7th Judicial Circuit Court, Greene County, Illinois Document Filing Requirements

CRITICAL

Applies to

Extended media coverage request

The request must identify the scheduled proceeding date, time, and location.

- 2. Extended media coverage is requested in connection with the trial or proceeding scheduled to take place on the _____ day of _____, 20____ at _____ a.m./p.m., at the _____ County Courthouse, _____, Illinois.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Extended media coverage request

The request must include the Media Coordinator's statement that they will abide by the identified extended-media-coverage policy and local rule.

- 6. I will abide by all the provisions of the Policy for Extended Media Coverage in Circuit Courts of Illinois and the Seventh Judicial Circuit Court Local Rule on Extended Media Coverage as Amended Circuit Administrative Order 24-29.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Attorney appointment application

Attorneys seeking appointment in parental responsibility allocation and parenting time shall apply in writing to the Presiding Judge of each county or, for Sangamon County, Chief of the Family Division. The applicant should set forth his/her qualifications as set forth above.

Attorneys seeking appointment in parental responsibility allocation and parenting time shall apply in writing to the Presiding Judge of each county or, for Sangamon County, Chief of the Family Division. The applicant should set forth his/her qualifications as set forth above.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Applies to

Judgment

Must include

judge name

The judgment form instructs that the judge's name be printed.

(PLEASE PRINT JUDGE'S NAME HERE)

CRITICAL

Applies to

Judicial mediation order

A Judicial Mediation Order referring a case to mediation must use the form provided by the Chief Judge.

refer that case for judicial mediation by entry of a Judicial Mediation Order in form to be provided by the Chief Judge

CRITICAL

Applies to

Written finding

A trial judge declining to enter a Judicial Mediation Order because of an impediment to mediation must make a written finding.

The foregoing provisions notwithstanding, a trial judge may decline to enter a Judicial Mediation Order in any indigent case in which that judge determines and makes written finding that an impediment to mediation exists.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Continuing education verification

To remain on the approved list, each attorney must complete at least ten hours of continuing legal education every two years and submit attendance verification to the designated office at the time of attendance or upon request.

To remain on the approved list, each attorney shall attend continuing legal education courses consisting of at least ten (10) hours every two year period and submit verification of attendance to the Office of the Chief Judge, or, for Sangamon County, the Chief of the Family Division at the time of attendance or upon request.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Applies to

Judgment sentence to idoc order

The attached IDOC judgment-and-sentence order must be entered in cases where a defendant is sentenced to IDOC confinement.

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, that the attached Judgment – Sentence to the Illinois Department of Corrections orders shall be entered in all cases that involve a defendant who has been sentenced to confinement in the Illinois Department of Corrections for the term of years and months specified for each offense.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Objection

An objection to expanded media coverage must be in writing and state the reasons for the objection.

A party objecting to expanded media coverage shall file a written objection, stating the reasons, at least three (3) days before commencement of the proceeding.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Financial affidavit

A party presenting an affidavit under this rule has an affirmative duty to update it seasonably.

The party presenting an affidavit pursuant to this rule is under an affirmative duty to seasonably update the affidavit.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Status reports

Status reports certifying each party’s mediation participation must be submitted to the court no less than 30 days after the initial case management conference.

The court shall monitor each party’s participation in mediation through the use of status reports to certify participation, which status reports are to be submitted to the court no less than 30 days after the initial case management conference.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Action

A party filing an action that may result in child support must file the Clerk-provided child support data sheet at the time of filing.

Child support data sheet. At the time of the filing of any action that may result in the payment of child support, the party filing the action is required to file a child support data sheet with the Clerk, in a form as provided by the Clerk.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Pleadings

Using a Clerk-provided form does not excuse an individual from filing pleadings and proceeding in conformity with 750 ILCS 5/101 et seq.

The use of the form made available by the Clerk shall not excuse an individual from filing pleadings and proceeding in conformity with 750 ILCS 5/101 et seq.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Family mediation referral form

The parties shall send a family mediation referral form to the mediator within three days after entry of the Order for Mediation.

