General Orders of the Cook County Circuit Court

The Office of the Chief Judge has general administrative authority in the court and includes the following sections:

(a) - Administrative Section

(b) - Non-Judicial Section

(c) - Surety Section (to include authorization of sureties, revocation of authority, collection and enforcement of liabilities arising from surety obligations and general supervision of sureties and their agents)

(d) - Juvenile Justice and Child Protection Resource Section (to include facilitation of the extension of services to juveniles throughout the County of Cook, to provide liaison with the business, religious and academic communities, bar associations, and treatment professionals in identifying and developing community and other resources to augment the programs and services vital to the Juvenile Justice and Child Protection Divisions, to expand education programs for judges, attorneys, and others involved in actions in the Juvenile Justice and Child Protection Divisions, and to promote the expansion of cost efficient alternative legal representation for named parties in cases in the Juvenile Justice and Child Protection Divisions)

[Amended, effective August 1, 1996.]

The Circuit Court of Cook County is composed of departments, divisions and districts as follows:

[Amended, effective August 1, 1996.]

The County Department is composed of the following divisions:

(a) - Law Division

1. The Law Division hears civil actions at law, whether or not a jury is demanded, except:

   (i) Actions filed in Municipal District One with complaints or counterclaims for compensatory and consequential money damages not in excess of $30,000 unless a tax claim in excess of $3,000 is involved;

   (ii) Actions filed in Municipal Districts Two, Three, Four, Five or Six with complaints or counterclaims for compensatory and consequential money damages not in excess of $100,000 unless a tax claim in excess of $3,000 is involved;

   (iii) Actions for the recovery of property of a value not in excess of $30,000 filed in Municipal District One;

   (iv) Action for the recovery of property of a value not in excess of $100,000 filed in Municipal Districts Two, Three, Four, Five and Six;

   (v) Actions of forcible entry and detainer;

   (vi) Actions arising under the Parentage Act of 1984, as amended (750 ILCS 45/1 et seq.);

   (vii) Actions brought under the Land Titles Act of 1897, as amended.

2. The amount of punitive damages sought may be considered in determining whether an action filed in the Law Division shall remain in the Law Division if the court, in its discretion, finds a reasonable likelihood of proving facts at trial sufficient to support a substantial award of punitive damages.

3. The Law Division consists of the following sections:

   (i) Motion Section;

   (ii) Assignment Section;

   (iii) Jury Section;

   (iv) Non-Jury Section;

   (v) General Individual Calendar Section;

   (vi) Commercial Individual Calendar Section;

   (vii) Complex Litigation Case Management Section (to manage complex litigation consistent with the requirements of Supreme Court Rule 218);

   (viii) Tax and Miscellaneous Remedies Section (to include replevin, condemnation, habeas corpus, ejectment, citations, garnishments, executions, levies, attachments and other supplemental proceedings, statutory summons under the Workers' Compensation Act [820 ILCS 305/19], administrative review under the Unemployment Insurance Act [820 ILCS 405/1100] and all tax matters including administrative review of such matters [except administrative review of Property Tax Appeal Board final decisions taken pursuant to 35 ILCS 200/16-195] when the amount in controversy exceeds $3,000 regardless of the remedy requested).

   [Amended, effective June 12, 1998 (Subsection 3 only).]

4. Law Division actions may be filed and disposed in Municipal District court locations Two, Three, Four, Five and Six as follows:

   (i) Law Division actions, excluding commercial actions as set forth on the Law Division Civil Action Cover Sheet, seeking compensatory and consequential damages in excess of $100,000 wherein the occurrence took place or a defendant resides within the boundaries of Municipal Districts Two, Three, Four, Five, or Six may be filed and heard in the respective Municipal District court locations. A motion objecting to the location where the action is pending may be filed and noticed before the assigned suburban judge not later than the time for a party to appear or any extension thereof. Upon the filing of such motion the judge shall enter an order transferring the action to the Presiding Judge of the Law Division for reassignment within the Law Division in the Richard J. Daley Center. Thereafter, only the Presiding Judge of the Law Division, for administrative purposes with notice to all parties of record, may transfer any Law Division case pending in Municipal Districts Two, Three, Four, Five or Six to the Law Division of the Richard J. Daley Center for reassignment. A motion for substitution of judge shall not serve as a basis for transfer of an action to the Richard J. Daley Center unless the Presiding Judge of the Law Division determines that no other judge is available in the municipal district location.

   (ii) In those Municipal District court locations where more than one Law Division calendar is established, actions filed pursuant to section (i) above shall be randomly assigned.

5. The following definitions shall apply to section 2.1(a):

   (i) Any private corporation or railroad or bridge company organized under the laws of this State and any foreign corporation authorized to transact business in this State is a resident of any district in which it has its registered office or other office. If there is no registered office or other office in Cook County, the corporation or company is deemed to be a resident of any district in which it is transacting business.

   (ii) A partnership sued in its firm name is a resident of any district in which any partner resides or in which the partnership has an office or is doing business.

[Amended, effective August 1, 1996.]

(b) - Chancery Division

The Chancery Division is composed of the following sections:

1. General Chancery

   The General Chancery Section hears actions and proceedings, regardless of the amount of the claim, concerning class actions, arbitration, injunctions, temporary restraining orders (other than matters brought under the Controlled Substance and Cannabis Nuisance Act, (740 ILCS 40/0.01 et seq.), mandamus, quo warranto, declaratory judgments, interpleader, ne exeat, specific performance, rescission and reformation of contracts, creditors rights, complaints for contribution, actions to quiet title and the setting aside of deeds, partition, equitable liens, redemption rights, declarations concerning the constructions of trust and wills (other than during the period of an estate administration), the appointment of trustees, successor trustees and the removal of trustees (other than during the period of an estate administration), receiverships, accounting cases, dissolution of partnerships and corporations, or other proceedings under the Corporations and Partnership Acts, proceedings under the Illinois Uniform Transfers to Minors Act (760 ILCS 20/1 et seq.), statutory review, certiorari (except under the Workers' Compensation Act (820 ILCS 305/19), and all administrative review (except tax matters, matters under the Unemployment Insurance Act (820 ILCS 405/1100), and matters concerning vehicle impoundment under ordinances 8-8-060 and 8-20-015 of the Municipal Code of Chicago (1993), and decisions of the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority imposing civil fines pursuant to authority granted under the Toll Highway Act (605 ILCS 10/10), and all other actions or proceedings formerly cognizable in courts of Chancery not otherwise provided for.

   [Amended, effective January 1, 2008.]

2. Mortgage Foreclosure/Mechanics Lien Section.

   The Mortgage Foreclosure/Mechanics Lien Section hears all actions and proceedings concerning Mechanics Lien rights under contracts, either expressed or implied, liens on chattels for labor or storage, and other lien remedies available under 770 ILCS 60/0.01 et seq., and all actions and related proceedings initiated under the Illinois Mortgage Foreclosure Act, 735 ILCS 5/15-1101 et seq.

   [Amended, effective March 1, 2005.]

(c) - Domestic Relations Division

The Domestic Relations Division hears actions or proceedings seeking an order or judgment relating to dissolution of marriage or civil union, declaration of invalidity of marriage or civil union or legal separation, child support and maintenance, child custody, or visitation arising under the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act, the Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act, the Hague Convention, the Illinois Parentage Act of 1984, the Illinois Public Aid Code, the Illinois Uniform Premarital Agreement Act, Non-Support of Spouse and Children Act, Non-Support Punishment Act, Revised Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act, Uniform Interstate Family Support Act, Expedited Child Support Act, Income Withholding for Support Act, Emancipation of Mature Minors Act, Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Enforcement Act, Rights of Married Persons Act, and related Acts. Such proceedings also include all post-judgment matters relating thereto and petitions for civil orders of protection filed in conjunction with domestic relations matters involving the same parties pursuant to the Domestic Violence Act of 1986 except for those matters heard in the Domestic Violence Division.

[Amended May 23, 2011, effective June 1, 2011.]

