17th Judicial Circuit Court, Winnebago County, Illinois Filing Timing and Cure Windows

CRITICALCivil cases

The receiver must file the first report at the same time as the inventory.

The first report of the receiver shall be filed at the time of filing of the inventory.

CRITICAL

An electronic document is considered filed upon the Clerk’s review and acceptance and completion of transmission with the Clerk’s electronic filing stamp.

Any document filed electronically shall be considered as filed with the Clerk of the Circuit Court upon review and acceptance, and the transmission has been completed with the Clerk's electronic filing stamp.

CRITICAL

A request for an remote emergency protective order may be filed during the business hours of 8:00am to 4:30pm using illinoisprotectionorder.org or another electronic filing system of choice.

A request for an remote emergency protective order may be filed during the business hours of 8:00am to 4:30pm using illinoisprotectionorder.org or another electronic filing system of choice.

CRITICAL

The transmission date and time govern the electronic file mark; pleadings received before midnight on an open courthouse day are deemed filed that day, while filings on a closed day are deemed filed the next business day.

The transmission date and time of transfer shall govern the electronic file mark. Pleadings received by the clerk before midnight on a day the courthouse is open shall be deemed filed that day. If filed on a day the courthouse is not open for business, the document will be deemed filed the next business day.

CRITICAL

Parties must exchange hearing materials and share them with the court by 4:30 p.m. three business days before the proceeding.

Exhibits, papers or anything the judge would need to review at a hearing must be exchanged between the parties and shared with the Court no later than 4:30 p.m. three (3) business days in advance of the court proceeding.

CRITICAL

A motion slip using Appendices F and G must be filed in the circuit clerk's general division by noon on the day before the contested motion is to be heard.

Contested motions which have been served upon all parties in accordance with Supreme Court Rules shall be heard before the assigned judge by filing a motion slip Appendix F and Appendix G in the office of the circuit clerk, general division, by 12:00 noon of the day before the motion is to be heard.

CRITICAL

The Court must review a pro se party’s noncompliant filing for acceptance before rejecting it.

Documents filed by pro se parties that do not comply with the formats set forth by the applicable statute or rule shall be reviewed for acceptance by the court prior to rejection.

WARNINGCivil cases

The Circuit Clerk may reject a proposed summons filing and request resubmission after a specified date.

The Circuit Clerk may “reject” the filing of a proposed Summons and request that it be re-submitted after a date certain.

WARNING

When appropriate and feasible, the first eviction mediation must be scheduled within seven business days of the first appearance.

The Coordinator will schedule the first mediation no more than 7 business days from the first appearance whenever it is appropriate and feasible.

WARNING

E-filed documents that do not comply with the specified governing format requirements may be rejected.

Documents submittedfor e-filing may be rejected if not complying with the format specified by: a) applicable statute; b) applicable SupremeCourt or local rule; C) the Statewide Standards; or d) Section 7 above.

WARNING

The Vendor must confirm receipt and submission with the date and time; it will notify subscribers by email of nonacceptance, and the subscriber may need to refile.

Upon receipt by the Vendor, and submission of an electronic document to the Clerk, the Vendor shall issue a confirmation to the subscriber. The confirmation shall indicate the time and date of receipt, and shall serve as proof that the document has been submitted to the Clerk. A subscriber will receive e-mail notification from the Vendor if a document is not accepted by the Clerk's office. In that event, the subscriber may be required to re-file the document to meet necessary filing requirements.

WARNING

For the listed transmission, processing, rejection, technical, or service-list failures, the Court may for good cause permit a later filing to take effect on the date first attempted.

If the electronic filing is not filed with the Clerk because of (1) an error in the transmission of the document to the Vendor which was unknown to the sending party, (2) a failure to process the electronic filing when received by the Vendor, (3) rejection by the Circuit Court Clerk, (4) other technical problems experienced by the filer, or (5) the party was erroneously excluded from the service list, the Court may upon good cause shown enter an order permitting the document to be subsequently filed effective as of the date filing was first attempted.

WARNINGCivil cases

Present emergency motions to the assigned judge, who determines when they are heard; if that judge is absent, the chief judge or designee may assign another judge, and emergency motions receive precedence when possible.

Emergency motions shall be presented to the judge to whom the case is assigned and shall be heard at such time as that judge may determine. In the absence of the judge to whom the case is assigned, the chief judge, or designee, may assign the case to another judge for hearing. Precedence, so far as possible, shall be given to emergency motions over other judicial business.

CRITICAL

Plaintiff's counsel must submit the trial memorandum when the case is called for trial.

In jury cases to assist the court in its voir dire examination of jurors under Supreme Court Rule 234, plaintiff's attorney shall submit to the court at the time the case is called for trial a brief trial memorandum and furnish a copy to opposing counsel who may suggest amendments thereto.

CRITICAL

Deadline

1 business days

The jail order must be obtained by 5:00 p.m. on the business day immediately before the scheduled court date.

it shall be the responsibility of the party to seek and obtain a jail order no later than 5:00 p.m. on the business day immediately prior to the scheduled court date.

