Circuit Court of Cook County Document Filing Requirements

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Trial submission

Parties must present to the trial judge the agreed statement of the case, witness lists, motions in limine, the complaint and depositions with contested designations, and two sets of proposed jury instructions (one with IPI numbering and citations and one without).

Documents to be Presented to the Trial Judge 1. Agreed Statement of the Case 2. Witness lists 3. Motions in limine 4. The complaint, depositions, Rule 213 disclosures, and evidence depositions with contested designations 5. Proposed jury instructions—two sets; one with IPI numbering and citations and one without

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Trial assignment exchange

At assignment in courtroom 2005, parties must exchange witness lists, motions in limine, proposed jury instructions, and evidence depositions; meet and confer on and categorize in limine motions; and agree to a statement of the case including estimated trial length.

At the Time of Assignment in courtroom 2005, the parties are to: 1. Exchange: (a) witness lists; (b) motions in limine; (c) proposed jury instructions; and (d) evidence depositions; 2. Meet and confer as to motions in limine and categorize those that are agreed and contested; and 3. Agree to a statement of the case to be read to the venire panel that includes an estimated length of the trial.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Pre trial transfer order

A pre-trial transfer order must be entered in courtroom 2005 after the conference date is confirmed.

After a date is confirmed, a pre-trial transfer order must be entered in courtroom 2005.

WARNING

Applies to

Pretrial memorandum

Pretrial memorandum must include specified content: trial length estimate, case statement, witness list, stipulated facts, Rule 216 responses, exhibit list, Rule 237 compliance, Rule 213 disclosures, statement of law, and jury demand certifications.

A pretrial memoranda must include the following information: - The parties' estimated length of the trial; - A concise statement of the case, specifying the claims and defenses; - A list of all witnesses, potential witnesses, and the names of persons who will be mentioned through the testimony of others; - A list of all stipulated facts; - All Supreme Court Rule 216 requests to admit and responses; - Each party's exhibit list, explaining any stipulations, agreements, or objections; - Affidavits of compliance with Supreme Court Rule 237 notices and a statement of all outstanding disputes; - All Supreme Court Rule 213(f)(1), (2), and (3) interrogatories and responses as well as deposition testimony supporting opinions to be presented at trial; - A statement of the law governing the issues in the case with pertinent citations; - Certifications from each party that no jury demand has been made or that a written waiver has been executed.

WARNING

Applies to

Pretrial materials

Pretrial materials for a matter proceeding to trial must include all motions in limine.

If a matter is proceeding to trial, the pretrial materials must also include all motions in limine.

WARNING

Applies to

Dismissal order

Dismissal orders must unambiguously state the case is disposed of, the order is final, and all future dates are stricken, and any retained jurisdiction must be explained.

Dismissal orders must state unambiguously that the case is disposed of, that the order is a final order, and that all future dates are stricken. If this court is to retain jurisdiction for any reason, that reason must be explained.

WARNING

Applies to

Motion

Must include

proposed order

Routine and agreed motions must include a proposed court order.

Routine and agreed motions must include a proposed court order.

WARNING

Applies to

Default motion

Must include

proposed order

A default motion must include a proposed draft order plus specified attachments, including proof of service, copies of pleadings, a certification of an appearance search within the last five business days, and, for individual defaulting parties, a Service Members Civil Relief Act affidavit.

A default motion must attach must include: - The sheriff's return of service or a process server's affidavit - A copy of the notice of motion, motion, summons, complaint, and exhibits - A certification that within the last five business days an attorney or self-represented litigant searched for appearances in their file and the electronic docket - If the defaulting party is an individual, an affidavit in compliance with the Federal and the Illinois Service Members Civil Relief Act. 50 U.S.C. §§ 3931-3939; 330 ILCS 63/1 et seq. - A proposed draft order

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Order of referral

The order must include email addresses for each attorney or party of record.

The following are the attorneys, parties and potential witnesses for the Commercial Calendar Mandatory Arbitration hearing. Email addresses for each attorney or party of record must be included.