(d) - County Division

The County Division hears actions and proceedings concerning mental health, the adoption of children and the taking of any and all consents pertaining to any adoption matters, the marriage of minors, inheritance taxes, elections, actions brought under Article 14 of the Illinois School Code of 1961 (105 ILCS 5/1-1 et seq.), actions brought under The Land Titles Act of 1897, as amended, proceedings pursuant to Supreme Court Rules 754 and 764, review of final decisions of the Property Tax Appeal Board pursuant to 35 ILCS 200/16-195, actions filed to forfeit property seized pursuant to the Criminal Code of 1961, as amended, the Cannabis Control Act, the Controlled Substances Act, Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act and forfeitures attendant to prohibition against illegal money laundering, Petitions for Change of Name (735 ILCS 5/21-101 et seq.) and other matters formerly cognizable in the Circuit Court of Cook County not otherwise provided for. County Division actions under 735 ILCS 5/21-101 et seq. (Change of Name) may be filed and disposed of in Municipal District Court locations Two, Three, Four, Five and Six.

[Amended, effective January 1, 2008.]

(e) - Probate Division

The Probate Division hears actions and proceedings concerning the following:

1. probate and contest of wills and testamentary instruments;
2. claims against an estate arising in contract, tort, or otherwise;
3. claims arising under the Illinois Power of Attorney Act;
4. administration of estates of decedents, disabled persons, minors, and wards;
5. petitions pursuant to the Illinois Insurance Code to permit an insurance company to make payments on a structured settlement of a claim for personal injury to anyone other than the beneficiary of the settlement or by the beneficiary of such a structured settlement to assign the payments of the settlement to another;
6. contracts to make a will;
7. construction of wills
8. appointment of testamentary trustees during the period of administration;
9. appointment of receivers pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 776;
10. in matters involving elderly persons, as defined by the rules of this court and relevant statutes:
    1. cases arising under the Adult Protective Services Act;
    2. domestic violence cases as defined in Part 22 of the rules of this court;
    3. the following criminal offenses which the victim is an elderly person:
          i.      any felony in which the victim is an elderly person
          ii.     criminal abuse or neglect of a person with a disability
          iii.    theft
          iv.    aggravated identity theft
          v.     forgery
          vi.    burglary
          vii.   residential burglary
          viii.  aggravated home repair fraud
          ix.    possession of lost/mislaid credit/debit card
          x.     possession of another's credit/debit card
          xi.    criminal housing management
          xii.   aggravated criminal housing management
          xiii.  violation of an order of protection
          xiv.  criminal trespass to a residence
          xv.   criminal damage to property
          xvi.  possession of a stolen motor vehicle
          xvii. aggravated possession of a stolen motor vehicle
    4. cases arising under the Illinois Human Rights Act;
    5. administrative review pursuant to 625 ILCS 5/11-208.3 in the First Municipal District ;
    6. administrative review of final decisions regarding municipal code violations made by code hearing units or departments established by municipalities in the First Municipal District pursuant to 65 ILCS 5/1-2.1-1, et seq. (applicable to municipalities that are home rule units), actions filed by municipalities pursuant to 65 ILCS 5/1-2.1-8 or 65 ILCS 5/1-2.2-55 for the enforcement of judgments and judgments on the findings, decision and order, respectively.

[Amended January 11, 2018, effective January 2, 1998.]

(f) - Criminal Division

The Criminal Division hears criminal actions and prosecutions, commenced by indictment or information, except for those actions heard in the Domestic Violence Division, related matters arising under the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code, as amended (405 ILCS 5/1-100 et seq.) and proceedings commenced under the Sexually Violent Persons Commitment Act, (725 ILCS 207/1 et seq.). The Criminal Division also hears criminal actions and proceedings concerning habeas corpus and extradition in criminal matters and petitions to expunge records of arrest pursuant to the Criminal Identification Act of 1931, as amended (20 ILCS 2630/0.01 et seq.).

[Amended, effective April 19, 2010.]

(g) - Domestic Violence Division

The Domestic Violence Division hears actions and proceedings for civil no contact orders arising under the Civil No Contact Order Act (740 ILCS 22/101, et seq.), stalking no contact orders arising under the Stalking No Contact Order Act (740 ILCS 21/1, et seq.), orders of protection arising under the Domestic Violence Act of 1986 (750 ILCS 60/101, et seq.), except actions arising under the Juvenile Court Act (705 ILCS 405/1 1, et seq.), the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code (405 ILCS 5/1 100, et seq.), and the Probate Act of 1975 (755 ILCS 5/1 1, et seq.). The Division also hears all of the following criminal actions and proceedings involving family and household members, as defined in the Domestic Violence Act of 1986:

1. all matters through the preliminary examination or indictment, pursuant to 725 ILCS 5/109 3.1, in which the most serious offense charged is a class 1, 2, or 3 felony; and
2. all matters in which the most serious offense charged is aggravated stalking, any class 4 felony, or any misdemeanor.

(h) - (Reserved)

[Amended January 11, 2018, effective, September 29, 2014.]

(i) - Pretrial Division

The Pretrial Division, formerly known as Central Bond Court, hears the initial proceedings in criminal cases filed in the Municipal Department, including, but not necessarily limited to, initial bail hearings, as set forth below. Cases heard in the Pretrial Division remain filed in the Municipal Department while being adjudicated in the Pretrial Division, without the need to be transferred into or out of the Division. Except as otherwise noted, the Pretrial Division hears the following cases and proceedings:

1. First District (City of Chicago)

a) misdemeanor traffic offenses

b) felony cases

c) bail review hearings prior to transfer of the case to the Criminal Division, Domestic Violence Division, a suburban Municipal District, or a First District branch court, unless otherwise ordered by the court

d) felony cases assigned to a pretrial diversion program pursuant to Adult Redeploy Illinois, 730 ILCS 190/20, or referred to a deferred prosecution program

e) preliminary examination (probable cause for detention) hearings, including emergency hearings outside of regular business hours

f) extradition (fugitive) cases

g) intrastate (other Illinois counties) warrants

h) applications for search warrants, including emergency applications outside of regular business hours

2. All Districts: initial bail hearings, on weekends and court holidays, in misdemeanor and felony cases.

[Dated: September 15, 2017.]

The Juvenile Justice and Child Protection Department is composed of the following divisions:

(a) - Juvenile Justice Division

The Juvenile Justice Division hears actions and proceedings arising under Articles I and V of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987, as amended, and related matters arising under the Parentage Act of 1984, as amended (750 ILCS 45/1 et seq.), the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code, as amended (405 ILCS 5/1-100 et seq.), and the School Code of 1961, as amended (105 ILCS 5/1-1 et seq.).

(b) - Child Protection Division

The Child Protection Division hears actions and proceedings arising under Articles I, II, III and IV of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987, as amended, and related matters arising under the Parentage Act of 1984, as amended (750 ILCS 45/1 et seq.), the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code, as amended (405 ILCS 5/1-100 et seq.), and School Code of 1961, as amended (105 ILCS 5/1-1 et seq.), and the Probate Act of 1975, as amended (755 ILCS 5/11-1 et seq.).

[Amended, effective August 1, 1996.]

The Municipal Department is divided into six districts: 

(a) Districts 

[Amended April 21, 2011, effective May 2, 2011.]

1. District 1: The City of Chicago; 
    
2. District 2: The Townships of Evanston, Maine, excluding that part of the Township of Maine within the territorial limits of the municipality of Rosemont, New Trier, Niles, Northfield, excluding that part of the Township of Northfield within the territorial limits of the municipality of Prospect Heights, and that part of the Township of Wheeling within the territorial limits of the municipality of Des Plaines; 
    
3. District 3: The Townships of Barrington, Elk Grove, Hanover, Palatine and Schaumburg, that part of the Township of Leyden within the territorial limits of the municipalities of Rosemont and Schiller Park, that part of the Township of Maine within the territorial limits of the municipality of Rosemont, that part of the Township of Northfield within the territorial limits of the municipality of Prospect Heights, Wheeling, excluding that part of the Township of Wheeling within the territorial limits of the municipality of Des Plaines, Norwood Park, excluding that part of the Township of Norwood Park within the territorial limits of the City of Chicago; 
    
4. District 4: The Townships of Berwyn, Cicero, Leyden, excluding that part lying within the territorial limits of the municipalities of Rosemont and Schiller Park, Oak Park, Proviso, River Forest, and Riverside; 
    
5. District 5: The Townships of Lemont, Lyons, Orland, Palos, Stickney, and Worth; 
    
6. District 6: The Townships of Bloom, Bremen, Calumet, Rich, and Thornton; 
    
7. Notwithstanding the above, the municipalities of Crestwood and Oak Forest and the part of the Village of Tinley Park that is within the territorial limits of Cook County are in District 5. 
    
