Circuit Court of Cook County Filing Fees and Waivers
13 rules from official source documents
10 of 13 checked against the court's document. Each rule says how far it was checked. A value with a question mark is not in the court's wording on its card.
Filing fees, payment methods, fee waiver requirements, deferrals, and clerk payment rules. This page is scoped to Circuit Court of Cook County; use the court rules overview to switch categories without leaving this court.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Sep 21, 2026CRITICAL
Statutory filing fees apply to e-filing; fees may be paid by credit/debit card, ACH debit, or another Clerk-authorized payment method.
collect all applicable statutory filing fees for documents filed by means of the EFM. The EFM shall also allow the filing of documents for which a filing fee is not required. b. Payment of Fees. Whenever documents are filed electronically that require the payment of a filing fee, the person who files the documents shall provide at that time, for payment of the fee: i. such credit or debit card information as shall be required at the Website to permit a card to be charged by the Clerk's Office; or ii. such information as shall be required at the Website to permit an automated clearing house (ACH) debit to be made; or iii. any other form of payment authorized by the Clerk.
Checked against the court's document on Sep 21, 2026WARNING
On transfer to a department/division/district with a higher fee, the plaintiff pays the difference in filing fees and each defendant pays the difference in appearance fees.
When an action is transferred from one department, division or district to another department, division or district and the fee required in the department, division or district to which the action is transferred is greater than the fee required in the department, division or district where the action was originally filed, the plaintiff shall pay a fee in an amount equal to the amount the plaintiff would have been required to pay had the plaintiff filed the action in the department, division or district to which the action is transferred, less the amount of the original filing fee paid, and the defendant and each defendant, if separate appearances have been filed, shall pay a fee in an amount equal to the amount the defendant would have been required to pay had the defendant filed his/her appearance in the department, division or district to which the action is transferred, less the amount of the original appearance fee paid.
Checked against the court's document on Sep 21, 2026WARNING
- Fee
- $2
- Applies to
- First pleading
A $2.00 Dispute Resolution Fund fee is charged in all civil cases, paid by the initiating party at filing, except for proceedings by local government units.
The circuit clerk shall charge and collect a Dispute Resolution Fund fee of TWO DOLLARS ($2.00) in all civil cases. Such fee shall be paid by the party initiating the action at the time of filing the first pleading. Such fees shall not be charged in any proceeding commenced on behalf of a unit of local government.
Checked against the court's document on Sep 21, 2026WARNING
Civil cases
- Applies to
- Fee petition
Fee petitions must be scheduled for 9:00 a.m. or when the case is already set, and must comply with CP Division Administrative Order 21-1 and SCR 299.
Fee petitions should be scheduled for 9:00 a.m. or at a time when the case is already set to be heard, and they should comply with CP Division Administrative Order 21-1 and SCR 299.
Checked against the court's document on Sep 21, 2026WARNING
Civil cases
- Applies to
- Counterclaim for contribution
Counterclaim filing fees are deferred until trial; the trial judge requires payment before jury selection.
Fees for counterclaims for contribution shall be deferred until the commencement of trial in an individual case. The assigned trial judge shall require the remaining defendants to identify the counter-defendants subject to counterclaims and to pay the filing fee for a counterclaim prior to the commencement of jury selection in a particular case.
Checked against the court's document on Sep 20, 2026INFO
- Applies to
- Fee waiver
Fee waivers should be submitted to the courtroom email address.
Fee waivers should be submitted to the courtroom at d6crt209orders@cookcountycourt.com.
Checked against the court's document on Sep 20, 2026INFO
The Early Resolution Program is free to participate in; no appearance or fee is required to participate.
THIS PROGRAM IS FREE and you do not need to file an appearance or pay a fee to participate.
Checked against the court's document on Sep 21, 2026INFO
Civil cases
- Applies to
- Fee petition
A fee petition is granted without formal presentment if the ASA does not object and the court approves it upon review.
If there is no objection by the ASA and if the court, upon review, approves the petition then it will be granted without formal presentment.
Checked against the court's document on Sep 21, 2026INFO
- Applies to
- Appearance
Litigants who cannot afford the appearance fee may ask the Clerk for a Petition to Waive Court Fees.
If you cannot afford to pay the appearance fee, ask the Clerk for a Petition to Waive Court Fees.
Checked against the court's document on Sep 21, 2026INFO
Civil cases
- Applies to
- Appearance
Instructions for filing an appearance and the Application for Waiver of Fees are available at ilcourts.info/forms.
ilcourts.info/forms has instructions on how to file an appearance and if applicable, the Application for Waiver of Fees.
We could not find this wording in the court's document. Open the source before relying on it.CRITICAL?
IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO REACH A RESOLUTION OF YOUR CASE IN THE EARLY RESOLUTION PROGRAM, THEN YOU WILL NEED TO DO THE FOLLOWING: - YOU MUST FILE AN APPEARANCE. A fee is required to file an appearance. If you are unable to pay the filing fee, you may apply for a FEE WAIVER.
Machine summary
If the Early Resolution Program does not resolve the case, the defendant must file an appearance, which requires a fee; a fee waiver is available for those unable to pay.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.WARNING?
- Applies to
- Appearance
YOU MUST FILE AN APPEARANCE. A fee is required to file an appearance.
Summary: If the Early Resolution Program does not resolve the case, the defendant must file an appearance, which requires a fee.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.INFO?
- Applies to
- Appearance ?
If you are unable to pay the filing fee, you may apply for a FEE WAIVER.
Summary: Defendants unable to pay the filing fee may apply for a fee waiver.
Are filing fees or waivers addressed in Circuit Court of Cook County?
Circuit Court of Cook County: A fee is required for covered filings. Statutory filing fees apply to e-filing; fees may be paid by credit/debit card, ACH debit, or another Clerk-authorized payment method.
Judge Maura Slattery Boyle: A fee is required for covered filings. Counterclaim filing fees are deferred until trial; the trial judge requires payment before jury selection.
Judge Jennifer J. Payne: The rule addresses filing fees, payment, or waiver procedures. Fee petitions must be scheduled for 9:00 a.m. or when the case is already set, and must comply with CP Division Administrative Order 21-1 and SCR 299.
10 more rules answer this question in the list above.
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