The parties shall send a family mediation referral form to the mediator in all cases within three (3) days of the entry of the Order for Mediation.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Hearing notice

The hearing notice must state that the hearing is remote, provide platform login and technical-contact information, and attach any order allowing remote appearances.

In addition to the date, time, and subject matter of the hearing, said Notice shall also specify: - a. that the hearing is to be conducted remotely; - b. the specific zoom/platform log-in information (ID and passcode); - c. contact information, including e-mails and telephone numbers, should the other participants have technical difficulties; - d. if an Order has been entered allowing the parties to appear remotely, then said Order shall also be attached to the Notice;

CRITICAL

Applies to

Poor person petition

An inmate seeking leave to sue or defend as a poor person must submit a trust fund ledger showing all deposits and withdrawals for the six months before submitting the petition.

In all family cases in this circuit in which leave is sought by an inmate of a correctional institution to sue or defend as a poor person, the petition for leave to sue or defend as a poor person shall be accompanied by a copy of the inmate's trust fund ledger indicating all deposits and withdrawals made to the inmate's trust fund account for the six months immediately preceding the submission of the petition.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice of request for extended media coverage

The request notice must be written and filed with the Clerk of the Circuit Court.

Notice of the request shall be in writing and filed in the office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Mediation referral form

The moving party’s attorney, or the judge when both parties are self-represented, must complete and forward the Mediation Referral form to the selected mediator(s).

The moving party's attorney, or Judge when both parties are self-represented, shall be responsible for completion of the Mediation Referral form and for forwarding that form to the mediator(s) selected.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice of request for extended media coverage

Must include

case number

The request notice must identify the case and proceeding, describe the requested coverage, state who received notice, and provide the media coordinator’s contact and employer information.

The notice shall contain: - a. The title and docket number of the case, and the date and time, if available, of the proceeding. - b. The type of extended media coverage requested with a description (e.g. the number of television cameras, still photographers). - c. A statement that appropriate notice is being provided to all counsel of record, parties appearing without counsel, the appropriate court media liaison, the trial court administrator and the judge, along with the names of each. - d. The name, address and telephone number of the media coordinator making the request, and the media coordinator's employer.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Discovery service certification

The service certification must be filed with the circuit court clerk, and identical requests to multiple parties may be covered in one certification.

3. Certification of Service. Certification shall be filed with the clerk of the circuit court. If identical requests are made of multiple parties, they may be included in one certification.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Continuing education completion evidence

Approved mediators must provide evidence of continuing-education completion to the Chief or Presiding Judge every two years.

Approved mediators are required to complete ten (10) hours of circuit approved continuing education every two (2) years of which two (2) hours must cover domestic violence issues and provide evidence of completion to the Chief/Presiding Judge every two (2) years.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice

When applicable, the individual judge’s instructions or expectations for remote hearings must be attached to the Notice.

e. when applicable, the individual judge's set of instructions/expectations for remote hearings must be attached to the Notice.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Final pre trial memorandum

Before trial begins, the parties must present a final pre-trial memorandum substantially complying with the applicable Appendix B form and containing the required information.

Prior to the commencement of trial, the parties shall present to the court a final pre-trial memorandum, which includes, at a minimum, the following, in a form that substantially complies with Appendix B1 (with children) and Appendix B2 (without children).

CRITICAL

Applies to

Remote hearing invitation

A party intending to call a non-party witness at a remote hearing must provide the witness with the hearing invitation.

Non-party witness: If a party intends to call a non-party witness during a remote hearing, that party shall be responsible for providing the invitation to the remote hearing to the witness.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice

If the Court agrees to hear the matter remotely, notice of the remote hearing must be provided as specified in subparagraph B.

If the Court agrees to hear the matter remotely, notice of the remote hearing shall be provided as set forth in subparagraph B above.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Financial affidavit

In the specified proceedings, the parties must file an affidavit showing at least current income, debts, assets, and liabilities by the initial case management conference, unless good cause is shown.

