motions/orders must include a proposed order with the word 'Agreed' in the title.

Please include a proposed Order with the word “Agreed” in the title.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Emergency motion

Must include

proposed order

Emergency motions must include a proposed order and grounds for the emergency.

Emergency Motions, with a proposed Order, must be submitted to law.calZcc@cookcountyil.gov AND dropped off in 2204 and include the grounds for the emergency.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Routine motion

Must include

proposed order

Motions should be emailed to Melissa.robbins@cookcountyil.gov and the draft order should be emailed to Melissa.robbins@cookcountyil.gov at least two court days before the order will be entered by this Court.

Motions should be emailed to Melissa.robbins@cookcountyil.gov and the draft order should be emailed to Melissa.robbins@cookcountyil.gov at least two court days before the order will be entered by this Court.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Motion to deviate

Requests to deviate from the hearing format must be made by written motion with a valid basis.

Any request to deviate from this format must be requested via written motion with a valid basis required.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Emergency motion

Emergency motions must be marked 'EMERGENCY MOTION' and include a factual basis stating the nature of the emergency.

The motion marked “EMERGENCY MOTION” shall include a factual basis stating the nature of the emergency

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Order

All orders setting or continuing a hearing must state how the hearing will be conducted (in-person, remote, or hybrid).

All orders setting or continuing a hearing MUST contain language indicating how the hearing will be held.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Courtesy copy of account

Courtesy copies of current and final accounts must include the specified items: current/final account, previous year account or inventory, most current bond, and fee schedule.

Courtesy copies of current and final accounts must include: 1. Current or final account; 2. Previous year account or inventory if First Account is being presented; 3. Most current bond; and 4. Fee schedule of the guardian or trustee, if any.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Proposed order

Must include

proposed order

Any required proposed order must be handed to the Clerk or e-mailed within one hour after appearance.

Within one hour after appearance, any required proposed order shall be handed to the Clerk or e-mailed to the following addresses: Terrence.McGuire@cookcountyil.gov Probatecrt1814Aorders@cookcountycourt.com

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion to compel

Must include

certificate of conference

All motions to compel must articulate the attorney's actual efforts at personal consultation and reasonable attempts to resolve differences with opposing counsel. See Ill. S. Ct. R. 201(k) (eff. July 30, 2014). Failure to articulate the attorney's efforts will result in the motion being stricken.

All motions to compel must articulate the attorney's actual efforts at personal consultation and reasonable attempts to resolve differences with opposing counsel. See Ill. S. Ct. R. 201(k) (eff. July 30, 2014). Failure to articulate the attorney's efforts will result in the motion being stricken.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Default judgment

Must include

certificate of service

Motions for default judgment must include at the top of the packet a Return of Service, Prove-Up Affidavit(s) laying foundation for attached documents, and, if applicable, Attorney Fee Affidavit(s) with contemporaneous business records.

Motions for default judgement must include at the top of the packet: Return of Service, Prove-Up Affidavit(s) that lay a foundation for the attached documents or records, and, if applicable, an Attorney Fee Affidavit(s) with contemporaneous business records attached.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Default judgment

Default judgment/prove-up filings must include an affidavit with proof of service, an affidavit of damages, and an affidavit of attorney's fees with billing records.

You must tender an (a) affidavit with proof of service on Defendants; (b) affidavit of damages including documents showing amount due; and (c) affidavit of attorney's fees with contemporaneous billing records and costs.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Motion in limine order

Must include

proposed order

Parties must confer on which motions in limine are agreed, and each party must submit an order on its motions following rulings that reflects the court's oral rulings or identifies disputed instances.

*Attorneys must confer and determine which motions are agreed. Each party is responsible to submit an order on its motions following rulings. Before submitting, the parties shall confer and agree that the order reflects the court's oral rulings or identify any instances where the proposed written order is in dispute*;

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Exhibits

Attorneys must pre-mark and exchange exhibits before opening statements, confer on foundation and admissibility, and disclose which exhibits they intend to use.

*Attorneys must pre-mark and exchange exhibits before opening statements. They must confer and determine where they agree regarding foundation and admissibility, and disclose which exhibits they intend to use during opening statements*;

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Service list

Plaintiff's counsel must email the Court a complete service list of all parties upon case assignment.

Upon the assignment of a case to the Court, counsel for the Plaintiff shall email the Court a service list of ALL parties of record, including; the responsible attorney, firm name, address, telephone number, email and party represented.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Status report

Subsequent Status Report must include discovery status, pending motions, and future plans.

At least three business days prior to any subsequent case management hearing date, counsel for the parties shall email the Court a Status Report, including the following: 1. Status of completed and outstanding written and oral discovery, including Supreme Court Rule 213 f(1), f(2) and f(3) disclosures and depositions; 2. Identification of pending motions and status of briefing schedules; 3. Anticipated future discovery and future motions.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Proposed cmc order

Proposed CMC Order must use the Law Division form, email subject line must specify case name and number, agreed orders are encouraged.

