Circuit Court of Cook County Document Format Requirements

WARNINGCivil cases

Margins

top 1 in, bottom 1 in, left 1 in, right 1 in

Motions and briefs must be double-spaced with one-inch margins when submitted within the page limits.

No motion or brief may exceed 15 pages, double-spaced with one-inch margins, excluding exhibits, without prior leave of court. Reply briefs are limited to 8 pages, double-spaced with one- inch margins, excluding exhibits.

WARNINGCivil cases

Format

PDF

Settlement Conference Memoranda must be submitted in PDF file format.

The document must be in pdf file format.

WARNINGCivil cases

Jury instructions exchanged before the pretrial conference must be provided in clean and labeled form.

The parties shall exchange the following documents at least 21 days prior to the pretrial conference: a statement of the case; an exhibit list; witness list; any proposed stipulations; pretrial motions and jury instructions (clean & labeled).

WARNINGCivil cases

The proposed order may not be stapled or bound to any other document.

The proposed order may not be stapled or bound to any other document.

WARNINGCivil cases

Proposed orders must not include a separate page with only space for the judge's signature.

The Court will not enter any order that has space for the Judge’s signature standing alone on a separate page.

WARNINGCivil cases

Format

PDF

Voluminous courtesy copies over 25 MB may be split into multiple PDFs, but must be labeled (e.g., 1 of 4, 2 of 4), and DropBox or ShareFile links are prohibited.

Exceptions will be made for voluminous courtesy copies exceeding 25 MBs. If multiple PDFs are required, they MUST be labeled in the following fashion: (e.g. 1 of 4, 2 0f 4, etc.). Due to the risk of computer files, DropBox or ShareFile links will NOT be accepted.

WARNINGCivil cases

EMAIL is strongly preferred. The email address for Judge Weaver Boyle’s Chambers is CHANCERY.CALENDAR13@COOKCOUNTYIL.GOV. Direct attachments only; links to third-party sites will not be accepted.

EMAIL is strongly preferred. The email address for Judge Weaver Boyle’s Chambers is CHANCERY.CALENDAR13@COOKCOUNTYIL.GOV. Direct attachments only; links to third-party sites will not be accepted.

WARNINGCivil cases

Format

PDF

File-stamped motions must be emailed in PDF to CHANCERY.CALENDAR13@COOKCOUNTYIL.GOV.

File-stamped motions must be emailed in PDF to CHANCERY.CALENDAR13@COOKCOUNTYIL.GOV.

WARNINGCivil cases

Format

DOCX

Proposed court orders must be emailed to chambers in Microsoft Word format.

Parties are responsible for tendering proposed Court Orders (in Microsoft Word format via email to CHANCERY.CALENDAR13@COOKCOUNTYIL.GOV) the same day they are heard by 2:00 p.m.

WARNING

Proposed orders must not place the judge's name on a stand-alone page.

The proposed order must not place the judge's name on a stand-alone page.

WARNING

Format

PDF

All such Orders must be submitted in PDF format.

Please submit all such Orders in a PDF format and include a sentence striking any previously set court date, where applicable.

WARNING

Courtesy copy email subject lines must include only the case number, case name, and court date, with 'off call' used for routine motions.

The subject line of the e-mail must include only the case number, the case name, and the court date (e.g., 23 CH 01234 State Bank v. Canipsy 5/15/2023). For routine motions, please indicate "off call" instead of the court date.

WARNING

Courtesy copies must not include the law firm's internal file numbers.

Please do not include any "internal" file numbers of the law firm submitting the courtesy copies.

WARNING

Format

PDF

Proposed orders must be attached as a separate, clearly labeled PDF in the same courtesy copy email, with multiple proposed orders in one PDF attachment.

Proposed orders must be attached as a separate PDF attachment in the same courtesy copy e-mail and clearly labeled as mentioned above. Multiple proposed orders should also be submitted together in ONE PDF attachment.

WARNING

The body of the courtesy copy email should include a brief description of the case to be heard.

The body of the email should include a brief description of the case to be heard.

WARNING

Courtesy copy file names must be labeled with the last two digits of the year, a space before and after CH, and all five digits of the case number.

A case file name should be labeled as the last two digits of the year, followed by the remaining case number. A space must be included before and after CH. When labeling the documents, be sure to include all five digits.

