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

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Appeal

An applicant or mediator appealing a denial or removal must make the appeal in writing.

An applicant denied inclusion on or removed from the court-approved list may appeal the decision in writing within ten (10) days to the Chief Judge or his/her designee.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Hearing notice

The hearing notice must state the hearing date, time, and subject matter; identify it as remote; provide platform login information and technical-support contact details; and attach any order authorizing 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; and

CRITICAL

Applies to

Evidence of insurance

Court-approved mediators must provide the Chief Judge evidence of professional liability insurance annually when the parties have not agreed to submit to the rules.

provide evidence of insurance to the Chief Judge annually.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice

When applicable, the individual judge’s remote-hearing instructions and expectations 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.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Application

Individuals seeking appointment as family mediators must apply in writing.

WHEREAS, individuals seeking court appointment as a family mediator shall apply in writing and have received training or shall possess such experience to be equivalent to such training as required by the Chief Judge of the Seventh Judicial Circuit.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Guardian ad litem application

An attorney seeking appointment as a guardian ad litem must apply in writing to the designated judge.

Attorneys seeking appointment as a guardian ad litem in matters involving allocation of parental responsibilities shall apply in writing to the Presiding Judge of each county or, for Sangamon County, Chief of the Family Division.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Mediation materials

After an order for mediation issues, the parties are to provide the mediator’s requested information, including the listed orders, case materials, questionnaires, memoranda, and contact information.

Upon the issuance of an order for mediation, the parties are to provide to the mediator information requested by the mediator, including but not limited to the following: 1. The Mediation Order; 2. Record sheets and all pleadings in the case; 3. All filed discovery material; 4. Completed pre-mediation questionnaires (containing, among other items, domestic violence-related inquiries); 5. All settlement conference memoranda filed in the case; and 6. Current mailing addresses, telephone and FAX numbers for the parties and counsel in the case.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Non party discovery request

A copy of each discovery request served on a non-party 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 and served upon the opposing party in accord with Supreme Court Rule 104 (b).

CRITICAL

Applies to

Written finding

If the mediating judge determines that mediation is impeded, the judge must make a written finding and the case resumes 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

Dissolution no children forms

For a dissolution of marriage or civil union with no children, filers are instructed to read the Getting Started and How to forms instructions, then select, complete, and file the appropriate forms with the Circuit Clerk.

Select the appropriate section and begin by reading the instructions entitled Getting Started and How to forms. Thereafter, select the appropriate forms, complete and file with the Clerk of the Circuit Court.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Change of date notice

Every change-of-date notice must state whether the appearance will be in person or remotely on Zoom and include the appropriate Notice of Rights.

In every change of date notice, the Circuit Clerk shall provide notice of whether the appearance is in-person or remotely on Zoom along with the appropriate Notice of Rights.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Entry of appearance

A self-represented litigant must file an entry of appearance, which is available through the provided Entry of Appearance link.

A self-represented litigant shall file an entry of appearance which may be obtained by clicking the following Entry of Appearance.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Court approved report form

After mediation is completed or terminated, 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

Evidence of continuing education completion

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

provide evidence of completion to the Chief/Presiding Judge every two (2) years.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Discovery compliance certification

Compliance with discovery requests must be shown by filing counsel’s certification with the Circuit Clerk, including a description of the documents provided in reference to the request.

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.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Pleadings

Using the Clerk's dissolution 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

Financial affidavit

A party presenting an affidavit under this rule must seasonably update it.

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

CRITICAL

Applies to

Judicial mediation order

At the 90-day full case management conference, the trial judge must enter a Judicial Mediation Order in the specified contested indigent cases unless one was previously entered, but may decline if the judge determines and makes a written finding that mediation is impeded.

provided, that the trial judge shall, during the 90-day full case management conference in any indigent case in which parental responsibility allocation or parenting time remain contested, enter a Judicial Mediation Order unless such an order has previously been entered. 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

Mediator notice

If neither party has contacted the mediator to arrange an evaluation conference within 14 days after the Order for Mediation, the mediator must notify the parties in writing of the mediation’s time, date, and location.