The parties are directed to confer and send to the Court a proposed CMC Order (use the Law Division Active Case Management Order form) at least three business days before the scheduled hearing. 1. The subject line of the email shall be “Case Name & No: Proposed CMC Order.’ 2. Agreed proposed CMC Orders are encouraged and preferred. 3. Dates and deadlines in the proposed Order should reflect the expectation that the case shall be ready for certification for trial by the designated date.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Trial submission

Parties must submit specified documents for bench and jury trials, including case statement, witness list, motions in limine, trial briefs, jury instructions, and exhibit lists.

V. Trials (Bench and Jury) A. Short statement of the case. If a jury, this statement will be read to the jury in voir dire; B. Estimate number of trial days: C. Witness list with city of residence or office. In the case of experts, it shall list the employer. If a jury, this statement will be read to the jury in voir dire; D. Statement that the party will/will not stipulate to a unanimous verdict of 10 or more jurors to eliminate the need for alternates: E. Motions in limine: F. Trial briefs; G. Jury Instructions – One set bearing I.P.I number or authority and marked whether said instruction is Agreed or Objected to and a second set clean of any markings; and H. Parties’ exhibit lists.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Emergency motion

Emergency motions include adding parties before statute of limitations expires, protective orders for evidence, and relief to prevent irreparable harm.

Emergency motions shall include, but not be limited to: 1. Adding parties or filing pleadings (e.g. additional party complaints), prior to the expiration of an impending statute of limitation: 2. Request for protective orders for preservation of evidence; 3. Request for relief, which, if not granted, will cause irreparable harm.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Routine motion

Routine motions include special process server appointments, vacating defaults, amending pleadings, voluntary dismissals, and other standard Law Division routine motions.

“Routine Motions” shall include, but not be limited to: 1. Appointment of special process server; 2. Leave to vacate technical defaults; 3. Leave to appear, answer, plead; 4. Entry of fully executed HIPAA order; 5. Amending a pleading (adding parties, adding counts, adding allegations, etc.); 6. Leave to intervene on behalf of a worker’s compensation carrier or public body claiming a lien; 7. Voluntary dismissal of certain parties [“partial”] or the entire case; 8. Dismissal orders for settlements not involving those subject to the Joint Memorandum on Settlement Procedures.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Initial status report

Initial Status Report must include case statement, discovery status, pending motions, future plans, and joint submission is encouraged.

The ISR shall include the following: 1. A concise statement of the case, including identification of the parties, causes of action and affirmative defenses; 2. Status of completed and outstanding written and oral discovery, including Supreme Court Rule 213 f(1), f(2) and f(3) disclosures and depositions; 3. Identification of pending motions and status of briefing schedules; 4. Anticipated future discovery and future motions. 5. The parties are encouraged to submit a joint Initial Status Report but each party may otherwise submit an Initial Status Report.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Affidavit of inspection

Affidavits of Inspection must include a specific date of inspection within the notice serving period.

Any Affidavits of Inspection must include a specific date of inspection, within the notice serving period.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Discovery motion

Must include

certificate of conference

Discovery motions must include proof of compliance with Rule 201(k).

Discovery motions must include proof of compliance with Illinois Supreme Court Rule 201(k).

CRITICAL

Applies to

Proposed order

Proposed orders must include the Court's contact and Zoom information.

(f) All proposed orders shall include the Court’s contact and Zoom information.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice of motion

Notices of motion must include date and time in body; no blank lines or references to clerk's stamp; non-compliance results in striking.

All notices of motion for any motion noticed up on the Court’s call shall contain the date and time of the scheduled hearing in the body of the notice of motion itself. Blank lines in the body of the notice of motion, “see above” or other language referencing the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s stamp in the upper left-hand corner of the page, or any deviation from the format required herein is strictly prohibited. Failure to comply with this requirement will result in the Court treating the motion as not properly noticed. The Court will strike the motion off the call requiring the motion to be re-noticed.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion

AI use is permitted if compliant with ethical standards; all AI-generated citations must be verified for accuracy; hallucinated content is prohibited and subject to sanctions.

the use of AI before this Court is authorized and need not be disclosed in filings presented for the Court’s review, such use of AI is only permitted provided that its use complies with all applicable legal and ethical standards. ... Compliance with the AI rules as outlined in this Standing Order REQUIRES all attorneys and litigants (if they are pro se) to check all citations and propositions generated by AI for accuracy and completeness. Citations to 'hallucinated' law of any type or 'hallucinated' facts or other content is STRICTLY prohibited and shall subject the attorney or litigant who signed the document pursuant to Illinois Supreme Court Rule 137 to appropriate sanctions at the Court’s discretion.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Proposed order

Must include

proposed order

Proposed orders must be attached as a separate Word document titled 'Proposed Order(s)'; multiple orders in one attachment.

