15th Judicial Circuit Court, Lee County, Illinois Electronic Filing Rules

CRITICAL

Applies to

Civil case documents

Electronic filing is required in civil cases, subject to exceptions in the local and Supreme Court Rules.

Except as otherwise set forth in these Rules and the Supreme Court Rules, the Court requires electronic filing in all civil cases.

CRITICAL

The Clerk must accept and approve electronic filings submitted through a Vendor or the Clerk’s computer workstation.

The Clerk shall accept and approve filings electronically, through a Vendor or through the Clerk’s computer workstation.

CRITICAL

Users must register with the Clerk and the Court’s authorized E-filing Vendor before electronically filing any document.

Before E-filing any document, a user must register with the Clerk and the Court’s authorized E-filing Vendor.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Criminal discovery material

The Clerk must not accept exhibits, reports, or other materials submitted in response to criminal discovery orders for filing.

The Clerk shall not accept for filing any exhibits, reports, or other materials in response to discovery orders entered by the Court.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Pleading or document required conventional filing

The E-filing program must not prevent or exclude conventional filing of any pleading or document required to be filed that way.

At no time shall the E-filing program prevent or exclude the ability to file any pleading or document that is required to be filed by Conventional Filing.

CRITICAL

All Filers must be registered through their Vendor.

All Filers shall be registered through their Vendor.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Civil case document

Electronic filing is required in all civil cases, subject to exceptions in these Rules and the Supreme Court Rules.

Except as otherwise set forth in these Rules and the Supreme Court Rules, the Court requires electronic filing in all civil cases.

CRITICAL

Documents received by fax cannot be filed unless a Supreme Court Rule or the Court authorizes it.

The Clerk shall not file documents received by facsimile transmission unless otherwise authorized by Supreme Court Rule or the Court.

CRITICAL

Users must register with both the Clerk and the authorized e-filing Vendor before e-filing any document.

Before E-filing any document, a user must register with the Clerk and the Court’s authorized E-filing Vendor.

CRITICAL

Attorneys must register with the Clerk and provide the listed identifying, contact, and filing-fee payment information at minimum.

Attorneys must register with the Clerk and shall at a minimum provide the following information: firm name; attorney names and ARDC registration numbers; address; phone number; e-mail address for E-service; staff contact information; and an approved method for paying filing fees.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Discovery document

Most discovery materials must not be filed, except requests to admit and responses; relevant portions must be attached and filed when seeking relief concerning discovery.

Pursuant to S. Ct. R. 201(m), and unless otherwise ordered by the Court, depositions, interrogatories, requests to produce or inspect, answers, responses, and other similar discovery documents shall not be filed with the Clerk. This Rule does not apply to requests to admit facts or the genuineness of documents or the answers or responses to those requests. However, if relief is sought concerning any deposition, interrogatory, request for production or inspection, answer to interrogatory, or response, copies of the portion of the deposition, interrogatory, request, answer, or response shall be attached to the request for relief as an exhibit and filed with the Clerk.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Application for waiver of court fees

An application for waiver of court fees in a civil action must be e-filed unless the Court excuses e-filing.

An Application for Waiver of Court Fees in a civil action shall be in writing, on the form adopted by the Illinois Supreme Court, and signed by the applicant or, in the case of a minor or an incompetent adult, by another person having knowledge of the facts, and shall be e-filed in accordance with the Rules, unless e-filing is excused by the Court.

CRITICAL

Documents may not be filed by facsimile unless authorized by Supreme Court Rule or the Court.

The Clerk shall not file documents received by facsimile transmission unless otherwise authorized by Supreme Court Rule or the Court.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Will or testamentary document

Wills and other testamentary documents cannot be e-filed, and the Clerk may reject electronically filed unapproved case or document types.

Wills and other testamentary documents shall not be accepted for electronic filing. Any unapproved case or document type filed electronically by a Filer may be rejected by the Clerk.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Fee waiver application

Civil fee-waiver applications must be e-filed unless the Court excuses e-filing.

An Application for Waiver of Court Fees in a civil action shall be in writing, on the form adopted by the Illinois Supreme Court, and signed by the applicant or, in the case of a minor or an incompetent adult, by another person having knowledge of the facts, and shall be e-filed in accordance with the Rules, unless e-filing is excused by the Court.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Testamentary document

Wills and other testamentary documents cannot be accepted for electronic filing.

Wills and other testamentary documents shall not be accepted for electronic filing.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Civil document

Electronic filing is mandated in civil case types through the authorized centralized EFM, effective January 1, 2018.

The Circuit has been approved to accept the electronic filing of documents in civil proceedings. Specific authority has been granted for electronic filing by Illinois Supreme Court Order M.R. 18368 amended January 22, 2016, mandating electronic filing in civil case types effective January 1, 2018, through the utilization of a centralized electronic filing manager (EFM) authorized by the Illinois Supreme Court.

WARNING

When the Court excuses a party from e-filing, the Clerk must scan that party’s conventionally filed documents into the electronic file.

If the Court excuses a party from the obligation to electronically file documents, the Clerk shall scan documents filed by Conventional Filing by that party into the electronic file.

WARNING

The Clerk must provide attorneys and SRLs in e-filed cases a free e-filing workstation during normal business hours.

The Clerk shall provide attorneys and SRLs in e-filed cases access to an e-file computer workstation. The E-filing workstation shall be available during normal business hours and without charge.

WARNING

The EFM must notify filers of receipt, acceptance, or rejection of e-documents.

The EFM shall provide notification of a receipt, acceptance, or rejection of E-documents.

WARNING

Applies to

Written order

The Court may require a written order to be submitted by e-filing or another method; an attorney or SRL directed to submit it must meet the Court’s deadline, which is 30 days unless the Court establishes another time.

When the Court enters a ruling in any case, it may require that a written order be submitted through e-filing or otherwise, and the attorney or SRL directed to submit the order shall do so within 30 days or other time established by the Court.

INFO

Self-represented litigants may e-file through a Vendor as prescribed by the Clerk.

SRLs may utilize E-filing through a Vendor in the manner prescribed by the Clerk.

INFO

With the Director’s approval, the Court may authorize or require electronic filing in additional case types by written administrative order.

With approval of the Director of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts, the Court by written administrative order may authorize or require electronic filing of additional types of cases.

INFO

The Clerk must provide attorneys and SRLs in e-filed cases a free e-filing workstation during normal business hours.

The Clerk shall provide attorneys and SRLs in e-filed cases access to an e-file computer workstation. The E-filing workstation shall be available during normal business hours and without charge.

INFO

Self-represented litigants may e-file through a Vendor as prescribed by the Clerk.

SRLs may utilize E-filing through a Vendor in the manner prescribed by the Clerk.