WARNING

Format

PDF

Attachments to the courtesy copy email must be in PDF form only.

Attachments to the e-mail should be in PDF form only.

WARNING

Format

PDF

All motions must be submitted in one bookmarked/tabbed PDF with clearly titled bookmarks, or include a table of contents with page numbers if not bookmarked.

All motions must be in ONE Bookmarked/tabbed PDF file with all supporting documents. Each motion must be clearly titled and well-organized. Each bookmark/tab must be clearly titled (e.g., Notice of Motion, Complaint, Service Affidavits, Motion for Default, etc.) and neatly organized. PDFs without bookmarks/tabs should include a table of contents providing page numbers for each referenced pleading submitted to the Court.

WARNINGCivil cases

Deposition transcripts should be submitted in mini-script format (four pages per side).

Deposition transcripts should be submitted in mini-script format (four pages per side).

WARNINGCivil cases

Interim case management conferences must be conducted in person.

Interim CMCs shall be in person.

WARNING

Deposition transcripts should be submitted in mini-script format, with four pages per side.

Deposition transcripts should be submitted in mini-script format (four pages per side).

WARNINGCivil cases

Briefs should be typed in Times New Roman 12-point font with double spacing.

All briefs should be typed in Times New Roman Size 12 font and double-spaced.

WARNING

Format

DOCX

Proposed orders must be sent in Word format by 4 p.m. on the day of the court appearance.

Please send proposed orders in Word form by 4 p.m. on the day of your Court appearance.

WARNING

Format

PDF

Please email pleadings in PDF form to CCC.ChanceryCalendar14@CookCountyIL.gov.

Please email pleadings in PDF form to CCC.ChanceryCalendar14@CookCountyIL.gov.

WARNINGCivil cases

Margins

top 1 in, bottom 1 in, left 1 in, right 1 in

All briefs must be double-spaced with 12-point font and at least 1-inch margins. Parties are asked to present briefs and exhibits in binding that can lie flat. Briefs should be bound or stapled on the left side.

All briefs must be double-spaced with 12-point font and at least 1-inch margins. Parties are asked to present briefs and exhibits in binding that can lie flat. Briefs should be bound or stapled on the left side.

WARNINGCivil cases

Administrative record must be provided before Clerk's Status, with each page numbered.

A copy of the administrative record shall be provided to the Court prior to the Clerk’s Status. Each page of the record should be numbered. All memoranda should cite to the record pages.

WARNINGCivil cases

Exhibits must be page-numbered, tabbed, and sub-tabbed if necessary; citations should reference tab and page number.

All exhibits to motions must be page-numbered, tabbed and sub-tabbed if necessary. Citations in the memoranda to these exhibits should be to the tab and page number.

WARNINGCivil cases

Format

DOCX

If the parties wish to provide an agreed order, in word format, to the Court via email that will be permitted.

If the parties wish to provide an agreed order, in word format, to the Court via email that will be permitted.

WARNING

Format

PDF

Orders tendered for the court's consideration must be in both PDF and Word formats within the hour of a Zoom court appearance; late tenders may result in the court entering its own order.

Orders tendered for the court's consideration shall be tendered in both PDF and Word formats within the hour of court appearance when appearing via Zoom. Failure to tender the order in a timely manner may result in the court entering its own.

WARNING

Courtesy copies must be delivered electronically in an organized, searchable format with exhibits attached and marked; filenames must state the filing date (YYYY-MM-DD) and document identification.

Courtesy copies of all documents shall be delivered to the court electronically (e.g., email attachment, cloud-based storage, or USB thumb drive) in an organized and searchable format with exhibits properly attached and marked. Any electronic files submitted to the court shall state in the filename (1) the date the document was filed in the form YYYY-MM-DD; and (2) identification of what the document is.

WARNING

Applies to

Agreed order

Format

DOCX

Agreed orders must be in Word format when submitted via email.

If the parties wish to provide an agreed order, in Word format, to the Court via email that will be permitted.

WARNING

Format

DOCX

Agreed Orders are permitted in lieu of appearing remotely. If the parties wish to provide an agreed order, in Word format, to the Court via email that will be permitted.

