Court & Hearings resources

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.

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Court forms used in a civil appeal

List of forms needed during a civil appeal to the Illinois Appellate Court. It includes information about each form and links to where you can find and fill them out.

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Filing a motion in the court of appeals

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.

How-To

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.

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E-filing

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

Motions basics

Either side of a court case can file a motion. Motions ask the court to do something.

Guide

E-filing basics

Explains electronic filing, or e-filing. Includes an overview of the process, how to get started, and how to get help.

Guide

E-filing common questions

Commonly asked questions about e-filing in Illinois.

FAQ

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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

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Starting a new case

Fee waiver

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

Easy Form

Starting a small claims court case

Steps to file a small claims lawsuit for $10,000 or less from the forms you need to preparing for trial.

How-To

What is the difference between a summons and a subpoena?

Describes what a summons and subpoena are, how they are used and how they are different.

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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.

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Responding to an existing case

Motion

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

Easy Form

Respond to a lawsuit

This Easy Form helps you make Answer and Appearance forms to respond to a lawsuit. It can make optional forms for a Jury Request, Affirmative Defenses, and Counterclaims.

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

Motion to continue or extend time

This Easy Form helps you ask a judge to reschedule your hearing date or give you more time to do something.

Easy Form

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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

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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

I was never served with a lawsuit, do I need to go to court?

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

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Selected statutes of limitations

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

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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).

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Administrative hearings

Appealing a DCFS decision

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

How-To

Getting your license back if it was suspended for unpaid tickets or tolls

Learn how to get your driver’s license reinstated after a suspension for unpaid traffic tickets, parking fines, or tolls with these steps.

How-To

Appealing an administrative review decision - Chicago

Explains the appeals process for cases involving city stickers, car impounds and building violations in Chicago.

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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.

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Court alternatives

Settle before going to small claims court

Describes that although it may be in the best interest of both parties to settle, a judge must first approve it

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Legal research

Overview of common law

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

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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.

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Secondary sources for legal research

Learn about secondary legal sources like handbooks, treatises, and law reviews. Discover how they can help you understand legal issues, provide background information, and guide your research.

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Writing first drafts with AI tools

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

How-To

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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.

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Who can perform a wedding?

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

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Can I do anything about my noisy neighbors?

Describes what you can do if you have loud neighbors.

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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.

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Court & Hearings

Court & Hearings