WARNING

Applies to

Amended complaint

Amended Complaints and Amended Counterclaims, Cross-Claims and the like should be submitted with a redline or other comparison document attached as an exhibit showing the amendments made to the previous version of the complaint, counterclaim, or cross-claim.

Amended Complaints and Amended Counterclaims, Cross-Claims and the like should be submitted with a redline or other comparison document attached as an exhibit showing the amendments made to the previous version of the complaint, counterclaim, or cross-claim.

WARNING

Applies to

Summary judgment motion

The Court may require a joint statement of undisputed facts and a timeline for summary judgment motions.

Depending on the complexity of the factual issues presented, the Court may require a joint statement of undisputed facts and a timeline of key events.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Brief

Non-Illinois authorities must be provided as full copies; citation alone is insufficient; electronic copies must be separate.

Citation to Illinois cases or legislation in accordance with a citation style approved by Illinois and Cook County court rules is sufficient. Case law or any other authority outside of the State Illinois (including federal case of in Illinois-based federal courts) law must be provided to the Court a copy of the same; citation is insufficient, by full No case may be cited to Westlaw alone, unless a full alone copy of the case is provided along with the brief. All electronic copies must be separate.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Non final order

Non-final orders cannot include SCR 304(a) language without a separate motion petitioning the court.

No SCR 304(a) language may be added to non-final orders without first petitioning the court by separate motion for such language to be added.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Settlement memorandum

Settlement Memorandum must not be filed or served; submitted confidentially to the Court.

The Settlement Memorandum required of each party under Section II of the Uniform Standing Order must not be filed with the clerk of the court and is not to be served on any other party. The Settlement Memorandum is submitted by each party to the Court confidentially, and the contents of the Memoranda will not be disclosed without the submitting party's express consent.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Briefing schedule order

Briefing schedule orders must strike the motion presentation date.

Briefing schedule orders, providing reasonable times for the filing of briefs, may be submitted as agreed orders pursuant to GAO 20-9, Section 4.1.3. and must provide that the motion presentation date, if any, is stricken.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Judgment

After entry of an order of default, the plaintiff must obtain a prove-up date for entry of judgment.

If an order of default is entered, the plaintiff must obtain a prove up date for entry of judgment.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Briefing schedule order

Agreed briefing-schedule orders may be submitted under GAO 20-9, Section 4.1.3, and must provide that any motion presentation date is stricken.

Briefing schedule orders, providing reasonable times for the filing of briefs, may be submitted as agreed orders pursuant to GAO 20-9, Section 4.1.3. and must provide that the motion presentation date, if any, is stricken.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Exhibit

Exhibits must be numbered and may not be designated by letters.

All exhibits must be numbered and cannot be designated by letters of the alphabet.

WARNINGCivil cases

Only qualifying ex parte voluntary-dismissal motions, confessions of judgment, and memoranda of judgment may be submitted off call, ex parte, and without notice to the Case Coordinator.

The following motions, orders, and/or memoranda only may be submitted off call ex parte and without notice to the Case Coordinator: ex parte motions for voluntary dismissal if allowed under law, confessions of judgment, and memoranda of judgment.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Exhibit list

Each exhibit list must include separate columns for identification, offer, objection, objection ruling, and admission or refusal for every exhibit.

Each exhibit list must set forth for each exhibit, to the right of the number and description, separate columns for the exhibit's identification, offer, objection, objection ruling, and admission/refusal.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Check in packet

Must include

relevant paperwork, last order or motion

When checking in with the clerk, present the last order or motion setting the date and all relevant paperwork, with documents independently stapled and in chronological order.

Please check in with the court clerk in order to have your matter called. When checking in, please present the clerk with the last order or motion setting the date along with all relevant paperwork for your matter. Please ensure all the documents presented are independently stapled and in chronological order.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Jury instructions

Any proposed instruction, which modifies a current IPI instruction, must note that it has been modified and describe the IPI instruction.

Any proposed instruction, which modifies a current IPI instruction, must note that it has been modified and describe the IPI instruction.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Motion to strike dismiss

Motions to strike or dismiss any pleading must attach a copy of the pleading being challenged.

