Iris Y. Martinez Richard J. Daley Center
CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT 50 West Washington
Suite1001
Chicago, Illinois 60602
(312) 603-5030
FAX (312) 603-4557
www.cookcountyclerkofcourt.org
1
OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY
Special Instructions for eFiling in Cook County
Urgent Information
1. When eFiling a new case or subsequent filings, Cook County attorneys must input a
Cook County Attorney Code Number in the “Case Cross Reference Number” field in
Section 2 on the initial screen. Select “Cook County Attorney Code” in the drop
down, click “Add Case Cross Reference Number” and then click “Save changes.”
Failure to add your Cook County Attorney Code Number in the “Case Cross
Reference Number” field will cause your filings to be rejected.
• New attorneys must obtain a Cook County Attorney Number prior to
eFiling in Cook County. The form is available on our website at
http://www.cookcountyclerkofcourt.org/Forms/pdf_files/351-006.pdf, or in
the Law Division, Room 801, Richard J. Daley Center, Chicago.
2. For Domestic Relations Division cases, Probate Division cases, Chancery Division
cases and for Law Division cases only if you need to file on Calendar 5 and M1, the
“Case Cross Reference Number” field is used to enter your Cook County Attorney
Code Number and in addition, the “Case Cross Reference Number” field is also used
to schedule Motions. To schedule a motion for Domestic Relations, Probate and
Chancery type the word “Motion” in the “Case Cross Reference Number” field and
then select the type of motion you are filing from the drop down, click “Add Case
Cross Reference,” click “Save changes.” Motion dates cannot be scheduled unless
these steps are taken.
3. Filings will be rejected for the following reasons: they are filed without payment of
the fees required by statute; the filing does not comply with the requirements set
forth in GAO No. 2014-03 (effective July 1, 2018) for filing multiple documents in the
same submission; the filing does not comply with the requirements in GAO No. 2014
-03 for electronic file formats; are illegible pursuant to Ill.S.Ct.R. 131 (effective January
1, 2016); are filed in the incorrect Division; are marked confidential without
submission of a separate order permitting the document to be filed confidentially; the
Cook County
Iris Y. Martinez Richard J. Daley Center
CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT 50 West Washington
Suite1001
Chicago, Illinois 60602
(312) 603-5030
FAX (312) 603-4557
www.cookcountyclerkofcourt.org
2
OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY
Attorney Code Number was not entered in the “Case Cross Reference
Number” field; a return date is required and no return date was selected; are
submitted as an initial filing but is a subsequent filing; and, are filed as a new case but
the new case type “Filing Code” was not selected from the available options in the
“Filing Codes” field.
4. Multiple documents with the same case number may be filed in the same transaction,
however each document requires a separate activity code and must be a separate PDF.
Waiving Court Fees
5. If a “Waiver” payment type is chosen: Self-Represented litigants must upload either
an ‘Application for Waiver of Court Fees’ form or a copy of the order allowing the
fees to be waived; Civil Legal Service Providers must upload a completed CLSP form;
government agencies must upload a completed Fee Exempt Reduced Fee Agency
Cover Sheet. Forms are available on the Clerk’s Office efile portal at
www.cookcountyclerkofcourt.org. Filings that omit completed fee waiver forms
where a “Waiver” payment type is chosen, will be rejected.
6. Government filers who have approved Intergovernmental Billing Agreements must
choose “Gov’t Billing” as the payment type and must upload a copy of their approved
Intergovernmental Billing Agreement with filings that require filing fees. Do not
choose “Waiver” as the payment type. To set up a billing arrangement call the
Clerk’s Office’s Accounting Department at 312.603.5035.
Initiating a New Case
7. When eFiling, the first dropdown the eFiler sees is the location. The location drop
down will list each district and the location of each district (i.e. Cook County – Civil
– District 2 – Skokie. If you do not know the correct district to file in please visit our
website, www.cookcountyclerkofcourt.org
for village and municipal boundaries for
each of the courthouse locations.
8. All new cases must also upload a completed Cover Sheet for the Division where the
case will be heard.
Iris Y. Martinez Richard J. Daley Center
CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT 50 West Washington
Suite1001
Chicago, Illinois 60602
(312) 603-5030
FAX (312) 603-4557
www.cookcountyclerkofcourt.org
3
OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY
9. For Civil cases, the amount claimed or the “Ad Damnum” amount must be entered in
the Fees Section in order to get the appropriate filing fee. If the Ad Damnum is not
entered correctly and the wrong fee is paid, the filing will be rejected.
10. For Mortgage Foreclosure cases, after you select the filing type and you have uploaded
your documents, “Add Optional Services and Fees” must be selected in order to select
the appropriate tier for the Mortgage Foreclosure case. Selecting the appropriate tier
must be completed prior to proceeding. If the wrong tier is selected and the wrong fee
is paid, the filing will be rejected.
11. When filing Foreign Judgments, Counterclaims, Administrative Review cases and for
Civil Division cases when there is more than one (1) defendant the filer must click on
the “Optional Services” so the correct mailing fees can be paid.
12. When filing a Name Change case, enter the current name as the Plaintiff’s name and
the new name being requested as the Defendant’s name.