Proposed orders shall be attached as a separate MICROSOFT WORD attachment in the same courtesy copy email clearly titled “Proposed Order(s).” Multiple proposed orders should all be submitted together in one MICROSOFT WORD attachment.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Briefing schedule order

Briefing schedule orders must specify dates for response briefs, reply briefs, and courtesy copies, plus hearing date and time.

All briefing schedule orders entered shall provide a specific date by which the response brief(s), reply brief(s), and courtesy copies are due. The briefing schedule order shall also indicate the hearing date and time provided by the Court.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Discovery motion

Must include

certificate of conference

Discovery motions must include a certificate of conference stating that counsel personally consulted and could not resolve differences.

Every motion with respect to discovery shall incorporate a statement that counsel responsible for trial of the case after personal consultation and reasonable attempts to resolve differences have been unable to reach an accord or that opposing counsel made himself or herself unavailable for personal consultation or was unreasonable in attempts to resolve differences.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Courtesy copy

Courtesy copies must include the briefing schedule order and relevant procedural orders.

Unless otherwise agreed to by the parties, the moving party is to supply the Court with all courtesy copies prior to each court date, as well as the briefing schedule order and any other relevant order(s) necessary for the Court to have a full understanding of a case’s procedural history.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Dispositive motion

Party seeking discovery before responding to a dispositive motion must provide a Rule 191(b) affidavit on the presentment date; failure may waive discovery.

A party seeking discovery prior to responding to a dispositive motion brought pursuant to Illinois Code of Civil Procedure sections 2-1005, 2-619, or 2-301(b) shall provide on the presentment date of the dispositive motion a filed affidavit in strict compliance with Illinois Supreme Court Rule 191(b). Failure to comply with this requirement may waive all discovery by that party prior to being given an opportunity to file a response brief to the dispositive motion.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Appearance

Parties must file an appearance before appearing in court, except for petitions to intervene.

Pursuant to Illinois Supreme Court Rule 13(c) and Circuit Court Rule 1.4(a), no party may appear without having previously filed an appearance, except for a petition to intervene.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Courtesy copy

Documents for the Court's consideration must bear a filed stamp and be signed per Rule 137.

All documents a movant wishes the Court to consider in adjudicating any matter before it shall bear a stamp demonstrating that the original document was filed with the Clerk of the Circuit Court and all pleadings, motions, and other documents shall be signed pursuant to Illinois Supreme Court Rule 137.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion to voluntarily dismiss

Must include

proposed order

Motions to voluntarily dismiss must state the basis in the motion and proposed order, and the proposed order must indicate whether dismissal is with or without prejudice.

Motions to voluntarily dismiss a case in its entirety shall include the basis for the dismissal in both the motion and the proposed order. Additionally, the proposed dismissal order shall state whether the dismissal is with or without prejudice.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion for alias summons

Motions for alias summons must state when the summons will issue and identify the person to be served.

A motion to issue an alias summons shall state when the summons will issue and identify the person on whom it is being issued.

CRITICAL

Applies to

All court documents

Pro se litigants with an email must designate a single email for service and include it on all documents.

Pursuant to Illinois Supreme Court Rule 11(b), a self-represented litigant who has an email address shall designate a single email address to which service may be directed and include that email address on all court documents and correspondence.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Pleading

Must include

caption, case number

Pleadings must include the full case caption and calendar number.

All pleadings shall contain the entire case caption and calendar number.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Proposed order

Must include

proposed order

Proposed orders must be submitted after a court proceeding.

Proposed orders to be submitted by the litigants to the Court following a court proceeding shall be submitted to the Court in Microsoft word format via email to calendar15.chancery@cookcountyil.gov no later than 5:00 PM the same day as the court proceeding. Failure to timely submit an order may result in the Court entering its own order without input from the parties, striking the matter, subjecting the case to dismissal for want of prosecution, and/or any other appropriate sanction at the Court’s discretion.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Emergency motion

Emergency motions must include the emergency basis, nature, relief sought, and notice plans.

All emergency motions shall set forth the emergency basis for the matter. The movant shall be prepared to explain the nature of the emergency, the basis for emergency relief, the relief sought, and the party's plans to provide notice to the other parties, or good cause to not do so.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion for leave to amend

Motions for leave to amend or file third-party claims must specify what is being amended and attach the proposed filing.

A motion for leave to amend or to file a third-party claim shall specify what is being amended and attach a proposed filing.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Service notice

Service notices must include the address, phone number, and email of each attorney or pro se litigant.

All service notices shall include each attorney or pro se litigant's address, telephone number, and email address.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Proposed order

Proposed orders for withdrawn, continued, or stricken motions must include the original motion date and time.

courtesy copies an order withdrawing the motion, entering and continuing the motion generally, or striking the motion from the call, such a proposed order and the email submitting said proposed order to the Court for entry either on or off call shall contain both the date and time for which the motion was originally scheduled.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Applies to

Motion for relief

The Motion for Relief must comply with Illinois Supreme Court Rule 604(h).

The Motion for Relief must comply with the requirements of Illinois Supreme Court Rule 604 (h).