Agreed Orders are permitted in lieu of appearing remotely. If the parties wish to provide an agreed order, in Word format, to the Court via email that will be permitted.

WARNING

Citations must be placed in the body text, not as endnotes.

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

WARNING

Applies to

Courtesy copy

Case numbers in courtesy copy emails must be formatted as 26-CH-00000 with hyphens and omitted '20' in year.

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.

WARNING

Citations must be to official reporters and comply with the Bluebook; Illinois cases have specific citation rules.

Citations shall be to official reporters only and shall comply with the most recent edition of 'The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation.' Citation of Illinois cases filed prior to July 1, 2011, and published in the Illinois Official Reports shall be to the Official Reports, but the citation to the North Eastern Reporter and/or the Illinois Decisions may be added. For Illinois cases filed on or after July 1, 2011, and for any case not published in the Illinois Official Reports prior to that date and for which a public-domain citation has been assigned, the public-domain citation shall

WARNING

Applies to

Courtesy copy

Do not include law firm internal file numbers in courtesy copy email subject line or body.

Courtesy copy submissions shall not include any “internal” file numbers of the law firm submitting the courtesy copies in the subject line or body of the email.

WARNING

Applies to

Courtesy copy

Email body must include case number, court date, and brief motion description.

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 April 06, 2026, hearing in 26-CH-00000 (Smith v. Martin) up on Plaintiff ’s or Defendant’s Motion to _______.).

WARNING

Format

DOCX

Proposed orders must be in Microsoft Word format.

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.

WARNING

Physical courtesy copies must be neatly organized and bound with labeled tabs.

Physical courtesy copies SHALL be neatly organized and bound with labeled tabs.

WARNING

Applies to

Courtesy copy

Large courtesy copy attachments may be sent via Dropbox/Google Drive link or multiple labeled emails; zipped files allowed but not encouraged.

If attachments are too large to be attached in one email, movants may send the courtesy copies in a Dropbox link, a Google Drive link, or other similar format. If none of these options are feasible, multiple emails are acceptable only if conspicuously labeled in the subject line and body of the email (e.g., Part 1 of 3, Part 2 of 3, etc.). Zipped files are allowed but not encouraged.

INFOCivil cases

Spindling is not required for this motion filing.

but need not be spindled.

INFO

Headings, footnotes, and block quotations over 50 words may be single-spaced.

(1) Headings, footnotes, and block quotations in excess of 50 words may be single-spaced.

INFOCivil cases

Deposition transcripts should be submitted in mini-script format with 4 pages per sheet.

For any depositions, the Court requests the transcripts be submitted in mini-script (i.e. 4 pages per sheet).

INFOCivil cases

Format

DOCX

Parties should submit all orders in Word format.

Parties should submit all orders in Word format.

INFOCivil cases

requests that any deposition transcripts be submitted in mini-script, 4 pages per one page, and double-sided.

requests that any deposition transcripts be submitted in mini-script, 4 pages per one page, and double-sided.

INFOCivil cases

Format

DOCX

Agreed orders may be submitted in Word format via email to the Court Coordinator.

If the parties wish to provide an agreed order, in word format, to the Court via email that will be permitted.

INFO

Exhibits for each party must be sent in separate folders.

Exhibits for each party shall be sent in separate folders (Plaintiff’s Exhibits, Defendant’s Exhibits, etc.)

INFO

Individual judges may require briefs to include hyperlinks in the body of the brief to attached exhibits and cited cases.

C. Some judges may require the parties to hyperlink, within the body of the brief, to their attached exhibits and to the cited cases. The judge’s case coordinator can provide additional information.

INFO

Margins

top 1 in, bottom 1 in, left 1 in, right 1 in

The preferred brief format is double-spaced, 12-point font (Times New Roman or Century Schoolbook), with standard 1-inch margins, excluding exhibits.

The preferred format for all briefs, excluding exhibits, is double spaced, 12-point font (Times New Roman or Century Schoolbook) with standard 1-inch margins.

INFOCivil cases

Format

DOCX

Agreed orders should be emailed to chambers in Word format instead of appearing remotely.

If the parties wish to provide an agreed order, in word format, to the Court via email at CHANCERY.CALENDAR13@COOKCOUNTYIL.GOV, instead of appearing remotely, that is preferred.