Court & Hearings

Call or visit the circuit court clerk’s office where your case is scheduled as soon as you know your court date, and let them know that you need an interpreter.

The court will ask you to fill out an interpreter request form. Each circuit court handles interpreter requests a little differently, so you should ask if there is anything else you need to do in addition to completing the interpreter request form. You can also tell your lawyer Someone who represents clients in courts or who gives legal advice to make the request for you. 

If you don’t request an interpreter before your court date, you can still ask for one when you arrive at court. However, your case may need to be rescheduled if no interpreter is available for your language that day. For this reason, we recommend you call or visit the office before your court date.

If the judge believes you need an interpreter, the court can appoint one even if you did not request it.

Review who qualifies for an interpreter.

Friends or family can help you speak with court staff before your hearing, When the parties in a case present their sides of a case to a judge or other officer but they cannot interpret for you during the hearing.

Fill out the interpreter request form. You can also download a PDF version of the request on the Illinois Court’s website.

If you don’t speak or read English:

• Ask a friend, family member, or legal aid advocate to help you fill out the form before your court date, or
• Go to the circuit court clerk’s office and tell them you need help because you don’t speak English. Court staff can help make sure your request is submitted.

If you can’t fill out the form in advance, still go to court and let the clerk or judge know that you need an interpreter. The judge may appoint one for you that day.

Give your completed form to:

• The Office of Interpreter Services, if your court has one
• The circuit court clerk’s office, or
• The judge or court staff handling your case.

If your court date changes or you no longer need an interpreter, contact the court right away.

Arrive early and tell security or the court clerk that you requested an interpreter. If no interpreter is present, tell the judge you need one. The judge can postpone the hearing When the parties in a case present their sides of a case to a judge or other officer until an interpreter is available.

Most courthouses have interpreters available every day for American Sign Language (ASL) and other common languages, like Spanish and Polish. For less common languages, the court may need extra time to arrange for someone.

If no interpreter is available, the judge may reschedule your case or arrange a remote interpreter. You should not be required to go on with the hearing without an interpreter present.

Interpreters cannot give legal advice or explain legal terms. Their only role is to interpret what is said. As such, when using an interpreter, you should:

• Speak directly to the judge, not to the interpreter.
• Pause to let the interpreter finish.
• Speak in short sentences and avoid slang or jokes, which may not translate clearly.
• Tell the judge right away if you don’t understand the interpreter or think there’s a mistake.

If you know the interpreter personally or believe they have a conflict of interest, tell the judge right away and you may request a different interpreter.