Circuit Court of Cook County Document Filing Requirements

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Motion for default judgment

Default judgment motions must include at the top of the packet the Return of Service, foundational Prove-Up Affidavit(s), and if applicable an Attorney Fee Affidavit with contemporaneous billing records.

In addition to the requirements set forth in the Uniform Standing Order for All Commercial Calendars, 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 business ledger or records, and, if applicable, an Attorney Fee Affidavit(s) with contemporaneous business records attached.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Trial materials

Trial packages must contain the estimated trial day count, statement of case, witness lists, stipulations, motions in limine, evidence depositions, exhibit lists/exhibits, and state-rule-213 disclosures.

The following information and documents shall be delivered: (A) Estimated number of trial days (B) Statement of the case (C) Witness list (D) Stipulations (E) Motions in Limine (F) Evidence depositions (G) Exhibit lists and/or Exhibits (H)Ill. S. Ct. R. 213 disclosures

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Written communication to court

Must include

caption, case number

All written communications with court staff must include the case name, docket number, and must copy all parties and attorneys of record.

All emails written communications with court staff must list the case name and docket number. All parties and attorneys of record must be copied on all written communications with court staff.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Courtesy copy cover letter

Must include

caption, case number

Every courtesy copy must include a cover letter or email with the case number, caption, and a statement that the delivery is pursuant to the order, and all parties of record must be copied.

Courtesy copies shall be accompanied by a cover letter or cover email containing the case number, caption, and a statement that the delivery is pursuant to this order. The movant shall copy all parties of record to this correspondence.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Order

Must include

proposed order

Parties must deliver an order memorializing the Court's ruling by 1:00 p.m. on the day of the hearing.

You are required to deliver to the Court an order memorializing the Court's ruling not later than 1:00 p.m. on the day of your hearing.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Business ledger

In collection cases, plaintiff must submit a business ledger with an affidavit establishing the ledger is a business record.

In collection cases, the plaintiff shall submit a ledger accompanied by an affidavit establishing that it is a business record.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Motion to compel

Motions to compel must state the attorney's actual consultation and reasonable attempts to resolve disputes, or the motion will be 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

Proposed cmc order

Parties must confer and email a proposed CMC Order (using the Law Division Active Case Management Order form) before 3:00 p.m. two business days before the scheduled hearing, with subject line 'Case No. …: PROPOSED CMC ORDER'; agreed orders are encouraged.

The parties are directed to confer, and to send the Court a proposed CMC Order (use the Law Division Active Case Management Order form) before 3:00 p.m. two (2) business days before the scheduled hearing. The subject line of the email shall be "Case No. …: PROPOSED CMC ORDER," Agreed proposed CMC Orders are strongly encouraged and preferred.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Emergency motion

Emergency motions must state a verifiable emergency basis.

Emergency motions must set forth a verifiable EMERGENCY.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion for alternative service

Motions for alternative service must include an affidavit detailing the investigation and efforts to locate the defendant.

All 203.1 Motions for Alternative Service “shall be accompanied with an affidavit stating the nature and extent of the investigation made to determine the whereabouts of the defendant and the reasons why service is impractical… including a specific statement showing that a diligent inquiry as to the location of the individual defendant was made and reasonable efforts to make service have been unsuccessful.” (See 735 ILCS 5/2-203.1).

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion to transfer venue

Must include

proposed order

Motions to transfer venue to another district or county should include as exhibits all service attempts by the sheriff and/or private process server. The motion should also include as an exhibit all evidence that demonstrates the defendant currently resides in the district you are seeking to have the case transferred such as a TLO, USPS address report, vehicle registration or other investigative report. A proposed order should be provided and shall be in substantially the following form: Transfer orders shall be in writing, signed by the judge transferring the case and by the Presiding Judge of the division or district, and shall be in substantially the following form: "The above entitled and numbered cause having been previously assigned to Judge ____________________ is hereby transferred to Judge _____________________, Presiding Judge of the _____________________ Division or District for the purpose of transferring the cause to the _____________________ Division or District.

