18th Judicial Circuit Court, DuPage County Document Format Requirements

E-filed pleadings must follow paper pleading formatting rules and include case title, case number, and nature of filing.

Source text: All electronically filed pleadings shall, to the extent practicable, be formatted in accordance with the applicable Rules governing formatting of paper pleadings. Additionally, each electronically filed pleading and document shall include the case title, case number and the nature of the filing.

Documents must be converted to PDF directly from the authoring program, not scanned paper; paper-only documents may be scanned to PDF for e-filing.

Source text: Documents must be converted to PDF directly from the program creating the document, rather than from the scanned image of a paper document. Documents only in paper format may be scanned and converted to PDF for electronic filing.

E-filed documents must be unalterable PDF and printable with same contents/format as authoring program.

Source text: Any electronically filed document must be unalterable (PDF) and be able to be printed with the same contents and formats as if printed from its authoring program.

E-filed documents must be unalterable PDF format, printable with same contents as original.

Source text: Any electronically filed document must be unalterable (PDF) and be able to be printed with the same contents and formats as if printed from its authoring program.

E-filed documents exceeding vendor max file size must be split into multiple docs with cover pages; separate exhibits use Rule 5.06(b) cover sheet.

Source text: In as much as technology changes, the maximum file size allowable is available in the vendor’s user manual. If a document exceeds the maximum size allowed, the filer will file multiple documents, each under the maximum file size. In such case, the user will be responsible for dividing the document into appropriately sized parts and placing a cover page on each document providing the case number, case title, and part number (i.e., 1 of 4, 2 of 4, etc.). Exhibits filed separate from their associated document must use the exhibit cover sheet defined in Rule 5.06(b).

Contested motion documents must be double spaced, 1-inch margins, 12-point or larger type.

Source text: All documents submitted shall be double spaced and shall contain margins of at least one (1) inch at the top, bottom and each side. Type shall be 12 point or larger.

Arbitration awards exceeding $30,000 must be marked to indicate the $500 rejection fee applies.

Source text: The arbitration award shall be marked in such a manner as to make this clear to all attorneys and litigants.

Petitions and motions in domestic relations cases must be in approved form and have a title accurately describing their contents.

Source text: (a) All petitions and motions submitted to the Court in domestic relations cases shall be substantially in the approved form provided by law and shall begin with a title that accurately describes the contents of the petition or motion.

Petitions and motions must include recitation of statutory or case law basis for relief, with non-compliance risking striking.

Source text: (b) All petitions and motions shall include a recitation of the statutory or case law basis for said relief. Filings that fail to comply with this requirement may be stricken on the court’s motion.

Maintenance or support payment orders must be presented to the Court in duplicate.

Source text: Orders for maintenance or support payments shall be presented to the Court in duplicate.

Mediation progress reports must be submitted on a court-approved form.

Source text: The mediator shall, on a Court approved form, report to the Court on the progress of mediation within ten (10) days of the termination of the last mediation session, but in no event after the assigned status date.

Withholding orders for maintenance or support paid through the Circuit Court Clerk must include the Clerk’s child support order form.

Source text: If payments are through the Clerk of the Circuit Court, said withholding order shall be accompanied by the Clerk’s form child support order.

Small claims complaints must use Clerk-approved forms including a statement of claim with Supreme Court Rule 282 elements.

Source text: The form of complaint to be used in small claims actions shall provide for a statement of claim setting forth the elements provided in Supreme Court Rule 282 on approved forms provided by the Clerk of the Court.

Small claims summons return date cannot exceed the case's diligence date; summons issued beyond that date without court leave are nullities.

Source text: Summons shall not issue for a return date beyond the diligence date set by a court, except with leave of court. Any summons issued beyond that date without leave of court shall be considered a nullity.

Filing a juvenile petition requires submission of a Juvenile Report form to the Probation Department.

Source text: Whenever a Juvenile Police Officer or other proper person proposes to file a petition pursuant to the Juvenile Court Act, (ILCS Ch. 705, Sections 405/2-13, 405/3-15, 405/4-12, 405/5-520), a Juvenile Report form shall be submitted to the Probation Department.