8. Notwithstanding the above, the territorial limits of the municipality of Bensenville which is within the territorial limits of Cook County is in District 4. 

(b) Civil Actions Heard

1. Municipal District One hears civil actions and proceedings at law seeking compensatory and consequential money damages not in excess of $ 30,000, actions for the recovery of property of a value not in excess of $ 30,000, actions of forcible entry and detainer, and proceedings ancillary and supplemental thereto, including attachment, garnishment, distress and citation. 
    
2. Municipal Districts Two, Three, Four, Five and Six hear civil actions and proceedings at law seeking compensatory and consequential money damages not in excess of $100,000, actions for the recovery of property of a value not in excess of $100,000, actions of forcible entry and detainer, and proceedings ancillary and supplemental thereto, including attachment, garnishment, distress and citation; emergency petitions for involuntary admission on an inpatient basis under the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code, 405 ILCS 5/3-701, et seq. [amended March 10, 2022, effective immediately]
    
3. Upon amendment prior to trial of a complaint ordinally filed as a Municipal Department case, the amendment reflecting an increase in the ad damnum above the monetary damage amount set forth in section 2.1 (a)(1) above, for reassignment purposes, the court, upon its own motion or upon motion of a party filed not later than 28 days after amendment of the complaint, shall transfer the action to the Presiding Judge of the respective Municipal District for reassignment to the Presiding Judge of the Law Division. 
    
4. Upon the court’s own motion or motion of any party where the court finds that the reasonable value of an action pending in the Municipal Department exceeds the monetary damage amount set forth in section 2.1 (a)(1) above, the court shall transfer the action to the Presiding Judge of the respective Municipal District for transfer to the Presiding Judge of the Law Division. The Presiding Judge of the Law Division shall hold a status hearing at which the parties may agree to allow the action to proceed as a Law Division action in the appropriate Municipal District courthouse location. If there is no agreement, the action shall proceed in the Law Division in the Richard J. Daley Center location. 

5. In actions filed seeking damages in the Municipal Department the complaint shall allege the amount of damages sought wherever applicable as follows: 

   (i) The amount sought to be recovered does not exceed $ 2,500; 

   (ii) The amount sought to be recovered is not less than $ 2,500 nor more than $ 30,000 for actions filed in Municipal District One nor more than $ 50,000 for actions filed in Municipal District Two, Three, Four, Five or Six. Pursuant to Illinois Supreme Court Rule 222, any such action shall have attached to the initial pleading the party’s affidavit that the total money damages sought does not exceed $ 50,000; 

   (iii) The amount sought to be recovered is not less than $ 50,000 nor more than $ 100,000 for actions filed in Municipal Districts Two, Three, Four, Five or Six. Pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 222, any such action shall have attached to the initial pleading the party’s affidavit that the total money damages sought exceeds $ 50,000.  

6. The Municipal Department also hears actions and proceedings filed by municipal corporations seeking certain relief, including injunctive relief, except proceedings in which the validity of a zoning ordinance is in controversy. Those actions heard in the Municipal Department include: 

   (i) The enforcement of building, housing and zoning ordinances; 

   (ii) The appointment of receivers in said cases to cause compliance with the said ordinances; 

   (iii) The demolition of dangerous, unsafe and uncompleted buildings.  

7. The Municipal Department hears actions commenced to create receiverships under 765 ILCS 735/2. 
    
8. The Municipal Department hears civil actions brought by the Illinois Attorney General, under the Public Aid Code (305 ILCS 5/1-1 et seq.), to recover money in any amount given public aid recipients to which they were not entitled. 
    
9. The Municipal Department hears actions of Administrative Review under 625 ILCS 5/11-208.3, (administrative adjudication of violations of traffic regulations concerning the standing or parking of vehicles), as well as Administrative Review of vehicle impoundment hearings under ordinances 8-8-060 and 8-20-015 of the Municipal Code of Chicago (1993). 
    
10. The Municipal Department hears actions brought under the Controlled Substance and Cannabis Nuisance Act (740 ILCS 40/1 et seq.). 
     
11. Petitions for changes of name may be heard in Municipal Districts Two, Three, Four, Five and Six without regard to the municipal district within which petitioner resides. (Petitions for changes of name also may be heard in the Chancery Division without regard to the municipal district in which petitioner resides.)
     
12. The Municipal District in which the municipality is located hears actions for administrative review of final decisions regarding municipal code violations made by code hearing units or departments established by such municipality pursuant to 65 ILCS 5/1-2.1-1, et seq. (applicable to municipalities that are home rule units) or 65 ILCS 5/1-2.2-1, et seq. (applicable to municipalities that are non-home rule units) and hears actions filed by municipalities pursuant to 65 ILCS 5/1-2.1-8 or 65 ILCS 5/1-2.2-55 for the enforcement of judgments and judgments on the findings, decision and order, respectively. 

(c) Presiding Judges 

The Presiding Judges of those Municipal Districts in which actions of other division(s) are filed and heard shall be deemed supervising judges in such other division(s) for the purpose of facilitating case flow management. 

(d) Place of Filing – Civil Proceedings 

Civil Actions in the Municipal Department are filed in: 

1. The district of residence of any defendant who is joined in good faith and with probable cause for the purpose of obtaining a judgment against the defendant and not solely for the purpose of permitting a filing in that district, or;
    
2. The district in which the transaction or some part thereof occurred out of which the cause of action arose. Actions of attachment, distress for rent, forcible entry and detainer, and for the recovery of property may be filed in the district where the property is located. 
    
3. Actions seeking relief enumerated in Section 2.3 (b)(6) above shall be filed in the district where the municipal corporation seeking the relief is situated. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subparagraph, all actions filed by the County of Cook seeking relief as stated herein shall be filed in Municipal District 1. 

The following definitions shall apply to the foregoing Section 2.3: 

(i) Any private corporation or railroad or bridge company organized under the laws of this State and any foreign corporation authorized to transact business in this State is a resident of any district in which it has its registered office or other office. If there is no registered office or other office in Cook County, the corporation or company is deemed to be a resident of any district in which it is transacting business. 

(ii) A partnership sued in its firm name is a resident of any district in which any partner resides or in which the partnership has an office or is doing business.

(e) Criminal Actions Heard 

The Municipal Department hears criminal and quasi-criminal actions and prosecutions commenced by complaint or information except for those matters heard in the Domestic Violence Division. 

(f) Place of Filing – Criminal Proceedings

1. District 1. All criminal or quasi-criminal cases shall be filed as prescribed by the Presiding Judge of District 1. 
    
2. Districts 2 through 6. Complaints for examination in all felony cases shall be filed in the Central District Court in the appropriate district. All other criminal or quasi-criminal cases shall be filed whenever practicable in that court in the appropriate district which is nearest to the location of the offense or in the Central District Court in the appropriate district. 
    
3. Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraphs (1) and (2), complaints in all criminal and quasi-criminal cases initiated by the State of Illinois Legislative Advisory Committee on Public Aid shall be filed in the Sixth Municipal District of the Circuit Court of Cook County.

(a) Assignment of Actions.

Subject to Rule 295 of the Illinois Supreme Court, any action may be assigned to any judge or associate judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County for hearing or trial, regardless of the department, division or district in which the case was filed or to which the judge is regularly assigned. Any action or proceeding may be heard or tried in any courtroom in the Circuit Court of Cook County, regardless of the department, district or division in which the case was filed or for which the courtroom is regularly used.

(b) Filing or Trial in Wrong Branch.

No action shall be dismissed and no judgment order or decree shall be vacated, set aside or invalidated because the action was filed, tried or adjudicated in the wrong department, division or district.

