Court & Hearings
Worried about doing this on your own? You may be able to get free legal help.
E-filing option
You can use our Appearance with e-filing Easy Form to make your Appearance and directly e-file it into your court case. To use our e-filing program, you must also apply for a Fee waiver. The Appearance with e-filing program will make Fee [no-lexicon]waiver[/no-lexicon] and Appearance forms.
Note: At this time, the forms made with the Appearance with e-filing program can be filed in all Illinois counties except Cook and DuPage. We hope to add the ability to e-file in these counties soon. You can use either Appearance Easy Form to make and download forms for use in Cook or DuPage County.
Easy Form information
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 an optional Jury Request.
The Easy Form does not e-file your forms. You can download the forms and e-filing instructions at the end of the program.
Learn more about filing an Appearance.This program will help you make your court forms. It will ask questions for you to answer. At the end of the program, you will get completed court forms and instructions. You can save and print them, or the program can email them to you.
Form completion time: 5 minutes to 10 minutes
You will be able to save your work in the middle of the program.
The interview and forms are in English.
Can I use this program?
Note: This program prepares Appearance and Jury Request forms only. If you need to file an Answer with your Appearance, use our Respond to a lawsuit program instead.
To use this program:
- You must be involved in a court case, and
- You do not need to file an Answer with your Appearance.
Most people will file this after receiving a Complaint or Petition and Summons to appear in court. You can also use this program if:
- You are a Plaintiff or Petitioner, and
- You are representing yourself after your lawyer withdrew from the case.
What do I need first?
To complete this program, you will need to know:
- The names and addresses of the other parties,
- The names and addresses of the other parties' lawyers, if any, and
- The court case number.
You can enter how you will deliver your Appearance to other parties in the case, if you know it.
What documents will this create?
This program prepares the following forms:
- How to File an Appearance or Request a Jury
- Appearance
- Jury Request
- Additional Proof of Delivery
Worried about doing this on your own? You may be able to get free legal help.