Admissions in answers to juvenile petitions must be made personally in open court; denials may be made by counsel unless ordered otherwise.

Source text: Answers admitting substantive allegations in petitions shall be made by the parties personally in open court. Denials may be made by counsel on behalf of their clients, unless otherwise ordered.

Probate petitions for handwritten wills require facsimile of will, typewritten copy, and affidavit of correctness from petitioner or attorney.

Source text: With a petition for probate of a handwritten will, in addition to a facsimile thereof, petitioner shall file a typewritten copy of the will and an affidavit of the petitioner or the petitioner’s attorney that, to the best of their knowledge, the typewritten copy is correct.

Probate petitions for non-English wills require facsimile of will and certified translation by qualified translator.

Source text: With a petition for probate of a will in language other than English, in addition to a facsimile thereof, petitioner shall file a translation by a qualified translator who shall certify that the translation is correct.

Guardian petitions for ward expenditure must be written, stating estate value, ward income, and last expenditure authorization amount.

Source text: A petition of a guardian to apply any part of the ward’s estate for the comfort, suitable support or education of the ward or other persons entitled to support from the ward, or for any other purpose for the best interests of the ward, shall be in writing and shall state the value of the estate at the time of presenting the petition, the annual income available to the ward, and the amount of the last authorization for an expenditure on behalf of the ward for the same purpose.

Guardian investment petitions must identify investment category, state compliance, and disclose purchases from guardian or their firm.

Source text: A petition of a plenary guardian or guardian of the estate to invest the ward’s property shall identify the category of investment under 755 ILCS 5/21-2.01 through 5/21-2.14 in which the proposed investment falls and shall state that the proposed investment complies with the limitations applicable to that category. If the proposed investment is to be purchased directly or indirectly from the guardian or from any firm or corporation in which the guardian or conservator has an interest or of which the guardian or conservator is an officer or director, the petition shall so state.

Estate inventories must classify personal estate items, state total personal estate value, real estate income, and bond details.

Source text: Each inventory shall designate each item of personal estate other than cash and goods and chattels as “good,” “doubtful,” or “desperate,” and state the approximate total value of the decedent’s personal estate at date of death, the approximate annual income from real estate in the possession of the representative, and the amount of the bond then in force and whether surety, surety waived, corporate or individual.

Vouchers must be securely fastened together under a separate cover.

Source text: Vouchers shall be numbered and arranged in the order of the disbursements, securely fastened together under a separate cover, and filed with the account.

Investigative reports must comply with DCFS-established format for such reports.

Source text: All investigative reports prepared by licensed child welfare agencies and the Department of Court Services shall comply with the format for such reports as established by Administrative Order of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and be dated not later than twelve months prior to the date of the filing of the Petition for Adoption.

All motions and related filings must be double spaced, with 1-inch margins and at least 12-point font.

Source text: All documents submitted shall be double spaced and shall contain margins of at least one (1) inch at the top, bottom and each side. Type shall be no less than a twelve (12) point font.

Appeal bonds must be entered on an approved form provided by the Clerk.

Source text: Appeal bonds, where appropriate, shall be entered on an approved form provided by the Clerk.

Arbitration petitions or responses must be properly completed, or they will be returned for correction.

Source text: If a petition or response is not properly completed, the Chairperson will return and specify what clarification or additional information is required.

Links in e-documents are for convenience only; external linked material is not part of the filing or record.

Source text: Electronic documents containing links to material either within the filed document or external to the filed document are for convenience purposes only. The external material behind the link is not considered part of the filing or the basic record.

Agreed orders should have the adjective “agreed” preceding “order” in the title.

Source text: (c) If any order submitted to the Court is agreed, the adjective “agreed” should precede the word “order” in the title.

Probation terms must be set forth on a pre-printed approved Probation Certificate form.

Source text: When the Court imposes a sentence of probation under the Code of Criminal Procedure (730 ILCS 5/5-6-1 et seq.), the Court shall set forth on a pre-printed approved Probation Certificate form the terms and conditions of the probation.