Motions to transfer venue to another district or county should include as exhibits all service attempts by the sheriff and/or private process server. The motion should also include as an exhibit all evidence that demonstrates the defendant currently resides in the district you are seeking to have the case transferred such as a TLO, USPS address report, vehicle registration or other investigative report. A proposed order should be provided and shall be in substantially the following form: Transfer orders shall be in writing, signed by the judge transferring the case and by the Presiding Judge of the division or district, and shall be in substantially the following form: "The above entitled and numbered cause having been previously assigned to Judge ____________________ is hereby transferred to Judge _____________________, Presiding Judge of the _____________________ Division or District for the purpose of transferring the cause to the _____________________ Division or District.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Residential eviction order

Residential eviction orders must use the standardized Supreme Court form.

735 ILCS 9-109.6 Residential Eviction Order; form. A standardized residential eviction order form, as determined by the Supreme Court, shall be used statewide.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Dismissal order

A dismissal order must be signed by both plaintiff and defendant and must state that leave to reinstate is granted and the court retains jurisdiction.

signed by both plaintiff and defendant and the order specifically states that leave to reinstate is granted and the court retains jurisdiction.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Settlement memo

Settlement memo must include the nature of the case, brief factual summary, outstanding legal issues, procedural history, and settlement position, submitted via email three business days before the conference.

At least three (3) business days prior to the settlement conference, parties shall submit via e-mail, a 2-3 page settlement memo including: a. Nature of the case and brief factual summary; b. Outstanding legal issues and procedural history; and c. Settlement position.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Brief exceeding page limits

Briefs exceeding page limits are accepted only with leave of Court on a written motion showing good cause; agreed orders extending the limits are not accepted.

Briefs filed in excess of the page limitations will not be accepted without leave of Court upon written motion containing good cause. Agreed orders extending the page limits will not be accepted.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Motion for default

Motions for default must attach the actual affidavit of service from the Cook County Sheriff or special process server; a Sheriff website printout is insufficient.

Motions for default must be accompanied by the actual affidavit of service from the Cook County Sheriff or the special process server. A printout of the status of service from the Cook County Sheriff’s website is not an affidavit of service and is not sufficient to prove service.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Emergency motion package

The emergency email must include the file-stamped emergency motion and a copy of the verified complaint.

Counsel for the movant must submit the file-stamped emergency motion and a copy of the verified complaint via email to the Court before 3:00 p.m. to discuss scheduling of an emergency motion or TRO with the law clerk.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Administrative record

All administrative records must be submitted electronically with a table of contents, regardless of exhibit length.

All administrative records, regardless of exhibit length, must be submitted electronically with a table of contents.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Proposed agreed dismissal order

The proposed agreed dismissal order must strike any future court dates.

Voluntary Dismissals: Litigants are required to strike any future court dates in a proposed agreed dismissal order.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Motion for appointment of special process server

Motions to appoint a special process server must identify the server's license number, the address for service, and state that service was attempted via the Sheriff's Office.

Special Process Server: Motions for the Appointment of a Special Process Server must include the license number of the process server to be appointed, the address where service is sought, and a statement that service was attempted through the Sheriff’s Office.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Courtesy copy submission email

Must include

caption, case number

The subject line of any email submission to chambers must include the case caption and case number.

The subject line of the e-mail submission must include the case caption and case number. E.g., “19CH12345 Anguiano v. Jedrasek”

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Pleadings with exhibits

Pleadings with exhibits must include a table of contents and clearly marked exhibits.

Pleadings that attach exhibits must include a table of contents, and the exhibits must be clearly marked.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Courtesy copy attachment

Must include

case number

Each document attached to a courtesy email must include the case number and abbreviated title of the pleading or brief.

Any attached documents must include the case number and abbreviated title of the pleading or brief. E.g., “19CH12345 Pl.’s Compl.”

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Motion

Every motion must be accompanied by a notice of filing and a notice of motion.

All motions require a notice of filing and notice of motion.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Emergency motion

Must include

proposed order, certificate of service

Courtesy copies shall include emergency motion setting forth factual basis of emergency, notice of motion/certificate of service, proposed order.

Courtesy copies shall include emergency motion setting forth factual basis of emergency, notice of motion/certificate of service, proposed order.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Viewing of vouchers

Must include

proposed order

Courtesy copies for presentation of vouchers must include the order authorizing acceptance of distribution, vouchers, and proposed order.

Presentation of vouchers: Courtesy copies shall include order authorizing acceptance of distribution, vouchers, proposed order.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Petition for letters of administration

Must include

proposed order, certificate of service

Petitions for letters of administration: Courtesy copies shall include petition, Exhibit A, notice of motion/certificate of service or waivers, affidavit of heirship, proposed order appointing representative, proposed order declaring heirship, bond.

