Circuit Court of Cook County Document Filing Requirements

CRITICAL

Applies to

Agreed order

Must include

caption

All agreed orders must contain the email address and contact telephone number of each counsel of record and self-represented litigant.

ALL Agreed Orders shall contain the email address and contact telephone number of each counsel of record and self-represented litigant in the cause;

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion

Motion packet must include the complaint with all exhibits including Mortgage(s) and Note(s).

The complaint, with all exhibits including Mortgage(s) and Note(s);

CRITICAL

Applies to

Pleading

Must include

caption, case number

All pleadings must include the full case caption, calendar number, and property address.

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

CRITICAL

Applies to

Courtesy copy email

Case numbers in email must be formatted as '26-CH-00000' with specific placeholder and punctuation rules.

(2) Please format case numbers exactly as 26-CH-00000, so that emails can easily be searched and located in the Court's inbox. Case numbers should include a "0" placeholder for a digit without a numerical value, the "20" in the year should be omitted, and the "CH" should be set apart by hyphens.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Proposed order

Proposed orders must be submitted as a separate, clearly titled PDF attachment, with all proposed orders in one PDF.

attached. (7) Proposed orders shall be attached as a separate PDF attachment in the same courtesy copy email clearly titled "Proposed Order(s)." Multiple proposed orders should all be submitted together in ONE PDF

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion for leave to amend

A motion for leave to amend or to file a third-party claim 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

Routine motion

Must include

proposed order

Routine motions may be submitted for entry outside the Court's regular calls. The following motions are considered routine and may be submitted with a proposed order for entry off call: (1) Motion to appoint a special process server; (2) Motion to voluntarily dismiss a case in its entirety; (3) Receiver's bond; and (4) Agreed orders may be presented in court or off call if accompanied by a stipulation and signed by all parties' or their attorneys.

Routine motions may be submitted for entry outside the Court's regular calls. The following motions are considered routine and may be submitted with a proposed order for entry off call: (1) Motion to appoint a special process server; (2) Motion to voluntarily dismiss a case in its entirety; (3) Receiver's bond; and (4) Agreed orders may be presented in court or off call if accompanied by a stipulation and signed by all parties' or their attorneys.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Courtesy copy

Courtesy copies must be legible; failure may result in striking, no action, denial, or continuation. This includes pro se handwritten motions.

All courtesy copy submissions presented to the court that were filed with the Clerk of the Circuit Court "shall be legibly written, typewritten, printed, or otherwise prepared." Ill. Sup. Ct. R. 10(b); Ill. Sup. Ct. R. 131(a). Failure to submit legible courtesy copies may result in the Court striking the courtesy copies, not taking action on the scheduled matter, denial of the motion(s), or continuation of the matter to a new date subject to the Court's availability. This includes handwritten motions presented by *pro se* litigants.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Special process server order

Each separate special process server order must be filed in the case record when multiple orders were used for service.

If service of process on multiple defendants was effectuated pursuant to separate orders entered by the Supervising Judge across multiple three month periods for which the same or different special process servers for the law firm were appointed, each such order signed by the Supervising Judge shall be filed in the record of the case so the Court may determine if the special process server had authority to serve each specific defendant with process on the date service was sworn to have been accomplished.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice of motion

Plaintiff must notice up all judgment motions simultaneously.

Plaintiff shall notice up **ALL** judgment motions (*inter alia*, motions to dismiss unknown parties or other defendants, default, summary judgment, judgment of foreclosure, appoint selling officer, reformation of mortgage or deed) **simultaneously**.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Special process server order

Orders entered by the Supervising Judge pursuant to General Administrative Order No. 2007-03 and prior to the enactment of Public Act 103-0671 amending Section 2-202 appointing a designated special process server for a particular law firm during the three month period of time that service of process was effectuated on any defendant shall be filed into the record of each case where service by such means was accomplished.

Orders entered by the Supervising Judge pursuant to General Administrative Order No. 2007-03 and prior to the enactment of Public Act 103-0671 amending Section 2-202 appointing a designated special process server for a particular law firm during the three month period of time that service of process was effectuated on any defendant shall be filed into the record of each case where service by such means was accomplished.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Court document

All documents submitted for the Court's consideration must bear a stamp showing the original was filed, and all pleadings and motions must be signed per Illinois Supreme Court 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

Service notice

All service notices must include the address, telephone number, and email address 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

Motion to voluntarily dismiss full payoff

Motions to voluntarily dismiss due to full payoff must be accompanied by an order dismissing the case with prejudice.

