Circuit Court of Union County, Illinois (1st Judicial Circuit) Document Filing Requirements

CRITICAL

Applies to

Pleading

Pleadings in mortgage foreclosure sales must accurately state that the Williamson County Circuit Clerk will conduct the sale.

All pleadings shall accurately reflect that the sale shall be conducted by the Williamson County Circuit Clerk.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Pretrial materials

The statement of the case and witness list must be electronically filed before the final pretrial.

A statement of the case and a list of witnesses shall be efiled with the Court prior to the final pretrial.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Proposed order or judgment

Unless the Court directs otherwise, the attorney or prevailing party must promptly prepare and present a required written order or judgment, with proof of service on opposing counsel.

Unless the Court directs otherwise, whenever a written order or judgment is required, the attorney or the prevailing party shall promptly prepare and present a draft to the court, with proof of service on opposing counsel.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Summons notice or court order setting court date

Summonses, notices, and court orders setting a court date with a remote appearance option must include the Zoom Meeting ID and password, courthouse address, and courtroom number.

All summonses, notices, and court orders setting court dates where case participants have the option to appear remotely shall include the following: (1) the Zoom Meeting ID and Password and (2) the courthouse address and courtroom number.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion

If no applicable Standing Order exists, permission to appear remotely must be requested from the presiding judge by written motion.

If there is no applicable Standing Order, you must ask the judge presiding over the case for permission to appear remotely, in a written motion.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion

Each pre-trial or post-trial motion must state its factual and legal basis and contain or be accompanied by a concise statement citing any legal authority the movant wishes the court to consider.

Each such motion shall specifically set forth its factual and legal basis. Each such motion shall contain or be accompanied by a short, concise statement containing the citation of any legal authority the movant may wish the court to consider.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Pleading

The clerk shall refuse to file any pleading which is not signed and/or accompanied by a proof of service.

The clerk shall refuse to file any pleading which is not signed and/or accompanied by a proof of service.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion

Must include

proposed order

Each ex parte or emergency motion, and each motion made under a stipulation for an agreed order, must be accompanied by a proposed order.

Every such motion shall be accompanied by a proposed order.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Continuance motion

A continuance motion in a case pending more than 24 months or with trial set to begin within 48 hours must be personally signed by the requesting attorney's client, unless the judge finds good cause for the missing signature.

In any case which has been pending for more than 24 months, and in any case in which trial is set to commence within 48 hours, any motion for continuance shall be personally signed by the party whose attorney is requesting the continuance, unless the judge is satisfied that good cause for the absence of the party’s signature has been shown.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Petition

An indirect civil contempt proceeding may be initiated by petition, which must be verified and specify the allegedly violated order provision, the violation, and the acts required to purge contempt.

A proceeding for indirect civil contempt may be initiated by the filing of a petition for order to show cause why the respondent should not be held in contempt. The petition shall be verified and set forth with particularity that portion of the order that is alleged to have been violated, the nature of the violation, and the acts required of the respondent to purge the contempt.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Contempt notice and financial affidavit

Before imposing sanctions on a pro se litigant in qualifying civil contempt proceedings, the court must determine willfulness and provide contempt notice and an opportunity to complete a financial affidavit on Chief Judge-approved forms.

In civil contempt proceedings involving the non-payment of child support, or in any other type of cases as required in the discretion of the court, prior to the imposition of sanctions against a pro se litigant, the court shall determine whether the non-payment of was willful. The court shall provide the pro se litigant with a notice regarding contempt and an opportunity to complete a financial affidavit. The notice and affidavit will be on forms approved by the Chief Judge.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Judgment of contempt

After an adjudication of civil contempt, a written judgment must be promptly prepared and filed specifying the contemptuous conduct, sanctions, and means of purging the contempt.

Upon an adjudication of civil contempt, a written judgment shall be promptly prepared and filed which specifies the contumacious conduct, the sanctions imposed, and the means by which the contemnor may purge himself.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Sworn attorney fee petition

Before approving attorney fees in a personal-injury case involving a minor or disabled person, the court requires a sworn petition stating the employment terms, services rendered, customary charges, and relevant special circumstances.

Prior to approval of attorney’s fees in a case based upon personal injuries to a minor or a disabled person the Court shall require the submission of a sworn petition setting forth: A. the terms of employment; B. the services rendered; C. the customary and usual charges for such services; and D. any special circumstances which might bear on the question of fees.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Certificate of compliance

Counsel must file a certificate of compliance with discovery orders.

Counsel shall file a certificate of compliance with discovery orders.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Financial affidavits and pre mediation questionnaires

Parties must file financial affidavits and pre-mediation questionnaires with the clerk at least 7 days before the expedited or initial case management conference.

The parties shall also file financial affidavits and pre-mediation questionnaires with the clerk at least 7 days prior to the expedited or initial case management conference.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Confidentiality agreement

All mediation participants must sign the prescribed confidentiality agreement before mediation begins.

Prior to the commencement of mediation, all participants in the mediation shall sign the confidentiality agreement prescribed by these rules.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Mediation report

The mediator's report filed before the continued case management conference must describe mediation's progress in general terms.

Unless mediation has sooner terminated, the mediator shall before the continued case management conference, file with the Circuit Clerk a report describing the progress of mediation in general terms.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Post mediation report

The post-mediation report must use the Chief Judge's form, state agreed issues or unsuccessful conclusion, and omit the reasons the parties could not agree.