CRITICAL

Unless the court orders otherwise, parties must file their initial Rule 222 disclosures within 14 days of the first return appearance.

However, unless otherwise ordered by the court, the parties shall file with the court their initial disclosure under Supreme Court Rule 222 within 14 days of the first return court appearance date.

CRITICALCivil cases

Deadline

48 hours

In Winnebago County eviction cases, defendants must pay the fee or file a written waiver request within 48 hours of their first court appearance; otherwise, they may be defaulted and barred from trial participation.

You must either pay the fee, or file a written request to have it waived, within 48 hours of your first court appearance. If you do neither, then you may be defaulted (i.e. lose the case) and will not be allowed to participate in the trial.

CRITICAL

Deadline

1 business days

The Circuit Clerk must notify the applicant of the fee-waiver ruling and case-specific instructions within one business day of the judge’s decision.

The Circuit Clerk shall contact the applicant by phone within 1 business day of the judge’s decision on an Application for Waiver of Fees and will notify the applicant of the ruling on the application and provide case specific instructions. A voice message will constitute proper notification.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Complaint or petition

File a complaint or petition seeking an ex parte receiver appointment or temporary restraining order with the circuit clerk before applying to a judge for the order.

Every complaint or petition which seeks an ex parte order for the appointment of a receiver or for a temporary restraining order shall be filed in the office of the circuit clerk before application to a judge for the order.

CRITICAL

If the parties fail to agree on a mediator within 14 days, plaintiff’s counsel or an agreed attorney must notify the court within the following seven days.

If the parties cannot agree upon a mediator within 14 days of the Order of Referral, the plaintiff's attorney (or another attorney agreed upon by all attorneys) shall so notify the court within 7 days of the expiration of the period to agree on a mediator, and the court shall appoint a certified mediator selected by rotation or by such other procedures as may be adopted by administrative order of the chief judge in the circuit in which the action is pending.

CRITICAL

Unless the court orders otherwise, present the Pre-Trial Memorandum five days before a pre-trial conference or merits hearing; it is not required for temporary relief or cases without contested grounds or issues.

Unless otherwise ordered by the court, the Pre-Trial Memorandum shall be presented to the court five (5) days prior to any pre-trial conference or hearing on the merits. A pre-trial memorandum is not required for temporary relief or in those cases in which no contested grounds or issues exist.

CRITICAL

The summons return date must be set 21 to 40 days after filing.

Upon the filing of a civil action subject to these rules, the clerk of the circuit court shall set a return date for the summons not less than 21 days nor more than 40 days after filing, returnable before the supervising judge or arbitration.

CRITICAL

Each party must file their financial affidavit before any temporary financial hearing.

Each party shall file and serve on the other party his or her Financial Affidavit prior to any temporary financial hearing pursuant to Illinois Supreme Court Rule.

CRITICAL

Plaintiff’s counsel must email the Program Administrator a copy of a decision or additional-document letter within seven calendar days after issuance.

If the servicer/lender issues a decision letter or a letter requesting additional documents to the Homeowner, Plaintiff’s counsel shall provide a copy of the letter to the Program Administrator via email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. within 7 calendar days of said letter being issued.

CRITICALCivil cases

The moving party must obtain a hearing setting within 60 days after filing; otherwise, the court may deem the motion withdrawn and deny relief with or without prejudice.

The burden of setting a motion for hearing in a civil case is on the party making the motion. If a setting for hearing is not obtained by the moving party within sixty (60) days from the date it is filed, the court may deem the motion withdrawn and deny the relief requested with or without prejudice.

CRITICAL

Parties must complete the educational program within 90 days of the specified dissolution, parentage, or post-judgment petition filing or service.

Parties shall complete an Educational Program for Parents within ninety (90) days of: (1) the filing and/or service of any petition for dissolution of marriage involving minor children; (2) the filing and/or service of any petition to establish parentage by a private party where the issue of parentage is not disputed by the respondent and no final custody order or judgment has been entered; or (3) the filing of any post-judgment petition in a dissolution or parentage case in which (a) the petition raises disputed issues of custody and/or visitation; and (b) the parties have not previously attended an Educational Program for Parents.

CRITICALCivil cases

The clerk will not place a motion on the trial judge’s hearing calendar unless the motion and notice of motion are received before 3:00 p.m. two days before the proposed hearing date.

However, no motion will be placed on the trial judge's hearing calendar by the circuit clerk unless said motion and notice of motion has been received by the clerk before 3:00 P.M. two (2) days preceding the proposed hearing date.

CRITICALCivil cases

Deadline

5 business days

In Boone County eviction cases, defendants must pay the fee or file a written waiver request within five business days before the hearing; otherwise, they may be defaulted and barred from trial participation.

You must either pay the fee, or file a written request to have it waived, within five business days prior to the hearing. If you do neither, then you may be defaulted (i.e. lose the case) and will not be allowed to participate in the trial.

CRITICAL

The parties or their attorneys must present each financial mediated agreement to the court within 45 days after the final Mediator’s Report is filed.