Motions to voluntarily dismiss a case in its entirety due to a full pay off shall be accompanied with an order dismissing the case WITH prejudice.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Summons

All summonses must include the Mortgage Foreclosure Mediation Program informational sheet in English and Spanish.

(1) All summonses shall include the Mortgage Foreclosure Mediation Program informational sheet in English and Spanish;

CRITICAL

Applies to

Special representative

If the mortgagor is deceased, the plaintiff must have a special representative appointed per statute and court rules.

If the mortgagor(s) is/are deceased, then the plaintiff shall have a special representative appointed in accordance with 735 ILCS 5/15-1501, Illinois Supreme Court Rule 113(i), and General Administrative Order No. 2015-02.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion

Motions to reform a legal description must comply with General Administrative Order No. 2016-03 and clearly identify the original and correct legal descriptions, the reason for the difference, and evidentiary support.

Any motion seeking to reform the legal description of a property in a Deed, Mortgage, or any Assignment thereof shall comply with the General Administrative Order No. 2016-03 and clearly identify: (i) The original legal description; (ii) The correct legal description, specifically identifying the change(s) made; (iii) The reason the legal description is different or was incorrect, as appropriate; and (iv) Evidentiary support for the change.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Courtesy copy email

The email body must include the case number, court date, and brief description of the motion.

(3) The body of the email shall include the case number, court date, and a brief description of the motion being presented (e.g., Attached are courtesy copies for the March 23, 2026, hearing in 26-CH-00000 (PNC v. Martin) up on Case Management/Judgment Motions/Order Approving Sale/Status on ______/Plaintiff's or Defendant's Motion to ______/etc.).

CRITICAL

Applies to

Proposed order

When a proposed order withdraws, continues, or strikes a motion, both the order and the email must include the original motion date and time.

In the event Plaintiff chooses not to proceed on a motion noticed before the Court and Plaintiff or Plaintiff's counsel submits to the Court in lieu of 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.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion

Motion packet must include assignments and merger/successor documents, if any.

Assignments and merger/successor documents, if any;

CRITICAL

Applies to

Judgment of foreclosure order

Foreclosure judgment orders must itemize fees, costs, principal, interest, etc., and provide a breakdown.

Judgment of foreclosure orders **SHALL** clearly list and break down attorneys fees, costs, principal, interest, per diem, *etc.* as individual line items corresponding to exhibits such as the Prove Up Affidavit and the Affidavit of Attorney Fees and Costs. The total amount due shall still be listed; however, that amount shall be broken down into its component parts.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Judgment of foreclosure order

Incomplete breakdowns in foreclosure judgment orders are unacceptable; noncompliant orders will not be entered.

Single sum total dollar amounts or incomplete breakdowns as described herein in judgment of foreclosure orders without a clear and thorough breakdown of where and how these figures were derived are **NOT** acceptable. Noncompliant orders will not be entered. The Court will not take action on the scheduled matter and will continue the matter to a new date subject to the Court's availability.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Proposed order

Proposed orders must include specific language about surplus funds.

In the case a surplus of funds results from the judicial sale of the subject property, proposed orders shall 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." AND (2) "The Selling Officer shall immediately turn over the surplus funds to the Clerk of the Court."

CRITICAL

Applies to

Case management order

A form version of the case management order must be submitted with proposed orders for each case management conference.

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.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Proposed order

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

All proposed orders shall include the Court's contact and Zoom information.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Courtesy copy email

The email subject line must contain only the case number, case name, and court date (or 'off call' for routine motions).

(1) The subject line of the email shall include only the case number, the case name, and the court date (e.g., 26-CH-00000 PNC v. Martin 3/23/2026). For routine motions, please indicate "off call" instead of the court date.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Emergency motion

Emergency motions to appoint a receiver or mortgagee in possession are allowed only when the verified petition contains factual allegations of an immediate health or safety threat.

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

CRITICAL

Applies to

Loss mitigation affidavit

Loss mitigation affidavits under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 114 must be dated no earlier than 6 months prior to the presentment date.