(c) Transfer of Actions Improperly Filed.

Any action assigned to a judge that is determined by that judge, whether by suggestion of the parties or otherwise, to have been filed or to be pending in the wrong department, division, district or section of the Circuit Court of Cook County, shall be transferred to the Presiding Judge of the division or district in which it is pending for the purpose of transferring the action to the Presiding Judge of the proper division or district, or for reassignment to the proper section.

(d) Transfer of Actions Properly Filed.

For the convenience of parties and witnesses and for the more efficient disposition of litigation, a judge, upon motion of any party may transfer any action pending before that judge to the Presiding Judge of the division or district for the purpose of transferring the action to any other department, division or district.

(e) Transfer Orders.

Transfer orders shall be in writing, signed by the judge transferring the case and by the Presiding Judge of the division or district, and shall be in substantially the following form:

"The above entitled and numbered cause having been previously assigned to Judge ____________________ is hereby transferred to Judge _____________________, Presiding Judge of the _____________________ Division or District for the purpose of transferring the cause to the _____________________ Division or District.
 

______________________________________
Judge

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that said cause be and the same is transferred to Judge _________________, Presiding Judge of the _________________ Division or District.
 

______________________________________
Presiding Judge

______________________________________
Division or District

 Date: ________________________________

(f) Fees in Actions Transferred.

When an action is transferred from one department, division or district to another department, division or district and the fee required in the department, division or district to which the action is transferred is greater than the fee required in the department, division or district where the action was originally filed, the plaintiff shall pay a fee in an amount equal to the amount the plaintiff would have been required to pay had the plaintiff filed the action in the department, division or district to which the action is transferred, less the amount of the original filing fee paid, and the defendant and each defendant, if separate appearances have been filed, shall pay a fee in an amount equal to the amount the defendant would have been required to pay had the defendant filed his/her appearance in the department, division or district to which the action is transferred, less the amount of the original appearance fee paid.

[Amended, effective August 1, 1996.]

Actions commenced on and after April 19, 2010, in the several departments, divisions, and districts of the Circuit Court of Cook County shall be filed in the following main offices of the Clerk of the Court:

(a) County Department

• Law Division, Room 801, Richard J. Daley Center, Chicago;
• Chancery Division, Room 802, Richard J. Daley Center, Chicago;
• Domestic Relations Division, Room 802, Richard J. Daley Center, Chicago;
• County Division, Room 1202, Richard J. Daley Center, Chicago;
• Probate Division, Room 1202, Richard J. Daley Center, Chicago;
• Child Support, 2nd Floor, 28 North Clark Street, Chicago;
• Criminal Division, 26th Street and California Avenue, Chicago.
• Domestic Violence Division, 555 West Harrison Street, Chicago; Municipal Districts 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.

Filings for Law, Chancery, Domestic Relations, County and Probate Divisions will also be accepted by the civil filing clerks in the First Municipal District and the Suburban Municipal District offices of the Clerk of the Court. Additionally, filings for Law, Chancery, Domestic Relations, County and Probate Divisions will be accepted in any of the civil division Offices of the Clerk of the Court (Law, Chancery, Domestic Relations, County and Probate located in the Richard J. Daley Center, and Child Support located at 28 North Clark Street).

Initial filings for the Domestic Violence Division seeking emergency orders of protection, emergency civil no contact orders, and emergency stalking no contact orders shall be filed in the office of the Clerk where the case will be heard. Other filings for the Domestic Violence Division will also be accepted by the civil filing clerks in the First Municipal District, the Suburban Municipal District offices of the Clerk, and in any of the civil division Offices of the Clerk of the Court (Law, Chancery, Domestic Relations, County and Probate located in the Richard J. Daley Center, and Child Support located at 28 North Clark Street).

(b) Juvenile Justice and Child Protection Department

• Juvenile Justice Division, 1100 South Hamilton Avenue, Chicago;
• Child Protection Division, 1100 South Hamilton Avenue, Chicago.

(c) Municipal Department

• District 1: 
  • Civil, Rooms 601 and 602, Richard J. Daley Center, Chicago; 
  • Traffic, Lower Level, Richard J. Daley Center, Chicago; 
  • Criminal, Room 1006, Richard J. Daley Center, Chicago;
• District 2: Civil, Criminal and Traffic, 5600 Old Orchard Road, Skokie;
• District 3: Civil, Criminal and Traffic, 2121 Euclid, Rolling Meadows;
• District 4: Civil, Criminal and Traffic, 1500 Maybrook Drive, Maywood;
• District 5: Civil, Criminal and Traffic, 10220 South 76th Avenue, Bridgeview;
• District 6: Civil, Criminal and Traffic, 16501 South Kedzie Parkway, Markham.

Additionally, filings for the First Municipal District, Civil, will also be accepted by the civil filing clerks in any of the civil division Offices of the Clerk of the Court (Law, Chancery, Domestic Relations, County and Probate located in the Richard J. Daley Center, and Child Support located at 28 North Clark Street), as well as in any of the Suburban Municipal District Offices of the Clerk of the Court.

[Amended, effective April 19, 2010.]

The following units of the Circuit Court of Cook County shall function as follows:

(a) The Forensic Clinical Services Department - The Forensic Clinical Services Department provides diagnostic and clinical services for adults, juveniles and families referred by the Court. Diagnostic impressions, opinions and recommendations are formulated in written reports submitted to the Court and expert court testimony is provided as mandated.

(b) Social Services Department - The Social Services Department provides (1) social and counseling service to persons referred to it by the court, and (2) supervision of persons under supervision and conditional discharge by order of the Court.

(c) Office of the Public Guardian - The Office of the Public Guardian acts (1) as public guardian in cases in which the office is appointed as guardian pursuant to 755 ILCS 5/13-5, and (2) as attorney and guardian ad litem in cases in which the office is appointed by order of the Court in any division of the Circuit Court of Cook County.

(d) Hearing Officer Division - The Hearing Officer Division is appointed by this Court as the administrative body (1) to conduct hearings which shall determine the future status of the child pursuant to 42 U.S.C.A. 675 (1)(5)(c) and 705 ILCS 405/2-28, (2) to conduct predispositional conferences pursuant to 705 ILCS 405/2-21.1, and (3) to perform other duties as assigned by the Court.

[Amended, effective August 1, 1996.]

(a) Whenever there is a petition pending in the Child Protection Division and a case involving the same family is pending in any other division of the Court, the issues of visitation, custody, guardianship or abuse, neglect or dependency of the child who is the subject of the petition in the Child Protection Division shall be heard and resolved as follows: The judges involved shall confer as often as needed and jointly determine which court shall control and hear said issues as set forth above and shall consider the impact of such orders on siblings, relatives and parties in each case. Where a matter has been pending in a division other than the Child Protection Division, the Child Protection Division and the other involved judiciary will consider the impact, significance and consequences of the Child Protection Division proceeding on the prior pending matters when determining which court will proceed on such issues.

(b) Any judge, in any division, hearing a case involving a family who becomes aware that a petition involving a child of that family is pending in the Child Protection Division, may direct the Clerk of the Court to transmit a copy of all pleadings and orders that relate to the child to the judge hearing the case in the Child Protection Division.

[Amended, effective August 1, 1996.]

Cases in District One of the Municipal Department of the Circuit Court of Cook County shall be returned and assigned as directed by the Presiding Judge of that district.

Cases in Districts Two through Six of the Municipal Department of the Circuit Court of Cook County shall be returned and assigned as directed by the Presiding Judge of the district.

[Dated January 3, 1967.]

Each case filed in the Chancery Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County shall be assigned by the Clerk of the Circuit Court to a trial calendar using electronic data processing equipment. Such assignment shall be made by random electronic process as hereinafter provided.

[Amended, effective January 1, 1982.]

a. The Presiding Judge of the Chancery Division shall assign each judge of the Division to a trial calendar designated in numerical order beginning with the number one except judges assigned to the Mortgage Foreclosure / Mechanics Lien Section who shall be assigned calendar numbers beginning with the number 51.

b. No judge shall be reassigned a different trial calendar without the written approval of the Chief Judge.

[Amended, effective March 1, 2005.]

A. When the Complaint or other paper commencing an action in the Chancery Division is presented for filing the Clerk of the Circuit Court shall proceed in the below specified sequence:

(i) immediately date and time stamp the documents;

(ii) affix the next sequential case number to the papers as provided in General Order 6.2(a) of the Circuit Court of Cook County;

(iii) accept and record the filing fee;

(iv) enter the names of the parties, the case number and the category of the case into the electronic data processing equipment and by random electronic process, draw the number of the calendar to which the case is assigned from the appropriate category bank;

(v) the number of the calendar to which the case is assigned, the names of the parties, the case number and the category of the case shall appear on the cathode ray tube at the assignment counter and shall be printed on a three-part form;

(vi) separate the three-part, printed form provided by the equipment, place the top sheet in the file, give the second sheet to the attorney and retain the third sheet for delivery to the judge assigned to hear the case; and

(vii) place upon the pre-numbered file jacket and the first pleading filed the electronically assigned calendar number.

B. The case number, names of parties, category and calendar assignment shall be retained in the data memory banks of the electronic data processing equipment.

C. Corrections in data entries

(i) Corrections in data entries may be made by the person assigned by the Clerk to operate Chancery Division assignment terminal only after the following procedures have been complied with:

(a) the operator shall fill out the printed form giving the incorrect and proposed correct entry,

(b) the operator shall sign the form,

(c) the supervisor of the Chancery Division section of the clerk's office shall certify that the incorrect and proposed correct information is proper.

(ii) The corrected entry may then be made.

(iii) All completed corrections forms shall be delivered to the Management Committee.

(iv) All information regarding a correction including the incorrect and correct entries shall be retained in the data memory banks of the electronic data processing equipment.

[Amended, effective June 2, 1980.]

a. All cases shall be entitled as provided in General Order 3.5 of the Circuit Court of Cook County.

b. Eight separate random assignment banks designated by the following categories of cases shall be provided by the electronic data processing equipment operated by the Clerk:

1. Class Actions
2. Declaratory Judgment
3. Injunctions / Temporary Restraining Orders
4. Administrative Review
5. Change of Name
6. General Chancery
7. Mechanics Lien
8. Mortgage Foreclosures

c. In the General Chancery Section each numbered calendar shall appear in category banks one through six above an equal number of times except for the calendar number assigned to the Presiding Judge of the Division which shall appear in such lesser proportions as the Presiding Judge of the Division shall designate.

d. In the Mortgage Foreclosure / Mechanics Lien Section, Calendars 52, 53, and 54 shall appear an equal number of times in the Mechanics Lien category bank and shall each be assigned randomly thirty-three and a third percent (33 1/3%) of twenty-five percent (25%) of the filings in the Mortgage Foreclosure category bank. Calendars 55, 56, 57, and 58 shall each be assigned randomly twenty percent (20%) of the filings in the Mortgage Foreclosure category bank.

[Amended April 17, 2006, effective May 1, 2006.]

a. Whenever a judge assigned to the Chancery Division, either on his own motion or upon motion of the parties, grants a change of venue, the case shall be reassigned to the Presiding Judge of the Division who shall order the Clerk to draw by random electronic process from the category bank designated on the original pleading a new calendar number.

(i) The electronic data processing equipment shall automatically exclude the calendar number of any judge to whom the case has previously been assigned.

(ii) Procedures followed by the Clerk when an order for a change of venue is made shall be the same as prescribed in 1.3 a (iv), a (v), a (vi), a (vii), b and c above.

(iii) The excluded calendar or calendars shall appear on the three-part printed form in addition to the information provided in 1.3 a (v) above.

[Amended, effective June 2, 1980.]

a. The Presiding Judge of the Chancery Division shall designate another judge of the Division to hear matters in the absence of the regularly assigned judge.

[Amended, effective June 2, 1980.] 

a. A motion to consolidate cases pending in the Chancery Division shall be heard by the Presiding Judge of the Division.

(i) Cases consolidated pursuant to subparagraph (a) above shall be assigned to the calendar to which the case with the lowest docket number was assigned.

b. A motion to consolidate a case pending in the Chancery Division with a case pending in any other Division or District of the Circuit Court of Cook County shall be heard pursuant to General Order 12 of the Circuit Court of Cook County.

[Amended, effective June 2, 1980.]

a. When an action is transferred to the Presiding Judge of the Chancery Division pursuant to General Order 1.3 of the Circuit Court of Cook County, the Presiding Judge shall order the Clerk to draw from the appropriate category bank a number of a calendar to which the transferred case shall be electronically assigned.

[Amended, effective June 2, 1980.]

a. At any time when the electronic data processing equipment operated by the Clerk is not in operation emergency matters shall be heard by a judge designated by the Presiding Judge to hear those matters.

b. Cases heard by any judge designated to hear emergency matters shall be electronically assigned to a calendar the next business day as provided in Section 1.3 above.

[Amended, effective June 2, 1980.]

(A) A Management Committee is hereby established for the Chancery Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County

(i) The Committee shall be composed of the Chief Judge or his designee, the Presiding Judge of the Division and two other Chancery Division judges appointed by the Chief Judge. The Committee shall meet bimonthly or more frequently as necessary.

(ii) It shall be the duty of the Management Committee to :

(a) review the operation of the Random Assignment System,

(b) from time to time review audits conducted by the Clerk,

(c) recommend to the Chief Judge changes in the operation of the Random Assignment System, in the General Order establishing such system and in the audit procedures established by the Clerk, and

(d) perform such other duties as the Chief Judge shall assign.

(iii) (a) The Management Committee may direct the Clerk to discontinue the assignment of cases to any numbered calendar of the Chancery Division when the judge assigned to that calendar requests in writing that no additional cases be assigned to his calendar, stating the reason therefor.

(b) A statement of the Committee's action allowing or denying the request together with the reasons therefor shall be delivered to the Chief Judge.

(c) Any order discontinuing the assignment of cases to a particular calendar shall be reviewed by the Management Committee every 30 days. If such order is extended after review, a written report stating the reason for such action shall be delivered to the Chief Judge.

(iv) If the Management Committee determines that a case was dismissed or abandoned and a subsequent case has been filed involving the same or similar parties and relating to the same subject matter, the second case or any such succeeding cases may be reassigned to the calendar to which the first case filed was assigned.

(B) The Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County shall establish procedures to audit the assignment of cases by the Random Assignment System established herein.

[Amended, effective June 2, 1980.]

(a) Any complaint for injunction filed pursuant to Section 155-7.2 of the Municipal Code of Chicago, or similar provision of an Ordinance of any other municipality, shall be placed at the head of the call of the Chancery Division and shall be given priority over all other causes.

(b) The court shall set the cause for hearing within five days after the Complaint has been filed. The hearing shall not be recessed or continued, other than from the close of one court day to the opening of the next court day, unless upon request of the defendant.

(c) The Court shall render its judgment within three days after the conclusion of the hearing.

[Amended, effective April 4, 1968.]

In foreclosure suits a separate action shall be filed for each parcel of Real Estate involved except where one mortgage is covered by several parcels.

[Amended, effective October 8, 1965.]

Every complaint or other paper commencing an action in the Chancery Division shall designate in the caption below the words "In Chancery" the following depending upon the relief sought:

a. If the case is to be maintained as a Class Action the words "Class Action" shall appear regardless of any other relief sought.

b. If the Complaint seeks injunctive relief, the words "Injunction/Temporary Restraining Order" shall appear regardless of any other relief sought except as provided in subsection (a) above.

c. If the Complaint seeks the foreclosure of a mortgage, the words "Mortgage Foreclosure" shall appear except as provided in subsections (a) and (b) above.

d. If the Complaint seeks a change of name, it shall bear the words "Change of Name" except as provided in subsections (a), (b) and (c) above.

e. If the Complaint seeks a review of the decision of an administrative body or agency, the words "Administrative Review" shall appear except as provided in subsections (a), (b), (c) and (d) above.

f. If the Complaint seeks a declaratory judgment, the words "Declaratory Judgment" shall appear except as provided in subsections (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) above.

g. If the Complaint seeks to foreclose a Mechanic's Lien, it shall bear the words "Mechanic's Lien" except as provided in subsections (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f) above.

h. All other actions not specified in subsections (a-g) above shall have the word "General" below the words "In Chancery."

