15th Judicial Circuit Court, Lee County, Illinois Filing Timing and Cure Windows

CRITICAL

The first inventory must be filed within 60 days after the Clerk issues letters of office.

The first inventory shall be filed within 60 days after the Clerk issues letters of office.

CRITICAL

If an overdue account is not filed within 60 days after the Clerk’s notice, the Clerk must issue a citation setting a date to account or show cause.

If the account is not presented within 60 days after the Clerk’s notice, the Clerk shall issue a citation directing the representative to account as required by a date certain or appear on that date to show cause why he or she should not do so;

CRITICAL

Inventories and amended or supplemental inventories must be filed unless excused, and the first inventory is due within 60 days after letters of office issue.

Unless excused by the Court, each inventory and amended or supplemental inventory shall be filed with the Clerk. The first inventory shall be filed within 60 days after the Clerk issues letters of office.

CRITICAL

Within 10 days after filing a claim, the claimant must file proof of mailing or delivery, or a waiver, with the Clerk.

The claimant shall file with the Clerk proof of mailing or delivery of the claim, or a waiver thereof, within 10 days after filing the claim.

CRITICAL

Unless excused, a petitioner must file receipts for all expenditures within 30 days after withdrawal authorization and redeposit any unspent funds as required by statute.

Unless excused from doing so, within 30 days after the Court authorizes the withdrawal, the petitioner shall file receipts for all sums expended. All unexpended funds shall be redeposited in accordance with section 22-21 of the Act.

CRITICAL

E-filers must possess and preserve original signed documents until one year after finality, make them available on seven days’ notice, and provide requested hard copies within seven days of reasonable notice.

Anyone E-filing a document that requires an original signature certifies that, by so filing, the original signed document exists in the Filer’s possession. Unless otherwise ordered by the Court, the Filer shall maintain and preserve all documents containing original signatures that are filed electronically until one year after the date that any judgment or dismissal order has become final and unappealable. The Filer shall make signed originals available for inspection by the Court, the Clerk, or other attorneys in the case on seven days’ notice. At any time, the Clerk may request from the Filer a hard copy of an electronically filed document, which shall be provided within seven days of reasonable notice.

CRITICAL

If the petitioner or claimant files a jury demand and later waives a jury trial, the opposing party will be granted a jury trial on demand made within 30 days of being advised of the waiver and payment of the fee.

If the petitioner or claimant files a jury demand and later waives a jury trial, the opposing party will be granted a jury trial on demand made within 30 days of being advised of the waiver and payment of the fee.

CRITICAL

Guardians must present the required account within 30 days after the date one year after the Clerk issues letters of office.

Every guardian shall present the account required by section 24-11 of the Act within 30 days after the date that is one year after the Clerk issued letters of office,

CRITICAL

A representative or other opposing party seeking a jury trial must file a jury demand and pay the fee with the answer or other responsive pleading.

A representative or other party in interest opposing the petition or claim that desires a jury trial must file a jury demand and pay the fee when filing the answer or other responsive pleading.

CRITICAL

A filing deadline falling on a weekend or designated holiday extends to the next business day of the Court.

If the deadline for filing a notice, pleading, or action is on a Saturday, Sunday, or designated holiday, the time for filing the notice, pleading, or action is extended to the next business day of the Court.

CRITICAL

A guardian must account within the stated one-year-plus-30-day period, annually after the first account, within 30 days after the office ends, and at other times ordered by the Court.

Every guardian shall present the account required by section 24-11 of the Act within 30 days after the date that is one year after the Clerk issued letters of office, annually after the date of the first account, within 30 days after the termination of the guardian’s office, and at other times as the Court requires.

CRITICAL

A mediated agreement must be presented to the Court within 30 days after mediation concludes.

Each mediated agreement shall be presented to the Court within 30 days following the conclusion of mediation.

CRITICALCourt notice

Filing deadlines for motions and pleadings that fall on a listed legal holiday extend to the next business day of the Court.

The time for filing all motions and pleadings is extended to the next business day of the Court.

CRITICAL

The claimant must file the proof or waiver within 10 days after filing the claim.

The claimant shall file with the Clerk proof of mailing or delivery of the claim, or a waiver thereof, within 10 days after filing the claim.

CRITICAL

Mediation must be completed within seven weeks of the first conference unless extended by Court order or party stipulation.

(1) Expected Date of Completion. Mediation shall be completed with seven weeks of the first mediation conference unless extended by order of the Court or by stipulation of the parties.

CRITICAL

A petitioner or claimant seeking a jury trial must file a jury demand and pay the required fee when filing the petition or claim.

A petitioner or claimant desirous of a jury trial under the Act must file a jury demand with the Clerk and pay the required fee when the petition or claim is filed.

CRITICAL

A party may move to dispense with mediation within 14 days after entry of the referral order if one of the listed grounds applies.

A party may move, within 14 days after the entry of the order of referral, to dispense with mediation if: (1) The issue to be considered previously has been mediated between the same parties; (2) The issue presents a question of law only; (3) The matter is not eligible for mediation under Rule 6.2; or (4) Other good cause is shown.

CRITICAL

A party should file a written objection stating its reasons within 3 days after receiving notice, unless the court prescribes a different period; the court may also allow oral objections.

Any party that objects to extended media coverage should file a written objection, stating the reasons, within 3 days of receiving notice of the request. Objections may be made outside the 3-day window as the court prescribes. The court may also allow oral objections.

WARNING

A judge may unseal a case, record, or document if no party objects within 30 days after written notice of the intent to unseal.

A judge may unseal and open a case, record, or document if a party fails to object to unsealing or opening within 30 days following written notice of the intent to unseal or open.

WARNING

The Court may strike a motion not called for hearing within 90 days after filing.

If a motion is not called for hearing within 90 days from the date it is filed, the Court may enter an order striking the motion.

WARNING

A witness may object in writing or orally before testifying and as soon as practicable.

Witnesses may file a written objection or make an oral objection to extended media coverage prior to testifying and as soon as practicable.

WARNING

The parties may stipulate to designate a mediator within 14 days after referral; a mediator who does not meet the certification requirements requires Court review and approval and must be otherwise qualified.

(1) Designation by Stipulation. Within 14 days after the entry of the order of referral, the parties may designate by stipulation a certified mediator or a mediator who does not meet the certification requirements of these Rules but who, in the opinion of the parties and on review by and approval of the Court, is otherwise qualified by training or experience to mediate all or some of the issues in the case.

WARNING

A respondent may file a written answer no later than three days before the rule-to-show-cause hearing.

No later than three days before the hearing on the rule to show cause, the respondent may file a written answer denying, with specificity, any of the allegations, together with any affirmative defense.

WARNING

Absent extraordinary circumstances, a person prejudiced by a retroactively accepted filing is entitled to an order extending affected response periods or other deadlines.

In the case of a filing error, absent extraordinary circumstances, anyone prejudiced by the requirement in these Rules to accept a subsequent filing effective as of the date filing was first attempted shall be entitled to an order extending the date for any response or period within which any right, duty, or other act must be performed.

WARNING

For a sufficiently complex action, the Court may order the parties to disclose and exchange the listed information within 30 days, including information obtainable through reasonable inquiry.

The Court may, on written motion of a party or its own motion, determine that, because of the nature or complexity of an action, the parties shall, within 30 days and without further notice or request, disclose and exchange the following information, whether the information is within the possession, custody, or control of the party or can be ascertained or acquired by the party by reasonable inquiry and investigation: