Informational purposes only. Not legal advice.Links to third-party websites are provided for convenience only. Mirsafian Law Group, LLC does not control or endorse these sites and is not responsible for their content or accuracy. Use of such sites is at your own risk. This website does not provide legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship.
Legal issues often involve strict filing deadlines, service requirements, and mandatory procedural steps. Delaying action may result in losing important rights or being barred from filing a claim. These public links provide access to authoritative information, but you should always consult with an experienced attorney before making legal decisions, preparing filings, or appearing in court.
Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County – Online Case Lookup
(Civil, Law Division, Chancery Division, Domestic Relations, Child Support)
The Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County provides a robust online case lookup system that allows members of the public to monitor limited case information. While only licensed attorneys can view full documents online through certified systems, non-attorneys may still access important details through the online docket. This includes:
- Upcoming and past court dates
- Courtroom numbers, judge assignments, and hearing types
- Filing histories, including motions, orders, and pleadings
- Case status updates and procedural stages
- Basic party information (plaintiff, defendant, petitioner, respondent)
Individuals who need to review actual court filings can visit the Daley Center (50 W. Washington St., Chicago) or any Cook County courthouse to view the complete court file in person.
Access the online docket:
Illinois e-Filing (eFileIL) – Statewide Electronic Filing System
Illinois now mandates electronic filing (e-filing) for most civil, chancery, family law, probate, and law division matters. The statewide e-filing platform—administered through authorized third-party vendors—allows litigants to:
- File new lawsuits (complaints, petitions, petitions for citation to discover assets)
- File into existing cases (motions, responses, replies, notices, affidavits)
- Serve documents electronically
- Upload exhibits, proposed orders, and supporting documents
- Track filings and receive electronic confirmation
This system is required in Cook County and across Illinois, with limited exceptions for self-represented litigants who qualify for e-filing exemptions.
Learn more or sign up for Illinois e-filing:
Illinois & Cook County Court Forms
Both the Illinois Supreme Court and the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County provide access to hundreds of standardized legal forms used by attorneys and self-represented litigants. These forms are designed to comply with statewide rules and local Cook County procedures.
You can find forms for:
- Starting a civil, chancery, domestic relations, or probate case
- Filing motions, pleadings, responses, or appearances
- Issuing subpoenas to individuals or third-party businesses
- Post-judgment remedies, including citations to discover assets, wage deductions, and non-wage garnishments
- Parentage actions, divorce filings, child support modifications, and adoption
- Small claims, eviction actions, and collection complaints
- Estate administration, guardianship petitions, and probate forms
Cook County Court Forms:
Home Page | Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County
Illinois Statewide Standardized Forms:
Illinois, Cook County & Chicago – Statutes, Rules, Legal Codes & Ordinances
Understanding the relevant laws and rules is essential for anyone navigating the court system. Illinois and Cook County each maintain separate but complementary sources of procedural and substantive law. These govern everything from filing deadlines to evidence rules and courtroom procedures.
Illinois State Law (ILCS)
The Illinois Compiled Statutes (ILCS) contain statewide laws addressing civil litigation, criminal matters, probate, family law, contracts, corporations, evidence, real estate, and more.
Illinois General Assembly – Illinois Compiled Statutes
Illinois Code of Civil Procedure (735 ILCS 5)
This code governs service of process, pleadings, motions, discovery, judgments, and all procedural requirements in civil cases.
Illinois General Assembly – 735 ILCS 5/ Code of Civil Procedure.
Illinois Supreme Court Rules
These rules govern court and trial procedure and discovery, among many other things.
Illinois Rules of Evidence
The codified rules determining whether evidence is admissible in Illinois courts.
Supreme Court Illinois Rules of Evidence
Cook County Local Rules & General Orders
Cook County has its own procedural rules that apply to all divisions and districts of the Circuit Court.
Local Rules: Circuit Court Rules | Circuit Court of Cook County
General Administrative Orders: General Orders of the Cook County Circuit Court | Circuit Court of Cook County
Cook County Legal Resource Portals
Litigation Resources: Litigation | Cook County
Family Law Resources: Family Law | Cook County
State of Illinois Resources: State of Illinois | Cook County
Chicago Administrative Hearing Rules
Municipal Code of Chicago
Cook County Judges – Standing Orders & Division-Specific Rules
Each judge and each division of the Cook County Circuit Court has Standing Orders or Administrative Orders that dictate:
- Zoom hearing login instructions
- Motion schedules and filing cut-offs
- Format requirements for courtesy copies and proposed orders
- Proper procedures for emergency motions
- Courtroom policies and expectations
Judges & Courtroom Procedures
Judges | Circuit Court of Cook County
Division-Specific Rules
Chancery Division: Chancery Division | Circuit Court of Cook County
Law Division: Law Division | Circuit Court of Cook County
Municipal Division: The Circuit Court of Cook County operates six Municipal Districts, each with its own Administrative Rules governing local procedures, motion practice, and courtroom requirements. Review the Administrative Rules for each district below:
First Municipal District – Chicago |
Second Municipal District – Skokie |
Third Municipal District – Rolling Meadows |
Fourth Municipal District – Maywood |
Fifth Municipal District – Bridgeview |
Sixth Municipal District – Markham
Illinois Secretary of State – Business Services
The Illinois Secretary of State’s Business Services portal allows users to create, manage, or research Illinois business entities online. Through this Business Services portal you can:
- Form an Illinois LLC, Corporation, or Not-For-Profit
- Dissolve or reinstate an entity
- File annual reports
- Change a registered agent
- Review corporate good standing
- Access Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) filings
- Search existing business entities for ownership, registered agent, status, and formation dates
Business Formation & Termination:
Incorporate a Business or Terminate an LLC
Search existing business entities:
Cook County Recorder of Deeds – Property Records Search
The Cook County Recorder of Deeds provides online access to real estate recordings, enabling property owners, buyers, lenders, and attorneys to search:
- Deeds and warranty deeds
- Mortgages and releases
- Assignments of mortgage
- Mechanic’s liens
- Lis pendens notices
- Easements
- Tax liens and releases
- Historical chain of title records
This tool is essential for confirming ownership, identifying encumbrances, reviewing lien status, and verifying that all recorded documents reflect the current state of the property.
Search Cook County Property Records: