Court & Hearings

You can use this form if you are filing court papers for an emergency as allowed by local court rules. Check your local court’s website or call the clerk to see if your situation qualifies. 

You can also use this form if you do not have a lawyer and at least one of the following statements is true.

• You do not have the Internet or computer access in your home,
• You do not have an email account,
• You do not have a credit card, debit card, or bank account,
• You have trouble reading, writing, or speaking in English, or
• You tried to e-file your forms, but were not able to complete the process because the equipment or help you need was not available.

You are exempt from e-filing, and you do not need to use this form if:

• You are in jail or prison,
• You are filing into a juvenile case, or
• Your disability (as defined by the ADA) prevents you from e-filing.

To paper file in Cook County, simply include a copy of the Exemption Certificate with the forms to be filed and take them to the courthouse. Paper filings will be accepted in the Clerk’s office for each division, not in the Resource Center for People without Lawyers on the Concourse level at the Daley Center. Unlike a Fee waiver (sometimes called a 298 Petition), there is no hearing with a judge. The exemption should be automatic. A new Exemption Certificate must be included with each separate filing.