Motions seeking to strike or dismiss any pleading must attach a copy of the pleading the party wishes to strike or dismiss.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Jury instructions

Proposed jury instructions must be submitted in both a marked set and a clean set.

Proposed jury instructions: one marked set (identifying the party offering each instruction and the appropriate IPI citation), and one unmarked or “clean” set

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Motion to reinstate

Bureau seeking reinstatement for noncompliance with an agreed settlement order must attach the agreed order and a supporting affidavit.

Motions seeking to reinstate a case for failure to comply with an agreed settlement order must attach a copy of the agreed order and an affidavit in support.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Trial materials

Please come prepared to provide the Court and all other parties/counsel with copies of: i. Trial exhibits ii. A complete final set of clean and marked jury instructions that incorporate any additions, deletions, or modifications required after the pre-trial conference iii. Final edited versions of evidence deposition transcripts, if any, striking all lines that will not be read to the jury

Please come prepared to provide the Court and all other parties/counsel with copies of: i. Trial exhibits ii. A complete final set of clean and marked jury instructions that incorporate any additions, deletions, or modifications required after the pre-trial conference iii. Final edited versions of evidence deposition transcripts, if any, striking all lines that will not be read to the jury

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Settlement statement

The settlement statement must describe the facts, settlement position, and prior settlement efforts.

Each side must deliver a one-page statement describing the facts and their settlement position, including prior efforts at settlement, to the basket outside Courtroom 1503 or through the U.S. Mail or third- party carrier, no later than three (3) business days before the date scheduled for your settlement conference.

WARNING

Applies to

Order

Orders submitted after a court appearance must indicate all parties and/or attorneys present on the matter.

must indicate all parties and/or attorneys who were present on the matter

WARNING

Applies to

Appearance

Parties must have an appearance on file to participate in an eviction trial.

All parties must heave an appearance on file in order to participate in a trail.

WARNING

Applies to

Emergency motion

Emergency motions must state with particularity, in an affidavit or verification, the sudden or unforeseen circumstances giving rise to the emergency and why the matter should take precedence.

Generally, facts identifying the nature of the sudden or unforeseen circumstances which give rise to the emergency and the reason why the matter should take precedence shall be stated with particularity in an affidavit or verification in support of the emergency motion.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Jury instructions

At the commencement of trial, parties should bring marked and unmarked copies of the jury instructions.

Parties should bring marked and unmarked copies of the jury instructions at the commencement of the trial.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Residential eviction order

A standardized residential eviction order form, as determined by the Supreme Court, must be used statewide.

A standardized residential eviction order form, as determined by the Supreme Court, shall be used statewide.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Order

Orders must accurately reflect court proceedings; the court will correct inaccurate orders based on its half sheet.

Orders should properly reflect what occurred in court. In those instances, where the order is not accurate the court will modify the order based on the court's half sheet.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Motion

Oral motions for Parent/Child visits and Return Home under an Order of Protection may be heard at a permanency hearing; otherwise they must be filed with proper notice.

Oral motions for any type of Parent/Child visits and Return Home under an Order of Protection may be incorporated into a permanency hearing (PH); otherwise, the motion must be filed with proper notice to the parties, following #5 above.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Fee petition

Fee petitions must include running totals of all amounts awarded for cases assigned to bar attorneys on or after August 1, 2025.

Running totals of all amounts awarded are to be included in each filed fee petition for all cases assigned to bar attorneys on August 1, 2025 & thereafter, in calendar 10J cases.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Fee petition

To be heard, a file-stamped fee petition must be scheduled through the acting courtroom coordinator, placed in the 10J shared drive and red book/docket sheet, and emailed to the court.

To be heard, the file stamped fee petition is to be provided to and scheduled through the acting courtroom coordinator. After it is scheduled, it is to be placed in the 10J shared drive and placed on the court red book and docket sheet. Then, the court will be emailed a copy.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Motion

Motions for Return Home (as part of a permanency hearing) and Case Closure (as part of a Progress Report) may be oral; otherwise they must be filed with proper notice.