[Amended, effective September 4, 1984.]

(a) In any action filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County seeking liquidation, dissolution or other statutory relief under any statute of this state where a liquidator, receiver or other similar officer has been appointed by and is acting under the authority of any executive or administrative official of this state, the liquidator, receiver or other such officer shall file with this court a quarterly statement of the condition of the estate being administered setting forth the assets and liabilities thereof at the close of each quarter of its fiscal year and a statement of operations for said quarter of its fiscal year.

(b) In any such action pending in the Circuit Court of Cook County on the date of this order, the liquidator, receiver or other such officer shall file within 60 days of this date quarterly statements as aforesaid covering each fiscal quarter since the filing of the action, and thereafter for each subsequent quarter of its fiscal year.

(c) Each report shall be filed on a detailed form authorized by the state official having jurisdiction of said liquidator, receiver or other such officer.

(d) Copies of said quarterly reports shall be served upon each counsel of record who has filed an appearance in the proceeding on behalf of any party named in the Complaint or on behalf of any party added thereafter by order of court.

[Amended, effective April 22, 1968.]

A motion to correct errors in criminal and quasi-criminal cases shall be in writing, accompanied by affidavit, entitled in the action in which the error complained of is alleged to have occurred, filed with the Clerk of the Court and memorandum thereof entered in the original action. A notice of the motion shall be served upon the attorney for the prosecution in the original action and be returnable before the Presiding Judge or his designate of the Division or District in which the original action was tried for assignment.

[Dated January 2, 1964.]

The hours of the Circuit Court of Cook County shall be as follows:

Court shall be convened on each working day except Saturday at the hour of 9:30 o'clock a.m., unless otherwise ordered by the Presiding Judge of the Division, or with the consent of the Presiding Judge of the Division by the Judge or Associate Judge to whom the action is assigned for hearing or trial.

[Dated June 3, 1975.]

(a) New Actions - Every complaint or other paper initiating any action or proceeding shall contain in the caption the words "IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS" and the name of the Department and Division or District of the Court in which the action is filed. Complaints in actions on Small Claims within the provisions of Rules 281 through 288 of the Rules of the Supreme Court of Illinois shall be endorsed with the words "Small Claims" beneath the caption. Captions of papers subsequent to the complaint shall conform to the style of the complaint. Misdesignation or errors in captions shall not affect the power of the court or constitute grounds for dismissal. Blank forms supplied by the Court containing captions formerly used in the several courts in and for Cook County may be used, regardless of caption, for so long as the Clerk of Court shall determine.

[Dated January 3, 1967.]

(b) Pending Actions - In actions pending on December 31, 1963 A.D., pleadings, motions, orders, court forms and other papers filed on and after January 1, 1964 A.D., should be captioned as provided in section (a) of this order, but shall be valid if entitled in the name of the court in which the action was filed prior to January 1, 1964 A.D.

[Dated January 1, 1964.]

(a) New Actions- Every action, upon the filing of the complaint or other paper initiating the action or proceeding, shall be numbered in annual series with the number of the action preceded by the last two figures of the current year and by the abbreviation of the Division or District in which the action is filed, and the Record Series where implemented by the Clerk of the Circuit Court, in the following form:

• County Department
  • Chancery Division 15-CH-12345
  • County Division
    • Abandoned Baby 15-COAD-123456
    • Action in Debt 15-COAC-123456
    • Adoption 15-COAD-123456
    • Annexation 15-COAN-123456
    • Annual Tax Sale 15-COMS-123456
    • Certificate of Error 15-COCE-123456
    • Civil Asset Forfeiture 15-COFO-123456
    • Confidential Intermediary 15-COCI-123456
    • Disconnection 15-COAN-123456
    • Drainage District 15-COMS-123456
    • Elections 15-COEL-123456
    • Emancipation 15-COMS-123456
    • Estate Tax 15-COET-123456
    • Estray 15-COES-123456
    • Expunge Redemption 15-COTD-123456
    • Father Identification 15-COFI-123456
    • Gestational Surrogacy 15-COMS-123456
    • Habeas Corpus 15-COMS-123456
    • Indemnity 15-COIN-123456
    • Inheritance Tax 15-COIT-123456
    • Mechanic Lien 15-COMS-123456
    • Mental Health 15-COMH-123456
    • Minor Marriage 15-COMS-123456
    • Miscellaneous 15-COMS-123456
    • Name Change 15-CONC-123456
    • Parental Notification 15-COPN-123456
    • Property Tax Appeal Board 15-COPT-123456
    • Real Estate Tax Refund 15-COTR-123456
    • Relief After Tax Purchase 15-COMS-123456
    • Request for Records 15-COMH-123456
    • School Dispute 15-COMS-123456
    • Special Assessments 15-COSA-123456
    • Tax Deed 15-COTD-123456
    • Tax Objection 15-COTO-123456
    • Termination of Parental Rights 15-COAD-123456
    • Treatment (Mental Health) 15-COMH-123456
    • Treatment Contagious Disease 15-COMS-123456/15-COPH-123456
    • Unpaid Tax Bid 15-COMS-123456
    • Vacate Tax Sale 15-COVT-123456
  • Criminal Division
    • Contempt of Court 15-ACC-123456
    • Habeas Corpus 15-HCC-123456
    • Indictment 15-CR-1234567
    • Information 15-CR-123456
    • Miscellaneous Remedies 15-MR-1234567
    • Search Warrant (pre-charge) 15-9-12345
  • Domestic Relations Division 15-D-123456
  • Domestic Violence Division
    • Civil 15-OP-12345
    • Criminal 15-DV-12345
  • Elder Law and Miscellaneous Remedies Division (civil actions) 15-EL-123456
  • Law Division 15-L-123456
  • Probate Division 15-P-123456
  • Juvenile Justice and Child Protection Department
  • Child Protection Division 15-JA-12345
  • Juvenile Justice Division 15-JD-12345
• Municipal Department 
  • District 1
    • Civil 15-M1-123456
    • Criminal
    • Complaint (Misdemeanor or Felony) 15-MC1-123456
    • Fugitive (Interstate only) Warrant or Complaint 15-MC1-123456
    • Information (Felony)15-C1-1234567
  • District 2
    • Civil 15-M2-123456
    • Criminal
    • Complaint (Misdemeanor or Felony) 15-MC2-123456
    • Fugitive (Interstate only) Warrant or Complaint 15-MC2-123456
    • Information (Felony) 15-C2-1234567
  • District 3
    • Civil 15-M3-123456
    • Criminal
    • Complaint (Misdemeanor or Felony) 15-MC3-123456
    • Fugitive (Interstate only) Warrant or Complaint 15-MC3-123456
    • Information (Felony) 15-C3-1234567
  • District 4
    • Civil 15-M4-123456
    • Criminal
    • Complaint (Misdemeanor or Felony) 15-MC4-123456
    • Fugitive (Interstate only) Warrant or Complaint 15-MC4-123456
    • Information (Felony) 15-C4-1234567
  • District 5
    • Civil 15-M5-123456
    • Criminal
    • Complaint (Misdemeanor or Felony) 15-MC5-123456
    • Fugitive (Interstate only) Warrant or Complaint 15-MC5-123456
    • Information (Felony) 15-C5-1234567 
  • District 6
    • Civil 15-M6-123456
    • Criminal
    • Complaint (Misdemeanor or Felony) 15-MC6-123456
    • Fugitive (Interstate only) Warrant or Complaint 15-MC6-123456
    • Information (Felony) 15-C6-1234567 

Any changes conforming to the numbering system set forth in this General Order 6.2 (a) implemented prior to November 2, 2015, are hereby approved.

(b) Pending Actions – Each action pending on December 31, 1963, in any given court in or for Cook County shall retain the number given in the court in which the action was filed prior to Jan. 1, 1964, and pleadings, orders, judgments and other papers subsequently filed shall bear the number so given. Unless expressly provided otherwise in the circuit rules or the general orders of this court, each action pending in the court on November 2, 2015, shall retain the number it had on that date, and pleadings, orders, and other papers subsequently filed shall bear the same number.