Promptly upon conclusion of mediation, the mediator shall file with the Circuit Clerk a report, on a form provided by the Chief Judge, specifying any issues on which agreement was reached or whether the matter has concluded unsuccessfully. The report shall not specify the reasons for the inability of the parties to reach agreement.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Final report

If the mediator has the stated welfare or safety concerns, the final report must recommend appointment of a child representative or guardian ad litem.

If the mediator has concerns for the welfare or safety of the minor child(ren) or feels that it is in the best interest of the minor, the mediator shall recommend in the final report that a child representative or guardian ad litem be appointed.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Continuing education attendance verification

Attorneys must submit continuing-education attendance verification to the Office of the Chief Circuit Judge when they attend or upon request.

Verification of attendance shall be submitted to the Office of the Chief Circuit Judge at the time of attendance or upon request.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Child representative information sheet

Each attorney must return the circuit’s Child Representative Information Sheet with a statement or other verification of continuing-education attendance.

Each attorney must complete the Child Representative Information Sheet provided by this circuit and return it with a statement or other verification of attendance at continuing education.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Parenting education proof of attendance

When specified parenting issues are disputed, all parties must attend and complete an approved parenting-education program and provide proof of attendance to the court.

Pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 924, each court shall require strict compliance. All parties are required to attend and complete a program of parenting education, when child custody, allocation of parental responsibilities, visitation, or parenting time issues are in dispute. The Chief Judge’s Office shall keep a listing of all programs approved by the circuit judges for this education. Proof of attendance shall be provided to the court by the parties per Supreme Court Rule 924.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Mediator report

The mediator must submit a written report stating whether the parties reached an agreement and designating it as full, partial, or no agreement.

The mediator shall report to the court in writing whether or not an agreement was reached by the parties. The report shall designate, "full agreement", "partial agreement" or "no agreement".

CRITICAL

Applies to

Mediator report

The mediator must sign and file the report in the case file within fourteen days after the last day of mediation.

The report shall be signed by the mediator and filed in the court file of the case under mediation within fourteen (14) days after the last day of mediation.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Mediation agreement

Any mediation agreement must be written and signed by the parties or their agents before mediation ends, and each party must receive a copy.

If an agreement is reached, it shall be reduced to writing and signed by the parties or their agents before termination of mediation. Each party shall receive a copy of such agreement.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Mediator report

If the parties reach a full agreement, the mediator’s report must state that and identify who will complete and submit the documents needed to conclude the agreement.

If a full agreement is reached, the report of the mediator shall so state and shall identify those individuals designated to complete and submit all documents necessary to the conclusion of the agreement.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Mediator report

If the parties reach a partial agreement, the report must identify resolved and unresolved claims and who will complete and submit documents for the resolved claims.

If a partial agreement is reached, the report of the mediator shall state which claims have been resolved and which claims have not been resolved. The report shall also identify those individuals designated to complete and submit all documents necessary to the conclusion of those claims resolved by agreement.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Mediator report

If no agreement is reached, the mediator’s report must say so without comment or recommendation.

If no agreement is reached, the mediator shall so report without comment or recommendation.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Certification for exemption from e filing

The court must provide, and parties must use, the adopted standardized form titled “Certification for Exemption From E-filing.”

The court shall provide, and parties shall be required to use, a standardized form expressly titled "Certification for Exemption From E-filing" adopted by the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Proposed order

Attorney-submitted proposed orders must include the submitting attorney’s identifying and contact information at the bottom left of the last page.

All proposed orders submitted by an attorney shall include on the bottom left side of the last page of the order the name of the attorney/law firm, address, phone number and attorney registration number of the attorney who submitted the order.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Proposed order

A proposed order under Local Rule 1.12 may be presented only after the Court rules and directs a party to submit it, or after an agreement is read on the record and approved by the Court.

Proposed orders submitted pursuant to Local Rule 1.12 shall only be presented following a ruling by the Court and direction for one party to submit a proposed order or after an agreement is read on the record and approved by the Court.

WARNING

Applies to

Exhibits

Exhibits must be marked and may not use duplicative numbering.

Exhibits shall be marked and not use duplicative numbering.

WARNING

Applies to

Motion or answering memorandum

When law authorizes testimony or other evidence to support or oppose a motion, the party should indicate that in the motion or answering memorandum; this rule does not apply to summary judgment motions.

Except for motions for summary judgment, which are governed by statute and not subject to this rule, any party that desires to present testimony or other evidence to support or oppose a motion (where authorized by law) should so indicate in the motion or answering memorandum.

WARNING

Applies to

Answer

A written answer may specifically deny petition allegations and set out affirmative defenses.

No later than three days prior to the hearing, the respondent may file a written answer denying with specificity any allegations of the petition and setting out any affirmative defenses.

WARNING

Applies to

Court order

If good cause for exemption is not shown, the court must issue an order stating specific reasons and requiring the litigant to e-file thereafter.

If the court determines that good cause is not shown, the court shall enter an order to that effect stating the specific reasons for the determination and ordering the litigant to e-file thereafter.

WARNING

Applies to

Filed document

The clerk must endorse each filed document with an electronic file mark identifying at least the court, clerk, filing date, and filing time.

The filed document shall be endorsed with the clerk's electronic file mark setting forth, at a minimum, the identification of the court, the clerk, the date, and the time of filing.