If both parties have not contacted the mediator to set an evaluation conference within fourteen (14) days of the Order for Mediation, the mediator shall notify the parties, in writing, of the time, date, and location of the mediation.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Continuing education completion evidence

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

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Uniform order of support

Judges must enter a fully completed Uniform Order of Support whenever a child 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

Written finding

A trial judge who declines to enter a Judicial Mediation Order because mediation is impeded 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

Remote hearing request

Must include

proposed order

The Court may consider allowing an otherwise ineligible case to proceed remotely if all parties agree and present a proposed Agreed Order.

The Court may consider allowing an otherwise presumed ineligible case to proceed to a remote hearing if all parties agree and present the Court with a proposed Agreed Order.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Petition for leave to sue or defend as a poor person

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

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

Remote hearing invitation

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

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

Motion

If the attorneys do not agree to a witness appearing by video, the party calling the witness must file a motion for permission.

If there is no agreement among the attorneys for a witness to appear by video, it is the responsibility of the litigant or attorney calling the witness to file a motion to allow the video appearance of a witness(es) at least 14 days in advance of the hearing/trial.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Exhibit disposal order

An order disposing of exhibits must be substantially in the form of Appendix 1.

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

CRITICAL

Applies to

Report of fees

The Report of Fees filing requirement is waived for the State's Attorneys of Greene, Jersey, Macoupin, Morgan, Sangamon, and Scott counties; the order expires November 30, 2026, unless sooner superseded or rescinded.

WHEREAS, the State's Attorney of Greene, Jersey, Macoupin, Morgan, Sangamon and Scott counties have submitted the required written request and affidavit. WHEREAS, the requirement to file a Report of Fees is waived for the State's Attorneys of Greene, Jersey, Macoupin, Morgan, Sangamon and Scott counties. This order supersedes Amended Circuit Administrative Order 22-14, dated December 1, 2022. Circuit Administrative Order 24-15 shall expire November 30, 2026 unless sooner superseded or rescinded.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Certificate of compliance

After compliance with the court's order, the Clerk must sign and file a Certificate of Compliance substantially in the form of Appendix 2.

Upon compliance with the court's order, the Clerk shall sign and file in the cause a Certificate of Compliance in substantially the same form as Appendix 2 of this Administrative Order.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Engagement agreement

Before mediation begins, the mediator and parties must execute a written engagement agreement covering at least compensation, anticipated scope and duration, and the mediator’s responsibility to draft a memorandum of understanding if mediation succeeds.

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

Petition to establish parentage

The form petition to establish parentage must comply with 750 ILCS 45/1 et seq.

The contents of the form petition shall comply with the provisions of 750 ILCS 45/1 et seq.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice of hearing

When a motion is heard without prior notice, the party obtaining the order must serve written notice containing the specified case, judge, hearing, and order information on parties not in default and file proof of service within two days after the hearing.

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.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice of hearing

A hearing notice must identify the motion judge, action title and number, hearing date and time, and nature of the motion.

The notice of hearing shall designate the motion judge, shall show the title and number of the action, and the date and time when the motion will be presented. Notice of motion to be made shall state the nature of the motion.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Parenting plan

Unless the court approves otherwise, the parenting plan must comply at a minimum with the standardized Parenting Plan.

Unless otherwise approved by the court, the parenting plan shall comply, at a minimum, with the standardized Parenting Plan which can be accessed by clicking on the following Parenting Plan.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Final pretrial memorandum

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). a. The name, address, date of birth and current employment of each party; b. The name, date of birth and school and/or child care facility for each child; c. Agreements between the parties; d. The issues presented to the court by each party; e. Any stipulations agreed to by the parties; f. A list of potential witnesses; g. A list of potential trial exhibits; h. A list of assets, including the proposed value to be assigned to each asset; i. A list of household goods and related personal property at issue, including the proposed value to be assigned to the property; j. A list of debts, both as to current balance and minimum monthly payment; k. A list of property and debts that are claimed to be non-marital and a brief statement of the basis for the claim; l. Proposed resolution regarding parental responsibility allocation and parenting time; m. Proposed calculations of net income, child support and/or maintenance; n. An itemized proposed distribution of property and debts; o. Attorneys fees and costs of litigation;

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). a. The name, address, date of birth and current employment of each party; b. The name, date of birth and school and/or child care facility for each child; c. Agreements between the parties; d. The issues presented to the court by each party; e. Any stipulations agreed to by the parties; f. A list of potential witnesses; g. A list of potential trial exhibits; h. A list of assets, including the proposed value to be assigned to each asset; i. A list of household goods and related personal property at issue, including the proposed value to be assigned to the property; j. A list of debts, both as to current balance and minimum monthly payment; k. A list of property and debts that are claimed to be non-marital and a brief statement of the basis for the claim; l. Proposed resolution regarding parental responsibility allocation and parenting time; m. Proposed calculations of net income, child support and/or maintenance; n. An itemized proposed distribution of property and debts; o. Attorneys fees and costs of litigation;

CRITICAL

Applies to

Discovery request

A discovery request to a mental health services provider requires leave of court and an attached written order, and must be returnable in open court for in-camera review.

Any discovery request served upon a provider of mental health services may be made only with leave of court, upon written order to be attached to the discovery request, and returnable in open court for in camera review by the court for a determination of whether the documents may be produced.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Attorney appointment application

Attorneys seeking appointment must apply in writing to the specified judge and should describe their qualifications in the 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.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Supreme court forms

For the applicable case type, filers are instructed to read the Getting Started and How to forms instructions, then select, complete, and file the appropriate forms with the Circuit Clerk.

Select the appropriate section and begin by reading the instructions for the type of case you are filing entitled Getting Started and How to forms. Thereafter, select the appropriate forms, complete and file with the Clerk of the Circuit Court.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Discovery request

Must include

certificate of service

Proof of service for a discovery request must be made by counsel’s certification briefly describing the request and documenting service on the recipient.

Proof of service of any request for discovery shall be made by certification of counsel briefly describing the request made, together with proof of service on the party to whom they were directed.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Financial affidavit

In the specified proceedings, the parties must file an affidavit showing at least their current income, debts, assets, and liabilities, 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

Mediation referral form

The moving party’s attorney, or the Judge when both parties are self-represented, is responsible for completing the Mediation Referral form and forwarding it to the selected mediator or mediators.

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

CRITICAL

Applies to

Provisional order

In qualifying cases, the mediating judge must file a provisional order within 21 days after mediation ends, containing positively found agreed terms and identifying issues without agreement or a positive finding.

In cases in which agreement has been reached on all or some qualifying issues and the mediating judge has found that agreement on at least one such issue could reasonably be in the best interest of the child or children, the mediating judge shall, within 21 days after conclusion of a mediation, enter and file in the pending case a provisional order which shall contain the agreed terms and conditions with which the mediating judge has made positive finding and shall also specify issues as to which agreement was either not reached or was not the subject of positive finding by the mediating judge.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Exhibit release order

Any exhibit may be released at any other time by order of the judge presiding at the trial after due notice to all interested parties and hearing.

Any exhibit may be released at any other time by order of the judge presiding at the trial after due notice to all interested parties and hearing.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Destruction certificate

The Sheriff and Clerk must submit a certification to the court stating that 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

Extended media coverage request notice

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

Certification agreement

Parties who reach an agreement must complete the Certification Agreement.

If the parties reach an agreement, they must complete the Certification Agreement.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Continuing education attendance verification

Attorneys remaining on the approved list must submit verification of their required continuing-education attendance to the specified 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.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Application

Applicants must supply supporting documentation for approval as a private mediator.

NOW THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, The Seventh Judicial Circuit shall promulgate a list of private mediators who have been approved by the Chief Judge after supplying supporting documentation and meeting the following requirements:

CRITICAL

Applies to

Parental responsibilities order and parenting plan

If the parents have an agreement, they must provide the court with an agreed parental-responsibilities order and parenting plan.

The parents shall provide the court with an agreed order regarding parental responsibilities and an agreed parenting plan, if there is an agreement.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Mediation status report

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.