In all proceedings involving petitions for attorney's fees, court costs, maintenance, support and/or children and modification of any previous orders relating thereto, an affidavit of the parties showing, at a minimum, current income and debts, assets and liabilities shall be filed with the clerk at or before the initial case management conference, except for good cause shown.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Discovery compliance certification

Counsel must file a certification showing compliance with discovery requests and describing the documents supplied, but must not file the documents supplied in the discovery response.

4. Certification of Compliance. Proof of compliance with requests for discovery in all family matters (including interrogatories and requests for production) shall be made by filing with the Circuit Clerk the certification of counsel showing that compliance has been accomplished. The certification shall include a description of the documents filed with reference to the request made. The documents supplied in the response to discovery requests shall not be filed with the clerk of the circuit court.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Parenting education compliance

At the initial case management conference, parents must show proof of completing an approved parenting education program, provide a fixed compliance schedule, or show cause for excusing compliance.

The parents shall show proof of completion of an approved parenting education program as required by Supreme Court Rule 924, provide a fixed schedule for compliance, or show cause to excuse compliance.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Extended media coverage request

The media coverage request states that notice has been given to the court media liaison, counsel of record, and unrepresented parties.

Proper notice has been given to the court media liaison, all counsel of record, and parties appearing without counsel.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Non party discovery request

A copy of any discovery request served on a non-party, including a documents-only deposition subpoena, must be filed with the clerk.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a copy of any discovery request served upon a non-party, including subpoenas for deposition for documents only, shall be filed with the clerk

CRITICAL

Applies to

Pre mediation questionnaire

Before referral to judicial mediation, the parties must complete a pre-mediation questionnaire using a form approved by the Chief Judge.

after completion by the parties of a pre-mediation questionnaire the form of which shall be approved by the Chief Judge

CRITICAL

Applies to

Mediation engagement agreement

Before mediation begins, the mediator and parties must execute a written engagement agreement that includes the stated compensation, scope, duration, and memorandum-of-understanding responsibilities.

Prior to the commencement of mediation, the mediator and the parties shall execute a written engagement agreement which shall include, at a minimum, the terms of compensation for the mediator; the anticipated scope of the mediation; the anticipated duration of the mediation; and the scope of the mediator’s responsibilities to draft a memorandum of understanding if mediation is successful.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Mediated agreement

The court must be advised when a mediated agreement is presented for approval if independent legal counsel was not obtained.

If independent legal counsel is not obtained the court must be so advised when the mediated agreement is presented for approval.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Uniform order of support

Judges must enter a fully completed Uniform Order of Support when a child-support or spousal-support obligation is created or modified.

Judges of this Circuit shall enter a fully completed Uniform Order of Support, in each case in which a child support or spousal obligation is created or modified, and

CRITICAL

Applies to

Venue waiver motion

When neither party resides in the county where the initial pleading is filed, petitioner's counsel must file a written venue-waiver motion with the pleading, and it must be heard and ruled on before any other issue.

In any case brought pursuant to the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act where neither petitioner nor respondent resides in the county; where the initial pleading is filed, counsel for the petitioner shall file with said pleading a written motion, which shall be set for hearing and ruled upon before any other issue is taken up, advising that the forum selected is not one of proper venue and seeking an appropriate order from the court allowing a waiver of the venue requirements of the Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act, 750 ILCS 5/104.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice of motion

Notices of motions must state whether the appearance is in person or by Zoom and, if noticed for Zoom, include the required attendance language and available meeting information.

Notices of Motions. Notices of motions shall contain language indicating whether the appearance is in-person or over Zoom pursuant to the court's standing orders or adopted remote hearing instructions. If noticed for Zoom, the notice shall contain language "Parties shall attend the presentment of this motion remotely on Zoom" and shall provide the Meeting ID, Password, call in information or link to the meeting, if the Zoom link information is known.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Objection

A party objecting to a remote hearing or its designated platform must file a written objection and notice it for hearing.

Objections. If any party objects to conducting the noticed hearing remotely or to the platform designated, that party, as soon as practicable, shall file the party's objection in writing and notice the objection for hearing before the noticed remote hearing.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice of hearing

A post-hearing notice for a motion heard without prior notice must state the action title and number, judge, hearing date, and whether the order was granted or denied.

c. If a motion is heard without prior notice under this rule, written notice of the hearing of the motion showing the title and number of the action, the name of the judge who heard the motion, date of the hearing, and the order of the court thereof, whether granted or denied, shall be served by the party obtaining the order upon all parties not theretofore found by the court to be in default for failure to plead and proof of service thereof shall be filed with the clerk within two (2) days after the hearing. Notice shall be given in the manner and to the persons described in Supreme Court Rule 11.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Attorney appearance or pleading

An attorney must file a written appearance or other pleading before addressing the court, unless presenting a motion for leave to appear by intervention or otherwise.

An attorney shall file their written appearance or other pleading before they address the court unless they are presenting a motion for leave to appear by intervention or otherwise.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Dissolution forms with children

Parties with adult children must use the forms appropriate for a dissolution of marriage with children.

Parties with adult children shall use the forms appropriate with a dissolution of marriage with children.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Court approved mediation report form

Following completion or termination of mediation, the mediator must submit the court-approved report form to the court and the attorneys.

The mediator shall submit the court approved report form to the court and to the attorneys following the completion/termination of mediation.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Petition for dissolution with children

The Petition for Dissolution of Marriage/Civil Union with Children must comply with 750 ILCS 5/403.

The contents of the form Petition for Dissolution of Marriage/Civil Union-with Children shall comply with the provisions of 750 ILCS 5/403.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Mediation cost application

Each application for a determination of ability to contribute to mediation costs must include a financial affidavit in the form specified in section 3.

Each application shall be accompanied by a financial affidavit, in a form consistent with the financial affidavit set forth in section 3 hereinabove.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion

A motion to vacate a provisional order must be filed with an affidavit asserting evidentiary facts supporting either of the specified grounds.

h. While a provisional order shall not be effective until co-entry as provided below, the terms and conditions contained in said order shall be irrevocable by the parties pending action by the referring judge pursuant to the provisions of Paragraph i below; provided, however, that the mediating judge may, in his or her discretion, vacate a provisional order or any portion thereof, and resume judicial mediation for such period as said judge determines, upon the basis of motion and affidavit filed by a mediating party within 21 days after the Clerk’s transmittal of such provisional order and asserting evidentiary facts indicating that (1) the affiant misunderstood substantial practical or legal implications of the agreement forming the basis of such order or (2) there exists as to the agreement underlying the provisional order grounds recognized under Illinois law for rescission of a contract.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Formal agreement

The attorneys will review the memorandum, give advice and opinions, and draft a formal agreement to submit to the court.

The attorneys will review the memorandum, give advice and opinions, and draft a formal agreement to submit to the court.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Summons or petition

Every summons or petition must state whether the appearance is in person or on Zoom and include the appropriate Notice of Rights.

In every summons or petition, the State's Attorney shall provide notice of whether the appearance is in-person or on Zoom and shall provide the appropriate Notice of Rights.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Witness list

The parties must file a witness list identifying the names and email addresses of attending attorneys, parties, and witnesses.

Witness Lists: At least three (3) days prior to a hearing, the parties shall file a list containing names and e-mail addresses of the attorneys, parties, and witnesses (if any) who will attend the hearing.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Written finding

If the mediating judge finds an impediment to mediation, the judge must make a written finding, after which proceedings resume in the trial court without mediation.

If the mediating judge determines that an impediment to mediation exists, the mediating judge shall make a written finding as such and proceedings in the case shall resume in the trial court without mediation.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Certificate of destruction

The Sheriff and Clerk must submit a certification to the court that exhibit destruction has been completed.

Within 14 days the Sheriff and Clerk shall certify to the court that the destruction has been completed.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Order disposing exhibits

An order disposing of unclaimed exhibits must substantially follow Appendix 1.

The Order shall be in substantially the same form as Appendix 1 of this Administrative Order.