Court & Hearings resources

Learn about the civil appeals process in Illinois, including how to get started, the forms you need, and resources to guide you.

Guide

Resources available for civil appeals

Resources for self-represented litigants in civil appeals, including guides, forms, legal research tools, and free legal advice through the Illinois Free Legal Answers Program.

Text article

Motions you can file instead of appealing

Find out about motions you can file after your trial ends instead of appealing. Includes required forms and rules.

Text article

Petitioning the appellate court for a rehearing

Steps to fill out and file a petition for rehearing, including what the petition is, when it must be filed, and how to file it.

How-To

View all

E-filing

E-filing common questions

Commonly asked questions about e-filing in Illinois.

FAQ

E-filing exemption - Circuit Court

This Easy Form helps you tell the court why you are not able to e-file forms into your circuit court case. It makes a Certification for Exemption from E-filing.

Easy Form

E-filing exemption - Appellate Court

This Easy Form helps you tell the court why you are not able to e-file forms into your appellate court case. It makes the Certification for Exemption from E-filing - Appellate Court.

Easy Form

E-filing exemption - Supreme Court

This Easy Form helps you tell the court why you are not able to e-file forms into your case in the Supreme Court of Illinois. It makes the Certification for Exemption from E-filing - Supreme Court.

Easy Form

View all

Fees

Court fees and fee waivers basics

Learn about court fees, who qualifies for a fee waiver, and how to apply if you cannot afford to pay.

Guide

Court fees and fee waivers

Find answers to common questions about court fees and your options if you cannot afford to pay.

FAQ

Waiver of criminal court assessments

Find answers about criminal court assessments, including what they are, who qualifies for a waiver, and how to apply.

FAQ

Fee waiver - Supreme Court of Illinois

This Easy Form helps you ask the Illinois Supreme Court to waive or reduce filing fees.

Easy Form

View all

Starting a new case

Fee waiver

This Easy Form helps you ask the court to waive or reduce filing fees.

Easy Form

Serving a summons

Learn how to properly notify someone that a lawsuit has begun by arranging for the delivery, or 'service,' of the summons, including different methods of service.

How-To

Starting a small claims case

Steps to sue a person or business in small claims court for up to $10,000.

How-To

Selected statutes of limitations

Information about time limits to bring a lawsuit in Illinois in different areas of law.

Text article

View all

Responding to an existing case

Responding to a lawsuit basics

Learn about what to do if you are sued, including the steps to protect your rights and how to participate in the lawsuit.

Guide

Responding to a lawsuit

Learn how to respond to a civil lawsuit in Illinois, including how to read your court papers, file the right forms, and meet your deadlines.

How-To

What to know if you've been sued

Get answers to common questions about being sued, including how to know if you've been sued, your legal options, what to expect during a lawsuit, and the consequences of not responding.

FAQ

Appearance with e-filing

This Easy Form makes an Appearance that tells the court and the other parties that you are participating in a court case. It can also make a Jury Request if you want a jury to decide your case. The Easy Form can e-file your forms if you are using a fee waiver.

Easy Form

View all

During a case

Difference between dismissed with or without prejudice

Find out what it means when a court case is dismissed, whether you can refile, and the difference between dismissal with or without prejudice.

FAQ

Motion

This Easy Form helps you ask a judge to do something in a case you are involved in.

Easy Form

Fee waiver

This Easy Form helps you ask the court to waive or reduce filing fees.

Easy Form

Appearance

This Easy Form makes an Appearance form that tells the court and the other parties that you are participating in a court case. It can also make an optional Jury Request.

Easy Form

View all

After a case closes

Difference between dismissed with or without prejudice

Find out what it means when a court case is dismissed, whether you can refile, and the difference between dismissal with or without prejudice.

FAQ

Petition for rule to show cause - Family law cases

This Easy Form makes a Petition for Rule to Show Cause to help you enforce an earlier court order. Use it for Illinois family law orders, involving child support, divorce judgments, allocation of parental responsibilities, parenting plans, or joint parenting agreements (custody or visitation).

Easy Form

Selected statutes of limitations

Information about time limits to bring a lawsuit in Illinois in different areas of law.

Text article

Vacate default judgment within 30 days

This Easy Form helps you ask the court to vacate a default judgment within 30 days of that judgment.

Easy Form

View all

Administrative hearings

Appealing a DCFS decision

Steps to appeal a DCFS decision from time limits to going to your administrative hearing.

How-To

Fight a denial, reduction, or end in Social Security benefits

Steps to appeal a Social Security decision from the deadlines you must follow to how the administrative hearing works.

How-To

Right to an interpreter during administrative hearings

Learn about your right to access an interpreter as an individual with limited English proficiency who is involved in an administrative hearing.

Text article

View all

Court alternatives

Mediation for parenting issues

Explains how mediation is used in a court process that involves parents of children. This could be a divorce case or other case involving parenting issues.

Text article

How to communicate effectively with someone who disagrees with you

Learn how to handle disagreements by listening, asking open questions, staying curious, and communicating respectfully to better understand each other.

Text article

Alternatives to court

Explains what alternative dispute resolution (ADR) is, the methods of ADR available, and its benefits and downsides compared to the normal court process.

Text article

View all

Legal research

Overview of common law

Explains the phrase "common law" and how it works in the American legal system.

Text article

Doing your own legal research

Learn more about legal research if you are representing yourself or if you want to understand which laws apply in your situation.

Text article

AI tools for legal information common questions

Answers to everyday questions about how AI tools can help with legal issues.

FAQ

Writing first drafts with AI tools

Steps for using AI tools like ChatGPT to help write legal messages and court papers.

How-To

View all

Legal Q & A

Free legal aid help with my case

Learn who qualifies for free legal aid in Illinois, what services are available for civil and criminal cases, and how to apply for help from legal aid or public defenders.

Text article

Who can perform a wedding?

Information about who can perform a wedding and what happens if someone performs a wedding who is not qualified.

Text article

I received a subpoena and don't know what to do

Explains what you have to do if you receive a subpoena from the court. Do not ignore the subpoena. Failure to reply to a subpoena could result in charges of contempt of court, fines, and even jail time.

Text article

Can I do anything about my noisy neighbors?

Describes what you can do if you have loud neighbors.

Text article

View all

Google custom search block

User account menu

Language switcher

AddToAny buttons

Court & Hearings

Court & Hearings