Circuit Court of Cook County Filing Fees and Waivers
13 rules from official source documents
Filing fees, payment methods, fee waiver requirements, deferrals, and clerk payment rules. This page is scoped to Circuit Court of Cook County; use the court rules overview to switch categories without leaving this court.
Statutory filing fees apply to e-filing; fees may be paid by credit/debit card, ACH debit, or another Clerk-authorized payment method.
collect all applicable statutory filing fees for documents filed by means of the EFM. The EFM shall also allow the filing of documents for which a filing fee is not required. b. Payment of Fees. Whenever documents are filed electronically that require the payment of a filing fee, the person who files the documents shall provide at that time, for payment of the fee: i. such credit or debit card information as shall be required at the Website to permit a card to be charged by the Clerk's Office; or ii. such information as shall be required at the Website to permit an automated clearing house (ACH) debit to be made; or iii. any other form of payment authorized by the Clerk.
- Applies to
- Appearance
If the Early Resolution Program does not resolve the case, the defendant must file an appearance, which requires a fee; a fee waiver is available for those unable to pay.
IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO REACH A RESOLUTION OF YOUR CASE IN THE EARLY RESOLUTION PROGRAM, THEN YOU WILL NEED TO DO THE FOLLOWING: - YOU MUST FILE AN APPEARANCE. A fee is required to file an appearance. If you are unable to pay the filing fee, you may apply for a FEE WAIVER.
On transfer to a department/division/district with a higher fee, the plaintiff pays the difference in filing fees and each defendant pays the difference in appearance fees.
When an action is transferred from one department, division or district to another department, division or district and the fee required in the department, division or district to which the action is transferred is greater than the fee required in the department, division or district where the action was originally filed, the plaintiff shall pay a fee in an amount equal to the amount the plaintiff would have been required to pay had the plaintiff filed the action in the department, division or district to which the action is transferred, less the amount of the original filing fee paid, and the defendant and each defendant, if separate appearances have been filed, shall pay a fee in an amount equal to the amount the defendant would have been required to pay had the defendant filed his/her appearance in the department, division or district to which the action is transferred, less the amount of the original appearance fee paid.
- Fee
- $2
- Applies to
- First pleading
A $2.00 Dispute Resolution Fund fee is charged in all civil cases, paid by the initiating party at filing, except for proceedings by local government units.
The circuit clerk shall charge and collect a Dispute Resolution Fund fee of TWO DOLLARS ($2.00) in all civil cases. Such fee shall be paid by the party initiating the action at the time of filing the first pleading. Such fees shall not be charged in any proceeding commenced on behalf of a unit of local government.
- Applies to
- Appearance
If the Early Resolution Program does not resolve the case, the defendant must file an appearance, which requires a fee.
YOU MUST FILE AN APPEARANCE. A fee is required to file an appearance.
- Applies to
- Fee petition
Fee petitions must be scheduled for 9:00 a.m. or when the case is already set, and must comply with CP Division Administrative Order 21-1 and SCR 299.
Fee petitions should be scheduled for 9:00 a.m. or at a time when the case is already set to be heard, and they should comply with CP Division Administrative Order 21-1 and SCR 299.
- Applies to
- Counterclaim for contribution
Counterclaim filing fees are deferred until trial; the trial judge requires payment before jury selection.
Fees for counterclaims for contribution shall be deferred until the commencement of trial in an individual case. The assigned trial judge shall require the remaining defendants to identify the counter-defendants subject to counterclaims and to pay the filing fee for a counterclaim prior to the commencement of jury selection in a particular case.
- Applies to
- Fee waiver
Fee waivers should be submitted to the courtroom email address.
Fee waivers should be submitted to the courtroom at d6crt209orders@cookcountycourt.com.
The Early Resolution Program is free to participate in; no appearance or fee is required to participate.
THIS PROGRAM IS FREE and you do not need to file an appearance or pay a fee to participate.
- Applies to
- Appearance
Defendants unable to pay the filing fee may apply for a fee waiver.
If you are unable to pay the filing fee, you may apply for a FEE WAIVER.
- Applies to
- Fee petition
A fee petition is granted without formal presentment if the ASA does not object and the court approves it upon review.
If there is no objection by the ASA and if the court, upon review, approves the petition then it will be granted without formal presentment.
- Applies to
- Appearance
Litigants who cannot afford the appearance fee may ask the Clerk for a Petition to Waive Court Fees.
If you cannot afford to pay the appearance fee, ask the Clerk for a Petition to Waive Court Fees.
- Applies to
- Appearance
Instructions for filing an appearance and the Application for Waiver of Fees are available at ilcourts.info/forms.
ilcourts.info/forms has instructions on how to file an appearance and if applicable, the Application for Waiver of Fees.
Are filing fees or waivers addressed in Circuit Court of Cook County?
A fee is required for covered filings, and the rule identifies waiver availability. If the Early Resolution Program does not resolve the case, the defendant must file an appearance, which requires a fee; a fee waiver is available for those unable to pay.
Are filing fees or waivers addressed in Circuit Court of Cook County?
A fee is required for covered filings. Statutory filing fees apply to e-filing; fees may be paid by credit/debit card, ACH debit, or another Clerk-authorized payment method.
Are filing fees or waivers addressed in Circuit Court of Cook County?
The rule addresses filing fees, payment, or waiver procedures. Fee petitions must be scheduled for 9:00 a.m. or when the case is already set, and must comply with CP Division Administrative Order 21-1 and SCR 299.
Are filing fees or waivers addressed in Circuit Court of Cook County?
A fee is required for covered filings. Counterclaim filing fees are deferred until trial; the trial judge requires payment before jury selection.
Are filing fees or waivers addressed in Circuit Court of Cook County?
A fee is required for covered filings. A $2.00 Dispute Resolution Fund fee is charged in all civil cases, paid by the initiating party at filing, except for proceedings by local government units.
Are filing fees or waivers addressed in Circuit Court of Cook County?
The rule identifies fee waiver availability. Fee waivers should be submitted to the courtroom email address.
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