Filing Into an Existing Case
13. When eFiling subsequent filings, the case number must be entered as follows: a four
(4) digit century, upper case letter(s) for the division designation (except for Civil
Municipal Division cases in districts 1-6 where there is no letter designation at all),
followed by six (6) numbers if the letter designation is one (1) letter like this:
2018L000818. For cases that have two (2) letter division designations such as Chancery
(CH) and Orders of Protection (OP) the division designation is followed by five (5)
numbers like this 2018CH01247. Law Division and Domestic Relations cases in
Suburban Districts 2-6 case numbers have the Suburban District’s number following
the division designation like this: 2018D400012. If you do not know your case number
or need assistance finding your case number please visit our website,
www.cookcountyclerkofcourt.org
.
14. When filing an Appearance, the “Return Date Not Applicable” must be checked.
This does not pertain to the return date already issued on the summons. The system
will then generate the status date.
Iris Y. Martinez Richard J. Daley Center
CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT 50 West Washington
Suite1001
Chicago, Illinois 60602
(312) 603-5030
FAX (312) 603-4557
www.cookcountyclerkofcourt.org
4
OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY
Selecting a Court Date
15. A return date from the pop-up calendar must be chosen when the case requires a
“Return Date’’ (A return date is required if a summons is being issued.) If a
court date is required on the filing as well, the system will generate the court date
after the filing is accepted. If you are not sure if a return date is required, click
“Validate” and if a return date is required the system will provide you
with the first available return date, and if a return date is not required the system will
place a check in the “Return Date Not Applicable” box.
16. In the Civil Division and Law Division, the hearing box may display dates when
filing into an existing case. DO NOT choose a hearing Date unless the filing requires
it. If you have questions whether a hearing date is required call the Division or
Suburban District where the case is being heard. Contact information is available on
the Clerk’s Office’s website www.cookcountyclerkofcourt.org.
17. To get a court date for post judgment cases in Civil Municipal Districts 1-6 you must
select “Return Date” to get a court date.
General Information
18. eFilers must clear their internet browser’s cache/cookies/browsing history prior to
eFiling. Failure to do so may prohibit your documents from being filed properly.
19. Changes made in each section of the eFile application must be saved prior to
proceeding to the following section. For multiple filings, changes must be saved after
each filing is added prior to clicking ‘Add Another Filing’.
20. The information that will show on the electronic docket regarding which party filed a
document comes from the “Fees Section” field labeled “Party Responsible for the
Fees,” therefore, if you are filing you must select yourself as the “Party Responsible
for the Fees.”
21. Each time a document is uploaded you need to select whether the document is
“Confidential” or “Non-Confidential.” If you select Confidential you must also
upload a copy of an order allowing the document to be filed confidentially. If you do
not have an order allowing the document to be filed confidentially, you must select
Iris Y. Martinez Richard J. Daley Center
CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT 50 West Washington
Suite1001
Chicago, Illinois 60602
(312) 603-5030
FAX (312) 603-4557
www.cookcountyclerkofcourt.org
5
OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY
Non-confidential. If Confidential is selected, and the court order is not included, the
filing will be rejected. Documents that
may be filed confidentially pursuant to rule or statute are exempt from this
requirement, such as Notices of Confidential Information Within Court Filing.
Self-Represented Litigant Information
22. When eFiling a new case or subsequent filings, self-represented litigants must
type this number “99500” in the “Case Cross Reference Number” field in
Section 2 on the initial screen. Select “Cook County Attorney Code” in the
drop down, click “Add Case Cross Reference Number” and then click “Save
Changes”. Failure to type 99500 in the “Case Cross Reference Number” field
will cause your filings to be rejected.
23. When filing a new case you need to upload a completed “Summons” for every
defendant on the case. Once your new case is accepted you need to print out
each “Summons” and copies of the FILED stamped documents that are
returned from the Clerk’s Office for each defendant. Then, take the documents
to the Sheriff’s Office location where your case is being heard so the Sheriff can
serve the Summonses on each defendant. Note, the Sheriff’s Office charges a fee
for service of each Summons.
24. If you are filing a “Small Claims” case in the Civil Municipal
Divisions/Districts 1 – 6 you have the option of choosing the Sheriff’s office
to personally serve each defendant on your case, or you can choose to serve each
defendant on the case using certified mail. A “Small Claims” case is where the
amount in controversy is $10,000.00 or less. If you choose to use the Sheriff’s
office for service, follow the instructions in #23. If you choose to use certified
mail service follow these instructions. After you upload your “Lead Document”
click “Add Optional Services and Fees” and select “Certified Mail” in the
“Enter a Quantity” box, then select the number of defendants that are on your
case in order to pay the correct fee.
Iris Y. Martinez Richard J. Daley Center
CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT 50 West Washington
Suite1001
Chicago, Illinois 60602
(312) 603-5030
FAX (312) 603-4557
www.cookcountyclerkofcourt.org
6
OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY
Attorney Information
25. The system only allows an attorney to select one litigant to represent per case; not
multiple litigants. However, if you represent more than one litigant in a case make
sure that the documents that are submitted properly reflect all the litigants you are
representing.