Loss Mitigation Affidavit pursuant to Illinois Supreme Court Rule 114 (if applicable) dated no earlier than 6 months prior to the presentment date;

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion

Must include

certificate of service

Motion packet must include Certificate of Service of Process with proof of service on all defendants.

Certificate of Service of Process, with proof of service on all defendants;

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion

If a defendant is served by publication, the motion packet must include a certificate of publication, skip trace, and affidavit of publication.

If a defendant is served by publication: a certificate of publication, skip trace, and affidavit of publication for that defendant pursuant to 735 ILCS 5/2-206 and 735 ILCS 5/15-1502(c).

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion to appoint receiver

Must include

proposed order, certificate of service

Motions to appoint a receiver must include the complaint, motion with photos, affidavit, three proposed receivers, CVs, fee schedules, proof of service, proof of notice, and a proposed order.

Motions to appoint a receiver will be heard only if the movant provides: (1) A copy of the complaint, with all exhibits including Mortgage(s) and Note(s); (2) A copy of the motion including color photographs of the property; (3) A copy of an affidavit or other sworn pleading in support of the motion pursuant to 735 ILCS 5/15-1706(a); (4) Three proposed receivers; (5) Proposed receivers’ *curricula vitae* and fee schedules; (6) Proof of service of process of the complaint meeting all statutory requirements (if the mortgagor has been served with the complaint); (7) Proof of reasonable notice pursuant to 735 ILCS 5/15-1706(c), (d): (i) Certificate of Service of Notice of Motion; (ii) Affidavit of Service of Process of the Motion (if required when the mortgagor has not been served with the complaint); or (iii) Other affidavits or sworn evidence required to establish a party is in default or good cause to grant the motion exists; and (8) A proposed order.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion

Receivers must obtain court authorization by motion before engaging a licensed Illinois real estate broker, and sales contracts and escrow disbursements require court approval.

(l) Receivers shall not have the power to engage a real estate broker to market and sell the subject property, unless specifically authorized to do so by the Court. If a receiver seeks to sell the subject property, the receiver shall present the Court with a motion to authorize the receiver to engage a licensed Illinois real estate broker to list and market the subject property and any future contract for the sale of the property will be subject to Court's approval prior to entry into the contract. Accordingly, in the event the receiver wishes to approve a sales contract prior to the receiver entering into a contract for the sale of the subject property, the receiver shall present the same for approval to the Court via motion and all parties shall have an opportunity to object to the proposed contract. Upon approval of such a contract by the Court, the receiver shall be authorized to execute a "soft closing" on the property, after which, the receiver shall then bring a final motion to approve all disbursements from escrow. No funds from the closing shall be disbursed without the Court's approval.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Affidavit of attorney fees

Movants must submit a separate affidavit to prove up attorneys' fees and costs, not integrated into the Rule 113 affidavit.

Movants shall submit a separate affidavit to prove up attorneys' fees and costs and this amount shall not be integrated into the Movant's Illinois Supreme Court Rule 113 affidavit;

CRITICAL

Applies to

Affidavit

Affidavits under Illinois Supreme Court Rules 113 and/or 191 must be dated no earlier than 6 months prior to the presentment date and attach all appropriate documents required by law.

Affidavits pursuant Illinois Supreme Court Rule 113 and/or 191 attaching all appropriate documents required by law dated no earlier than 6 months prior to the presentment date;

CRITICAL

Applies to

Loss mitigation affidavit

All pertinent facts and supporting evidence must be incorporated within the loss mitigation affidavit itself, not attached as exhibits.

All pertinent facts and supporting evidence shall be incorporated within this affidavit itself and shall not be attached as an exhibit to the affidavit.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion

Requests for a sealed-bid auction must be presented by separate motion.

All requests for a sealed-bid auction shall be presented by separate motion.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice of motion

Motions for entry of judgment of foreclosure and sale in default cases must be noticed for the Court's 10:30 AM default call.

Motions for Entry of Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale in which no appearance or answer was filed or in which the only appearance or answer filed was by the United States of America, a special representative, or any other defendant(s) not contesting the entry of judgment shall be noticed for the Court's 10:30 AM default call.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice of motion

All notices of motion and notices of initial case management must include all four pages of the Zoom instructions in English and Spanish.