Each mediated agreement shall be presented by the parties or their attorneys to the court within forty-five (45) days following the filing of the final Mediator’s Report.

CRITICALCivil cases

In arbitration cases, defendants must pay the fee or file a written waiver request by the Court-established deadline; otherwise, they may be defaulted and barred from trial participation.

You must either pay the fee, or file a written request to have it waived, within any deadline established by the Court. If you do neither, then you may be defaulted (i.e. lose the case) and will not be allowed to participate in a trial.

CRITICALCivil cases

When suit is filed contemporaneously with an appointment, the party seeking appointment must be prepared to file suit on the appointment date.

the party seeking appointment is prepared to file suit on the same day that the appointment is made

CRITICAL

Local Rules and amendments must be filed with the Administrative Director within 10 days after adoption.

All Local Rules and any amendments to the Local Rules shall be filed with the Administrative Director of the Illinois Supreme Court within 10 days after they are adopted, pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 21.

CRITICAL

The PACT completion certificate must be filed before the hearing.

Proof of completion must be filed before the hearing. The PACT Program usually files proof of attendance with the Clerk. However, parties must check to make sure the certificate was filed.

CRITICAL

Deadline

3 business days

All proposed orders, court documents, and exhibits must be prepared and submitted in the stated manner at least three business days in advance.

ALL PROPOSED ORDERS, COURT DOCUMENTS AND EXHIBITS MUST BE PREPARED AND SUBMITTED AT LEAST THREE BUSINESS DAYS IN ADVANCE IN THE MANNER STATED IN THIS ORDER.

CRITICAL

Plaintiff’s counsel must confer with other counsel about hearing length and notify the arbitration administrator at least seven days before the hearing if extra time is anticipated.

It shall be the responsibility of counsel for the plaintiff to confer with counsel for all other parties to obtain an approximation of the length of time required for presentation of the case and advise the arbitration administrator at least 7 days in advance of the hearing date in the event additional hearing time is anticipated and the length of such additional time.

CRITICAL

Each side must present its mediation summary to the mediator at least seven days before the conference.

At leastseven(7)days before the conference, each side shall present to the mediator a brief, written summary of the case containing a list of issues as to each party.

CRITICALCivil cases

The receiver must file a detailed estate report and inventory within 30 days after appointment, identifying all real and personal property and what is within the receiver's possession or control.

No later than thirty (30) days after appointment, the receiver shall file with the court a detailed report and inventory of all property, real and personal, of the estate and shall delineate the property then within the receiver's possession or control.

CRITICAL

Participants and mediators must submit the completed evaluation questionnaires to the Trial Court Administrator’s Office within 10 days after the mediation sessions conclude.

In order to evaluate the effectiveness of this pilot program, the participants and mediators shall submit to the Trial Court Administrator’s Office completed, questionnaire forms within ten (10) days of conclusion of the mediation session(s). Attached to these rules are evaluation forms labeled Appendix E-G respectively for that purpose.

CRITICALCivil cases

Motions in Limine with citations to authorities must be filed 14 days before the final pre-trial conference, unless excused by the court.

Additionally, the parties are to present the following unless excused by the court: 1. Motions in Limine with citations to authorities (to be filed 14 days prior to the pretrial conference);

CRITICAL

The mediator must prepare the prescribed Mediator’s Report within 10 days after the last mediation session ends and file it with the circuit clerk.

The mediator shall prepare a Mediator’s Report on the prescribed form within ten (10) days of the termination of the last mediation session. These reports will be filed with the circuit clerk. (See Appendix BB).

CRITICAL

Plaintiff’s counsel must email the Program Administrator a copy of any offer to the homeowner within seven calendar days after it is made.

If the servicer/lender extends any offers to the Homeowner, Plaintiff’s counsel shall provide a copy to the Program Administrator via email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. within 7 calendar days of said offer being made.

CRITICAL

The mediator shall prepare a Mediator’s Report on the prescribed form within ten (10) days of the termination of the last mediation session. These reports will be filed with the circuit clerk. (See Appendix C).

The mediator shall prepare a Mediator’s Report on the prescribed form within ten (10) days of the termination of the last mediation session. These reports will be filed with the circuit clerk. (See Appendix C).

CRITICAL

The program-completion certificate must be filed before the specified order is entered.

A certificate of program completion shall be submitted to the court or filed with the Circuit Clerk prior to the entry of the final custody order or final judgment of dissolution of marriage or, if ordered by the court, before the entry of any order modifying a previously entered order establishing the parties' rights with respect to custody and visitation.

CRITICAL

Deadline

3 business days

A judge must rule on a fee-waiver application and return it to the Circuit Clerk within three business days of filing.

A judge shall rule upon an Application for Waiver of Fees within 3 business days of the filing date and return the application to the Circuit Clerk.

CRITICAL

The defendant must complete traffic safety school and file proof of successful completion by the time set by the court.

Successfully completes the traffic safety school and files certificate of successful completion on or before the time set by the court.