Petitions for letters of administration: Courtesy copies shall include petition, Exhibit A, notice of motion/certificate of service or waivers, affidavit of heirship, proposed order appointing representative, proposed order declaring heirship, bond.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Petition for authorization to accept distribution

Must include

proposed order, certificate of service

Courtesy copies for petitions for authorization to accept distribution must include the petition, notice of motion/certificate of service, settled-order or attorney report, proposed order, and bond.

Petitions for authorization to accept distribution: Courtesy copies shall include petition, notice of motion/certificate of service, order of other division/court approving settlement/entering judgment (Local Rule 6.5) or attorney report (Local Rule 12.15), proposed order, bond.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Petition for probate of will

Must include

proposed order

Courtesy copies for petitions for probate of will must include the petition, Exhibit A, will, affidavit of heirship, proposed order appointing executor, proposed order declaring heirship, and bond.

Petitions for probate of will: Courtesy copies shall include petition, Exhibit A, will, affidavit of heirship, proposed order appointing executor, proposed order declaring heirship, bond.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Courtesy copy email

The subject line of any email to the Court must identify the case name, case number, and date of appearance.

*Subject line of email must identify case name, case number and date of appearance.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Motion to close estate

Must include

proposed order, certificate of service

Courtesy copies for motions to close an estate must include the initial petition, Exhibit A, order declaring heirship, receipts & approvals or 42-day notice/certificate of service, certificate of publication, final report, will if testate, 14-day notice if testate, and proposed order of discharge.

Motions to close estate: Courtesy copies shall include initial petition, Exhibit A, order declaring heirship, receipts & approvals or 42-day notice/certificate of service, certificate of publication, final report, will (if testate), 14-day notice (if testate), proposed order of discharge.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Other motion

Must include

proposed order, certificate of service

Courtesy copies for other 10:00 a.m. motions must include the motion, notice of motion/certificate of service, and proposed orders.

Other motions: Courtesy copies shall include motion, notice of motion/certificate of service, proposed orders.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Motion

Must include

proposed order, certificate of service

A routine motion submission must include a notice of motion, the motion, proof of service, and a draft order.

A copy of the notice, motion, proof of service, and draft order must be emailed to ccc.chancerycalendar1@cookcountyil.gov at least two full court days before the noticed date.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Ai assisted brief

Must include

ai disclosure

Any brief prepared with AI assistance must include on page 1 the statement “Created by or with the assistance of AI,” and counsel may not submit hallucinated case citations.

Any brief prepared with the assistance of AI shall state on page 1 thereof: “Created by or with the assistance of AI.” There is an ethical obligation not to submit “hallucination” case citations to this Court.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

TRO motion

A party wishing to present a TRO motion should deliver a copy of the motion papers (including the Complaint), marked “EMERGENCY,” to the Court via email, at CCC.ChanceryCalendar1@cookcountyil.gov.

A party wishing to present a TRO motion should deliver a copy of the motion papers (including the Complaint), marked “EMERGENCY,” to the Court via email, at CCC.ChanceryCalendar1@cookcountyil.gov.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Emergency motion papers

The complete set of motion papers emailed to the Court must be marked “EMERGENCY.”

A complete set of the motion papers, marked “EMERGENCY,” must be emailed to the Court via email, at ccc.ChanceryCalendar1@cookcountyil.gov by no later than 2:00 p.m. on the court day before the hearing date.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Prove up submission

A complete prove-up email package must include the notice, summons showing service, motion for default judgment, draft judgment order, operative complaint, and any materials establishing a prima facie case.

i. The notice, summons showing service, and motion for default judgment; ii. A draft judgment order specifying the precise relief sought; iii. A copy of the operative complaint; and iv. Any other materials supporting the movant’s burden of showing a prima facie case for the relief sought. See 735 ILCS 5/2-1301(d). Such materials include, without limitation, a Verified Complaint or other evidence provided by affidavit.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Pleading

Pleadings must contain the Clerk's stamp showing prior electronic filing.

All pleadings submitted to the Court must contain the Clerk's stamp showing previous electronic filing

CRITICAL

Applies to

Emergency motion to appoint receiver

Emergency motions to appoint a receiver or mortgagee in possession require a verified petition with factual allegations of an immediate health or safety threat.

Emergency motions to appoint a receiver or mortgagee in possession may be brought only if the verified petition contains factual allegations indicating an immediate health or safety threat.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Pre trial submission

Pre-trial submissions must include specified joint statements, exhibit binders, witness lists, Rule 237 and 213 materials, and motions in limine.

Following exchange, the parties shall confer and submit pre-trial submissions to the Court consisting of the following: i. A joint short statement of the nature of the case; ii. A joint statement and stipulation to facts, if any; iii. A separate physical and digital/electronic binder from each party with an exhibit list and exhibits for that party. iv. A list of each party's witnesses; v. A statement of disputes, if any, regarding requests to produce individuals or other items at trial, per Illinois Supreme Court Rule 237; vi. A copy of all applicable Illinois Supreme Court Rule 213 disclosures, if opinion witnesses are to be presented; vii. Motions in limine with any supporting memoranda.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Dispositive motion

Must include

exhibit list

Dispositive motions must include the order striking the case from case management as an exhibit and state compliance with the timeline.

i. The order striking the case from case management (4331) shall be included as an exhibit to all dispositive motions and a statement shall be made in the filed motion that the motion complies with this timeline.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Proposed order

Proposed orders in surplus cases must include specific language about notifying the mortgagor of surplus funds.

In case of surplus, proposed orders must include the following language: 1. "When mailing a copy of this order approving sale, counsel for plaintiff shall notify the mortgagor, in a cover letter, of the existence of surplus funds. The cover letter shall specify that the funds may be obtained upon presentation to the Presiding Judge (Daley Center Room 2403) of a Petition for Turnover of Surplus Funds. A copy of the current petition form shall be included in the mailing."

CRITICAL

Applies to

Receiver bond

Receiver bond must be issued by court-approved surety, include raised seal, receiver's signature, and judge's signature block; signed by Judge Pedersen and not filed in Room 802.

A receiver bond must be issued by a court-approved surety and executed in compliance with all applicable court rules. The bond must have a raised seal, the receiver's signature, and a signature block for the judge. The bond must be signed by Judge Pedersen and should not be filed in Room 802. After the bond is entered, the court clerk will file and enter the bond, and place a copy in the court file.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Discovery motion

Must include

certificate of conference

Every discovery motion must incorporate the Rule 201(k) statement that counsel responsible for trial, after personal consultation and reasonable attempts to resolve differences, could not reach an accord or that opposing counsel was unavailable.

1. Compliance with discovery requests must strictly conform to Illinois Supreme Court Rule 201(k), which provides that "(e)very 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

CRITICAL

Applies to

Exhibit list

Exhibit lists must specify exhibit number, Bates label, date, name/title, type, and stipulation status, and objections.

The parties shall include an exhibit list outlining for each of their intended exhibits: the exhibit number, Bates label (if any), exhibit date, exhibit name/title, exhibit type, and whether presented as "stipulated." If an objection exists (include nature of objection). Note: when there is no objection to an exhibit, the exhibit should be listed and marked as "stipulated into evidence."

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion

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

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

CRITICAL

Applies to

Case management order

Submit the Court's case management order form with proposed orders for each case management conference; the form must include the Court's Zoom information.

A form version of this order is available on the Court's webpage and shall be submitted with the proposed orders for each case management conference held. These forms must include the Court's Zoom information.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Judgment of foreclosure courtesy copy packet

Courtesy copy packets for Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale motions must include notice of motion, complaint with exhibits, assignments, certificate of service, and military affidavit.

The Court requires that courtesy copy packets including a Motion for Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale shall include the following: 1. Notice of Motion. 2. Complaint, with all exhibits including Mortgage(s) and Note(s). 3. Assignments and merger/successor documents, if any. 4. Certificate of Service of Process, with proof of service on all defendants. 5. Military Affidavit (as required by the Service-Member's Civil Relief Act).

CRITICAL

Applies to

All documents

All documents submitted for the Court's consideration must bear a stamp showing they were filed with the Clerk.

All documents a movant wishes the Court to consider in adjudicating any matter before it must bear a stamp demonstrating that the original document was filed with the Clerk of the Circuit Court.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Affidavit

A party seeking discovery before responding must provide a Rule 191(b)-compliant affidavit on the presentment day; failure to do so may waive all discovery prior to a response.

A party seeking discovery before responding must provide on the presentment day an affidavit in strict compliance with Rule 191(b). Failure to do so may waive all discovery prior to a response.