(c) Remanded Actions – Every action remanded by the Appellate Court or the Supreme Court for a new trial or hearing, upon reinstatement, shall retain the same case number, unless otherwise ordered by the Presiding Judge, or the Presiding Judge's designee, of the Division or District in which the case is pending to be renumbered by the circuit clerk. The case shall be set for hearing or trial on the motion of either party or the court.

[Amended, effective November 2, 2015.]

In all cases filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County wherein an attorney files his appearance for any party on behalf of an insurance company or companies pursuant to a contract of insurance or subrogation between said insurance company or companies and any party, the attorney shall state the name of the insurance company or companies on whose behalf he has filed.

[Dated December 31, 1965.] 

[Rescinded, effective April 3, 1987.]

The Clerk of the Court shall keep the records of the court in the following manner:

(a) Forms of entries. He shall use abbreviated forms of entries of the proceedings, orders and judgments of the court, which abbreviated forms of entries shall have the same force and effect as if the proceedings, orders and judgments were entered in full on the records of the court. Any entry of a final order or judgment shall be deemed sufficient which will inform any person of ordinary intelligence what the court intended to order or adjudge, and it shall not be necessary to the validity of such final order or judgment that the record should recite all the preliminary proceedings leading up to such final order or judgment, but all such necessary preliminary proceedings shall be presumed to have been taken in the absence of anything appearing in the record of the case to the contrary.

(b) Half-sheets. He shall keep a half-sheet in the file of each case in the Municipal Department which shall contain a record (1) of papers and documents filed, (2) of all proceedings had, and (3) of all orders and judgments entered in the case, in manner provided in paragraph (a) of this order.

The half-sheet shall constitute part of the official court record in each case.

[Dated January 6, 1977.] 

The following schedule is established for fines and appearances in actions for traffic violations in the Municipal Department of the Circuit Court of Cook County, pursuant to the authority conferred in Circuit Court Rule 11.2.

1. District 1, Municipal Department
   1. Parking Tickets - Minimum Fines:
      1. $10.00 - Parking meter violation 27-329.
          
      2. $15.00 - 27-308A and other parking violations not listed for $10.00, $25.00, $50.00 or $100.00.

      3. $25.00 - Violations as follows:

         27-308D       27-311-10        27-311-19

         27-311-1        27-311-11         27-316

         27-311-2        27-311-12        27-318

         27-311-3        27-311-13        27-320

         27-311-4        27-311-14        27-321

         27-311-5        27-311-15        27-322

         27-311-6        27-311-16        27-326

         27-311-8        27-311-17        27-353

         27-311-9        27-311-18        27-372

[Dated, effective December 1, 1985.]

As authorized by the Chief Judge pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 553, the following persons may release on bail any persons arrested or charged with violations where bail has been preset under Supreme Court Rules 526, 527 and 528 (Ill.Rev.Stat. 1989, ch. 110A, pars. 526, 527 and 528) and may be released from custody on cash bail or Individual Recognizance in the amount required by that article:

(a) Any General Superintendent, Chief, Captain, Lieutenant, Sergeant of Police or Watch Commander.

(b) The Sheriff of Cook County, Watch Commander, any Deputy Sheriff designated by said Sheriff.

(c) The Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County and his/her deputy clerks

(d) The District Commander of the Illinois Department of Conservation and his designated officers.

(e) Any Police Officer or Watch Commander designated by the Commanding Officer of a Police Department of any village, city, town or other municipality.

Bail may be posted or accepted in any police station, sheriff's office, jail, or other County, Municipal or other building housing governmental units, or a division headquarters building of the Illinois Highway Police.

All persons arrested within the Central Police District of the City of Chicago and not let to bail (excepting those persons arrested on warrants) shall be brought without undue delay before a Judge regularly assigned to Bond Court for the purpose of setting bail.

Pursuant to the provisions of Illinois Supreme Court Rule 553, the Watch Commander at any Police Department or law enforcement agency of any unit of local, county or state government in Cook County, Illinois, is authorized by the Chief Judge to release accused persons upon individual bond in conformance with that Rule. Where all offenses are conservation and traffic offenses, law enforcement officers of the Illinois Department of Conservation, as authorized by their District Commander, may release in the field upon individual bond by the accused's signing of the citation and complaint.

The officials listed in 8.1(a) and 8.4 are not authorized to let to Individual Bond any person who, pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 553(d), is unwilling to establish his identity or submit to being fingerprinted as required by law, or elects release under separate bail under Supreme Court Rule 503(a)(3).

[Amended, effective November 5, 1990.]

Weekend and holiday sessions of District One of the Municipal Department of the Circuit Court of Cook County shall be held for criminal and quasi-criminal actions as directed by the Presiding Judge of that district.

Weekend and holiday sessions of Districts Two through Six of the Municipal Department of the Circuit Court of Cook County shall be held for criminal and quasi-criminal actions as directed by the Presiding Judge of the district.

[Dated January 3, 1967.]

The Presiding Judge of each Division or District of the Circuit Court of Cook County may assign to Associate Judges within his Division or District, severally or by designation of office, by class or category of case, or in specific instances, any matter except the trial of criminal cases in which the defendant is charged with an offense punishable by imprisonment for more than one (1) year, unless such Associate Judge is authorized by the Illinois Supreme Court to hear felony trials.

[Amended, effective January 7, 1982.]

The presiding judge of the Criminal Division, County Department, is hereby authorized to transfer to any judge previously assigned to the Criminal Division, County Department, or to the former Criminal Court of Cook County any matter previously assigned to him for the purpose of (1) terminating such matter; and (2) hearing all post-trial motions and proceedings concerning such matter.

[Dated January 2, 1964.]

The Assignment Judge of the Law Division, County Department, hears motions for the consolidation of actions pending in:

(a) Different Departments of the Court;

(b) Different Divisions of the County Department; and

(c) The Law Division.

The Motion Judge of District 1 of the Municipal Department hears motions for the consolidation of actions pending in different Districts of the Municipal Department or within District 1.

The Presiding Judge of the Division or of Districts 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 hears motions for the consolidation of actions pending in a single Division or District.

[Dated February 1, 1964.]

The Presiding Judge of each Division of the County Department and each District of the Municipal Department of the Circuit Court of Cook County is authorized to transfer to any judge previously assigned to said Division or District any matter previously assigned to that judge for the purpose of:

1. terminating such matter; and
2. hearing all post-trial motions and proceedings concerning such matter.

[Dated October 20, 1964.]

The Probate Division of the County Department shall hear matters according to the following schedule:

(a) Motions of Court - Daily:

(i) 10:00 a.m. - Motions not requiring notice.

(ii) 10:45 a.m. - Motions requiring notice.

(b) Set Matters - Daily:

(i) Before Presiding Judge - 11:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

(ii) Before Associate Judges and Magistrates - 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

(c) Citations Returnable - Daily at 11:15 a.m.

(d) Claim Calendar - 4th Monday of each month at 11:15 a.m.

(e) Hearings on Minors' Settlements - Monday, Tuesday and Thursday at 2:15 p.m.

(f) Hearings on all other matters - Daily at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

[Dated December 28, 1966.]

The clerk shall maintain records listing (1) authorized surety companies and their powers of attorney and (2) data pertaining to the appointment and qualification of the public administrator, public guardian and public conservator.

[Dated October 18, 1972.]

The Clerk shall publish the call of calendars in the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin in an issue published not later than the day before the calendar is called.

[Dated December 28, 1966.]

The testimony recorded at the hearing on the admission of a will to probate shall be reduced to writing, certified by the hearing judge, and filed.

[Dated December 28, 1966.]

The Municipal Department is divided into six districts: 

(a) Districts 

[Amended April 21, 2011, effective May 2, 2011.]

