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Resources for Self-Represented Litigants | State of Illinois Office of the Illinois Courts

Talk to a Court Guide at Illinois Court Help

Illinois Court Help has guides to help you understand and go through the court process, wherever you are in Illinois. Call 833-411-1121 or visit ilcourthelp.gov.

 

For Case Information

For information about a pending court case, please contact your local  Circuit Court Clerk.

 

For Remote Court Appearances

Attending Court by Phone or Video?

Find answers to questions and tips for court users going to court using Zoom and other  remote court resources.

 

For E-filing Information

You must electronically file (e-file) all court documents in civil cases in Illinois unless:

  • You are filing a will, which may not be electronically filed; or
  • You are exempt because:
    • (1) You are an inmate in a prison or jail and you do not have a lawyer;
    • (2) You are filing into a juvenile court case;
    • (3) You have a disability that prevents you from e-filing; or
    • (4) For good cause.

The first 3 exemptions are automatic, and you do not need to submit additional paperwork.

For the fourth exemption (good cause), you must fill out and file a Certification for Exemption from E-Filing, that says you should be exempt because you do not have a lawyer and you:

  • Do not have internet or computer access in your home or lack the technological literacy to meaningfully use it;
  • Do not have an email account;
  • Do not have a credit card, debit card, or bank account;
  • Have trouble reading, writing, or speaking in English;
  • Tried to e-file your documents but were unable to complete the process because the equipment or assistance you needed was not available; or
  • Are filing an emergency case as allowed by local rule or order (available to all types of filers).

For information about how to successfully e-file in Odyssey eFileIL, please review these guides. Para obtener información sobre cómo presentar correctamente “e-filing” en Odyssey eFileIL, revise estas guías.

For Information About How to Find A Lawyer

For Free or Low Cost Legal Advice

If you are representing yourself and have a question about your case, you can submit a question to the  Illinois Free Legal Answers and have it answered by a pro bono lawyer. You must meet income qualifications to use the program.

In Chicago and Cook County, please call  CARPLS at (312) 738-9200 for free or low-cost legal advice and referral information. Please note that you may have to wait for up to 20 minutes to speak with an attorney. For $25 you can schedule an appointment. Please visit the website for more information.

In Chicago and Cook County, the  Justice Entrepreneurs Project and the Greater Chicago Legal Clinic may also offer reduced cost legal representation in certain areas of law.

In Northern Illinois (outside of Cook County), please contact your local  Prairie State Legal Services office.

In Southern Illinois, please contact Land of Lincoln Legal Aid’s Legal Advice and Referral Center at (877) 342-7891. For the Eviction & Fresh Start Project Hotline, call (855) 601-9474.

For Referrals to Lawyers to Hire

For help finding a lawyer, please contact the  Chicago Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service or see the Limited Scope Referral Panels (in Chicago) or the Illinois State Bar Association Lawyer Finder (statewide).

If you are looking for a lawyer outside of Illinois, please visit the  American Bar Association Lawyer Referral Directory.

 

For Legal Information

For free legal information and legal aid referrals, please visit  Illinois Legal Aid Online.

The Divorce with Children Overview shows the process of getting a divorce in Illinois when you have children under the age of 18.

For information about civil appeals, please see the  Guide for Appeals to the Illinois Appellate Court for Self-Represented Litigants.

For Illinois court forms and instructions, please visit the  Illinois Supreme Court Standardized Forms.

For more information about Illinois laws and legal procedure, please see the  Illinois Compiled Statutes, the Illinois Administrative Code, and the Illinois Supreme Court Rules.

 

For Information About Court Staff and Other Help

These resources can only provide you with information and CANNOT give you legal advice. For legal advice, contact a lawyer (see information above).

For help finding court staff information please see our Circuit Court Clerks page or and for additional information for the courthouses please see the Find Your Court directory.

Legal Self-Help Centers

Find a self-help center in your area by scrolling down to the “Find a self-help center” section, selecting your county, and viewing the location and contact information for your local center.

Cook County Court Information Helpline

Call 872-529-1093 to speak to an Illinois JusticeCorps volunteer about court operations and procedures, virtual court appearances, court forms, e-filing, and other legal information or referrals.

 Illinois Court Help has guides to help you understand and go through the court process, wherever you are in Illinois. Call 833-411-1121 or visit ilcourthelp.gov.

 

Need more information?

Contact Details

Jill E. Roberts, Senior Program Manager
Self Represented Litigants
jroberts@illinoiscourts.gov
 (312) 793-2305
 (312) 793-0740

Alison D. Spanner, Assistant Director
Access to Justice Division
aspanner@illinoiscourts.gov
 (312) 793-3859
 (312) 793-0740

  Disclaimer:  Information and resources presented on this website do not constitute legal advice and are not a substitute for legal counsel.  If you are in need of legal advice, you must speak with a lawyer.  The resources provided herein are provided for informational purposes only and are neither legal authority nor a substitute for the requirements found in the Illinois Supreme Court Rules