Motions for Return Home, heard as part of a PH, and Motions for Case Closure, heard as part of a Progress Report on an Order of Protection, may be oral motions. Otherwise, these motions must be filed with proper notice to the parties, following #5 above.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Motion

Exhibits and motions emailed to the court must include the hearing date and time.

Exhibits & motions emailed to the court must include the hearing date and time in the email or document.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Status order

Counsel should place a date certain within that timeframe into the status order.

Counsel should place a date certain within that timeframe into the status order.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Motion

Must include

proposed order

The movant should send the Calendar 53 e-mail address (ccc.mfmlcalendar53@cookcountyil.gov) a file-stamped copy of the motion and a proposed order granting it.

The movant should send the Calendar 53 e-mail address (ccc.mfmlcalendar53@cookcountyil.gov) a file-stamped copy of the motion and a proposed order granting it.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Off call matter

Must include

proposed order

A party should send file-stamped courtesy copies of any off-call matter and a proposed order, if applicable, to the Calendar 53 e-mail address (ccc.mfmlcalendar53@cookcountyil.gov).

A party should send file-stamped courtesy copies of any off-call matter and a proposed order, if applicable, to the Calendar 53 e-mail address (ccc.mfmlcalendar53@cookcountyil.gov).

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Memorandum of judgment

All Memoranda of Judgment that are set for hearing should include the Order Confirming Sale, Complaint, Judgment of Foreclosure and Proof of Service.

All Memoranda of Judgment that are set for hearing should include the Order Confirming Sale, Complaint, Judgment of Foreclosure and Proof of Service.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Order request

Order requests should include: (1) case number; (2) hearing date; and (3) defendant last name.

Order requests should include: (1) case number; (2) hearing date; and (3) defendant last name.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Default judgment packet

Corporations or LLCs served through the Secretary of State must include the Affidavit of Compliance for Service on Secretary of State in the courtesy copy packet.

Where a corporation or a limited liability company has been served through the Secretary of State, the Affidavit of Compliance for Service on Secretary of State must be included in the courtesy copy packet.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Report

A table of contents is required if the report exceeds 7 pages (excluding the receiver's signature); an exhibit index is required if there are more than 5 exhibits.

An index or table of contents shall follow the cover sheet if the report exceeds seven (7) pages, excluding receiver’s signature. An index or table of contents for exhibits shall precede exhibits if there are more than five (5) exhibits.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Dispositive motion

Dispositive motions under specific Illinois Code sections are screened for compliance with Rule 113 and/or Rule 191.

Dispositive motions brought pursuant to Illinois Code of Civil Procedure sections 2-1005, 2-619, and 2-301(b) will be screened for Rule 113 and/or Rule 191 compliance.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Affidavit

A party seeking discovery before responding to a dispositive motion must provide an affidavit on the presentment day.

A party seeking discovery before responding must provide on the presentment day an affidavit in

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Order approving sale packet

Order Approving Sale packets seeking in personam deficiency must include the specified documents, including compliance with GAO 2021-09 when applicable.

All Order Approving Sale (OAS) packets seeking an In Personam deficiency should include the following: Complaint, including Mortgage and Note Judgment of Foreclosure Proof of Service for each Defendant against whom a personal deficiency judgment is sought Compliance with GAO 2021-09 if applicable. Memorandum of Judgment (if any)

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Report

Mortgagees in possession must submit reports following the Outline to the extent practicable; significant failure may result in sanctions including restoration of possession to the mortgagor.

Mortgagees in possession shall also be required to submit reports pursuant to the order allowing possession. Such reports shall also follow the Outline to the extent practicable and relevant, with any significant failure to do so subject to equivalent sanctions, including restoration of possession to the mortgagor.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Proposed order

Proposed orders must include the Court's contact information, including the email address and phone number.

All proposed orders shall include the Court’s contact information: Email: ccc.mf57@gmail.com Phone: (312) 603-3908