1. District 1: The City of Chicago; 
2. District 2: The Townships of Evanston, Maine, excluding that part of the Township of Maine within the territorial limits of the municipality of Rosemont, New Trier, Niles, Northfield, excluding that part of the Township of Northfield within the territorial limits of the municipality of Prospect Heights, and that part of the Township of Wheeling within the territorial limits of the municipality of Des Plaines; 
3. District 3: The Townships of Barrington, Elk Grove, Hanover, Palatine and Schaumburg, that part of the Township of Leyden within the territorial limits of the municipalities of Rosemont and Schiller Park, that part of the Township of Maine within the territorial limits of the municipality of Rosemont, that part of the Township of Northfield within the territorial limits of the municipality of Prospect Heights, Wheeling, excluding that part of the Township of Wheeling within the territorial limits of the municipality of Des Plaines, Norwood Park, excluding that part of the Township of Norwood Park within the territorial limits of the City of Chicago; 
4. District 4: The Townships of Berwyn, Cicero, Leyden, excluding that part lying within the territorial limits of the municipalities of Rosemont and Schiller Park, Oak Park, Proviso, River Forest, and Riverside; 
5. District 5: The Townships of Lemont, Lyons, Orland, Palos, Stickney, and Worth; 
6. District 6: The Townships of Bloom, Bremen, Calumet, Rich, and Thornton; 
7. Notwithstanding the above, the municipalities of Crestwood and Oak Forest and the part of the Village of Tinley Park that is within the territorial limits of Cook County are in District 5. 
8. Notwithstanding the above, the territorial limits of the municipality of Bensenville which is within the territorial limits of Cook County is in District 4. 

(b) Civil Actions Heard

1. Municipal District One hears civil actions and proceedings at law seeking compensatory and consequential money damages not in excess of $ 30,000, actions for the recovery of property of a value not in excess of $ 30,000, actions of forcible entry and detainer, and proceedings ancillary and supplemental thereto, including attachment, garnishment, distress and citation. 
2. Municipal Districts Two, Three, Four, Five and Six hear civil actions and proceedings at law seeking compensatory and consequential money damages not in excess of $100,000, actions for the recovery of property of a value not in excess of $100,000, actions of forcible entry and detainer, and proceedings ancillary and supplemental thereto, including attachment, garnishment, distress and citation; emergency petitions for involuntary admission on an inpatient basis under the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code, 405 ILCS 5/3-701, et seq. [amended March 10, 2022, effective immediately]
3. Upon amendment prior to trial of a complaint ordinally filed as a Municipal Department case, the amendment reflecting an increase in the ad damnum above the monetary damage amount set forth in section 2.1 (a)(1) above, for reassignment purposes, the court, upon its own motion or upon motion of a party filed not later than 28 days after amendment of the complaint, shall transfer the action to the Presiding Judge of the respective Municipal District for reassignment to the Presiding Judge of the Law Division. 
4. Upon the court’s own motion or motion of any party where the court finds that the reasonable value of an action pending in the Municipal Department exceeds the monetary damage amount set forth in section 2.1 (a)(1) above, the court shall transfer the action to the Presiding Judge of the respective Municipal District for transfer to the Presiding Judge of the Law Division. The Presiding Judge of the Law Division shall hold a status hearing at which the parties may agree to allow the action to proceed as a Law Division action in the appropriate Municipal District courthouse location. If there is no agreement, the action shall proceed in the Law Division in the Richard J. Daley Center location. 
5. In actions filed seeking damages in the Municipal Department the complaint shall allege the amount of damages sought wherever applicable as follows: 
   (i)  The amount sought to be recovered does not exceed $ 2,500; 
   (ii) The amount sought to be recovered is not less than $ 2,500 nor more than $ 30,000 for actions filed in Municipal District One nor more than $ 50,000 for actions filed in Municipal District Two, Three, Four, Five or Six. Pursuant to Illinois Supreme Court Rule 222, any such action shall have attached to the initial pleading the party’s affidavit that the total money damages sought does not exceed $ 50,000; 
   (iii) The amount sought to be recovered is not less than $ 50,000 nor more than $ 100,000 for actions filed in Municipal Districts Two, Three, Four, Five or Six. Pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 222, any such action shall have attached to the initial pleading the party’s affidavit that the total money damages sought exceeds $ 50,000. 
6. The Municipal Department also hears actions and proceedings filed by municipal corporations seeking certain relief, including injunctive relief, except proceedings in which the validity of a zoning ordinance is in controversy. Those actions heard in the Municipal Department include: 
   (i)  The enforcement of building, housing and zoning ordinances; 
   (ii) The appointment of receivers in said cases to cause compliance with the said ordinances; 
   (iii) The demolition of dangerous, unsafe and uncompleted buildings. 
7. The Municipal Department hears actions commenced to create receiverships under 765 ILCS 735/2. 
8. The Municipal Department hears civil actions brought by the Illinois Attorney General, under the Public Aid Code (305 ILCS 5/1-1 et seq.), to recover money in any amount given public aid recipients to which they were not entitled. 
9. The Municipal Department hears actions of Administrative Review under 625 ILCS 5/11-208.3, (administrative adjudication of violations of traffic regulations concerning the standing or parking of vehicles), as well as Administrative Review of vehicle impoundment hearings under ordinances 8-8-060 and 8-20-015 of the Municipal Code of Chicago (1993). 
10. The Municipal Department hears actions brought under the Controlled Substance and Cannabis Nuisance Act (740 ILCS 40/1 et seq.). 
11. Petitions for changes of name may be heard in Municipal Districts Two, Three, Four, Five and Six without regard to the municipal district within which petitioner resides. (Petitions for changes of name also may be heard in the Chancery Division without regard to the municipal district in which petitioner resides.)
12. The Municipal District in which the municipality is located hears actions for administrative review of final decisions regarding municipal code violations made by code hearing units or departments established by such municipality pursuant to 65 ILCS 5/1-2.1-1, et seq. (applicable to municipalities that are home rule units) or 65 ILCS 5/1-2.2-1, et seq. (applicable to municipalities that are non-home rule units) and hears actions filed by municipalities pursuant to 65 ILCS 5/1-2.1-8 or 65 ILCS 5/1-2.2-55 for the enforcement of judgments and judgments on the findings, decision and order, respectively. 

(c) Presiding Judges 

The Presiding Judges of those Municipal Districts in which actions of other division(s) are filed and heard shall be deemed supervising judges in such other division(s) for the purpose of facilitating case flow management. 

(d) Place of Filing — Civil Proceedings 

Civil Actions in the Municipal Department are filed in: 

1. The district of residence of any defendant who is joined in good faith and with probable cause for the purpose of obtaining a judgment against the defendant and not solely for the purpose of permitting a filing in that district, or;
2. The district in which the transaction or some part thereof occurred out of which the cause of action arose. Actions of attachment, distress for rent, forcible entry and detainer, and for the recovery of property may be filed in the district where the property is located. 
3. Actions seeking relief enumerated in Section 2.3 (b)(6) above shall be filed in the district where the municipal corporation seeking the relief is situated. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subparagraph, all actions filed by the County of Cook seeking relief as stated herein shall be filed in Municipal District 1. 

The following definitions shall apply to the foregoing Section 2.3: 

(i)  Any private corporation or railroad or bridge company organized under the laws of this State and any foreign corporation authorized to transact business in this State is a resident of any district in which it has its registered office or other office. If there is no registered office or other office in Cook County, the corporation or company is deemed to be a resident of any district in which it is transacting business. 

(ii) A partnership sued in its firm name is a resident of any district in which any partner resides or in which the partnership has an office or is doing business.

(e) Criminal Actions Heard 

The Municipal Department hears criminal and quasi-criminal actions and prosecutions commenced by complaint or information except for those matters heard in the Domestic Violence Division. 

(f) Place of Filing — Criminal Proceedings

1. District 1. All criminal or quasi-criminal cases shall be filed as prescribed by the Presiding Judge of District 1. 
2. Districts 2 through 6. Complaints for examination in all felony cases shall be filed in the Central District Court in the appropriate district. All other criminal or quasi-criminal cases shall be filed whenever practicable in that court in the appropriate district which is nearest to the location of the offense or in the Central District Court in the appropriate district. 
3. Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraphs (1) and (2), complaints in all criminal and quasi-criminal cases initiated by the State of Illinois Legislative Advisory Committee on Public Aid shall be filed in the Sixth Municipal District of the Circuit Court of Cook County.