Court & Hearings

Explains the different consequences of court cases that are ended with a ruling with or without prejudice. Dismissal with prejudice is a final judgment. A case dismissed without prejudice means it's not dismissed forever. The person whose case it is can try again.

Offers information about when to go to court in a lawsuit case.

Explains how to look up information on court cases at the courthouse and online.

Steps to file a motion in court from where to file your motion to how the court hearing works.

Steps to file a motion to vacate a default judgment from the forms you need to how the court hearing works.

Learn what to do if you miss a court date and get a default judgment, including how to file a motion to vacate it within 30 days to avoid wage garnishment, frozen accounts, liens on property, and damage to your credit.

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

Explains how to file a motion to reconsider, if you disagree with an order of the court. Describes the situations when you can use this motion.

This Easy Form helps you ask the court to waive or reduce criminal court assessments. It can also help you ask the court to waive or reduce traffic court assessments in Cook County, Illinois.

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

Find answers to common questions about wage assignments and how creditors can access income and assets.

Steps to file a petition after appealing your case from where to file the petition for your evidentiary hearing. If the issue could have been raised in the appellate court and was not, you typically cannot raise the issue in a post-conviction petition. Details about time limitations covered.

An FBI background check, known as an Identity History Summary, may be required if you’ve been arrested out of state.

Understand the steps a creditor must take to garnish a debtor's paycheck.

Explains how to ask to appeal to the IL Supreme Court. Includes forms, fees, and deadlines.

This Easy Form helps you tell the court and other parties that you are appealing an order or judgment in your trial court case.

A video about what happens if you miss a court date and what you should do if you know you cannot make a court date.

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

It is very hard to get rid of a default judgment if 30 days have passed since it was entered. You will have to file a petition for relief from the judgment.

A video by Chicago Volunteer Legal Services about the power of the court to punish someone for interfering with the court process.

A video on what a court order is, how to draft one, and what to expect when you go to court.

If you have an appeal filed with the Illinois Court of Appeals, and you want to ask the court to do something in the case, you need to file a motion. This article explains how.

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.

Explains how to get an interpreter for court cases when a person has limited ability to speak or understand English

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.

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

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.

A handbook for lawyers on appellate practice in state and federal courts, covering post-judgment motions, standards of review, cross-appeals, interlocutory appeals, oral arguments, and more.

Learn about civil appeals with this video series for self-represented litigants. Explore key steps, deadlines, and resources to help you navigate the process.

A lawyer resource on Rule 23 and class actions, covering investigation, discovery, notice, pleadings, motions, settlements, derivative suits, and attorneys’ fees.

A lawyer resource on attorney-client relationships, including case development, settlement, jurisdiction, venue, pleadings, affidavits, and related procedures.

A lawyer resource on civil litigation, covering discovery, litigation rights, tax aspects, injunctions, declaratory relief, dismissals, summary judgment, pretrial conferences, and trial preparation.