(2) All notices of motion and notices of initial case management shall include a copy of all four pages of the required Zoom instructions in English and Spanish.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion

When seeking immediate possession, the movant must provide a vacancy affidavit or affidavit of abandonment dated no more than 6 months prior and photographs showing vacancy.

If a party seeks immediate possession, the movant SHALL **also** provide a copy of:1. (1) A vacancy affidavit or affidavit of abandonment dated no more than 6 months prior to the hearing date even if the Court specifically found in the Judgment of Foreclosure that the property was vacant/abandoned at the time of judgment; and 2. (i) The Court granting a plaintiff a shortened redemption period at the judgment stage of the case will NOT automatically entitle that plaintiff to immediate possession of the subject property following entry of the order approving sale. The plaintiff will need to once again establish at the order approving sale stage via a vacancy affidavit or affidavit of abandonment dated no more than 6 months prior to the hearing that the property continues to be vacant/abandoned. 3. (2) Photographs of the property attached to the vacancy affidavit or affidavit of abandonment demonstrating that the property is in fact vacant and/or abandoned.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Affidavit

The Rule 113/191 affidavit must not include proof of attorneys' fees and costs; a separate affidavit must be submitted.

This affidavit shall not include proof of attorneys' fees and cost as a separate Affidavit of Attorney Fees and Costs, if sought, shall be submitted pursuant to § VX(a)(12) infra;

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion

(i) Citations shall be to official reporters only and shall comply with the most recent edition of “The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation.”

(i) Citations shall be to official reporters only and shall comply with the most recent edition of “The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation.”

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion to reinstate

A motion to reinstate after a bankruptcy-related dismissal must attach proof of leave from the automatic stay or other evidence of bankruptcy resolution.

A motion to reinstate a case following a dismissal due to a defendant filing for bankruptcy shall attach proof (such as a copy of an order from the bankruptcy court) that the moving party has leave from the bankruptcy automatic stay, the bankruptcy has been dismissed, the bankruptcy has been discharged, or other similar evidence of the same.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Proposed case management order

All proposed case management orders must include an 'other' line.

All proposed case management orders shall have an "other" line so that the Court may fill in additional items ordered into the form order following the hearing.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion

Motion packet must include all judgment motions (default, dismiss unknown parties, entry of judgment of foreclosure and sale, appoint selling officer, shorten redemption, reform deed or mortgage, etc.).

All Judgment Motions (default, dismiss unknown parties, entry of judgment of foreclosure and sale, appoint selling officer, shorten redemption, reform deed or mortgage, etc.);

CRITICAL

Applies to

Order

Orders granting service by special order must specify the persons/entities to be served, the methods of service, and the addresses for service.

(b) Orders granting motion for service by special order of court shall include the person(s) or entity(ies) upon whom service of process by the alternative means is permitted, the methods by which such service of process shall be effectuated, and the address(es) where such service of process shall be made.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Consent judgment

Consent judgment orders must include recitation of 30 days' notice and no objections.

Orders of consent judgment of foreclosure shall include a recitation that 30 days’ notice has been given to all parties to object prior to the order’s entry and that no objections to the order’s entry were filed.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion

Plaintiffs seeking a default judgment of foreclosure or order approving sale where service was over two years ago must represent that the service address is current and the mortgagor is not deceased.

Any plaintiff that is seeking a default judgment of foreclosure or an order approving sale, where service was had on the mortgagor(s) over two years ago, and the mortgagor(s) has/have not filed an appearance shall represent in the body of the motion itself, in an affidavit attached to the motion as an exhibit, or in a statement as an officer of the court in open court that the address whereupon service was effectuated is still the mortgagor(s) current address and the mortgagor(s) is not deceased.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion

Motions for service by special order of court must be accompanied by an affidavit detailing the investigation made and why service is impractical.

(a) All motions for service by special order of court pursuant to 735 ILCS 5/2-203.1 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 under items (1) and (2) of subsections (a) of Section 2-203, 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.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion to compel discovery

Must include

certificate of conference

Motions to compel discovery must include a statement that after personal consultation the parties were unable to resolve their differences.

Accordingly, motions seeking to compel discovery shall “include a statement that after personal consultation the parties were unable to resolve their differences.”

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion

Citations to sources must be placed in the body of the motion or brief, not as endnotes.

(2) Citations to sources within the body a motion or brief shall be in the body of the text and shall not be as an endnote.