Court records in Cook County, Illinois, are maintained by the Clerk of the Circuit Court and can be accessed through online tools, official court portals, and the clerk's office. CookCourt.us can help you find publicly available court record information for Cook County. You can also search records through the Clerk of the Circuit Court's online case information system, the Circuit Court of Cook County website, and other government resources throughout Illinois.
Cook County Court System Overview
Cook County is part of Illinois's unified court system and constitutes its own judicial circuit — the largest in the state. The Circuit Court of Cook County serves the entire county, including the City of Chicago and more than 130 suburban municipalities. Chief Judge Charles S. Beach II presides over the circuit. Unlike most Illinois circuits that cover multiple counties, Cook County's circuit encompasses only Cook County due to its population. The court is organized into multiple divisions and departments, with the main courthouse located in downtown Chicago. The Office of the Illinois Courts oversees statewide court administration.
Courts Serving Cook County
| Court | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Circuit Court of Cook County (Main — Richard J. Daley Center) | 50 W. Washington St., Chicago, IL 60602 | (312) 603-5030 |
| Criminal Courts Building (Leighton Criminal Court Building) | 2650 S. California Ave., Chicago, IL 60608 | (773) 674-3100 |
| Cook County Domestic Violence Courthouse | 555 W. Harrison St., Chicago, IL 60607 | (312) 325-9500 |
| Skokie Courthouse (Suburban District 2) | 5600 Old Orchard Rd., Skokie, IL 60077 | (847) 470-7500 |
| Rolling Meadows Courthouse (Suburban District 3) | 2121 Euclid Ave., Rolling Meadows, IL 60008 | (847) 818-2550 |
| Maywood Courthouse (Suburban District 4) | 1500 Maybrook Dr., Maywood, IL 60153 | (708) 865-6060 |
| Bridgeview Courthouse (Suburban District 5) | 10220 S. 76th Ave., Bridgeview, IL 60455 | (708) 974-6500 |
| Markham Courthouse (Suburban District 6) | 16501 S. Kedzie Pkwy., Markham, IL 60428 | (708) 232-4000 |
| U.S. District Court — Northern District of Illinois (Eastern Division) | 219 S. Dearborn St., Chicago, IL 60604 | (312) 435-5684 |
| U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Northern District of Illinois | 219 S. Dearborn St., Chicago, IL 60604 | (312) 435-5694 |
Cook County also has several municipal courts within individual suburbs that handle local ordinance violations. Contact the municipality directly for those matters.
What Types of Cases Cook County Courts Hear
The Circuit Court of Cook County handles virtually every category of state-level case. Its divisions are organized by subject matter to manage the county's enormous caseload:
- Felonies and misdemeanors
- Traffic and ordinance violations
- Civil litigation (all dollar amounts)
- Small claims (pro se division)
- Family law — divorce, custody, child support, orders of protection
- Probate — estates, guardianships, conservatorships
- Juvenile justice and child protection
- Chancery (equity, injunctions, mortgage foreclosures)
- Law Division (personal injury, contract disputes above $50,000)
District Court Cases in Cook County
In Illinois, there is no separate "district court" at the state level — the circuit court is the trial court of general jurisdiction. Within the Circuit Court of Cook County, serious criminal cases (felonies) are heard in the Criminal Division, primarily at the Leighton Criminal Court Building. Felony cases typically begin with a preliminary hearing or grand jury indictment, after which they are assigned to a trial judge. Civil cases seeking more than $50,000 in damages are assigned to the Law Division at the Daley Center. Cases are assigned to individual judges through a randomized system. Appeals from the Circuit Court go to the Illinois Appellate Court, First District, which also sits in Chicago.
Magistrate Court Cases in Cook County
Illinois does not use the title "magistrate judge" in its state courts the way some other states do. Instead, associate judges within the Circuit Court of Cook County handle many of the functions a magistrate would perform elsewhere:
- Misdemeanor criminal cases
- Preliminary hearings in felony cases
- Traffic and ordinance violations
- Small claims (currently up to $10,000)
- Forcible entry and detainer (eviction) cases
- DUI arraignments and hearings
Civil cases up to $50,000 are generally heard in the First Municipal Division (Chicago) or in the appropriate suburban district courthouse. Small claims matters — where parties often represent themselves — are heard in the Pro Se Division. Because of Cook County's high volume, associate judges are typically assigned to specific case types or courtrooms.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Cook County
Family Law
Divorce, legal separation, annulment, custody, child support, paternity, and orders of protection are handled by the Domestic Relations Division. The Clerk of the Circuit Court maintains divorce records for cases filed in Cook County. The Illinois Department of Public Health also holds statewide dissolution of marriage indices.
Probate
Decedent estates, guardianships of minors and disabled adults, conservatorships, and trust matters are heard in the Probate Division at the Daley Center. Filings are made through the Clerk of the Circuit Court.
Juvenile
Juvenile delinquency cases and child protection (abuse, neglect, dependency) proceedings are heard at the Cook County Juvenile Court Center, located at 1100 S. Hamilton Ave., Chicago, IL 60612. Juvenile court records are confidential under Illinois law and are not available to the general public.
How Cases Move Through the Cook County Court System
- Filing / Initiation: A case begins when a complaint, petition, or charging document is filed with the Clerk of the Circuit Court. Criminal cases are initiated by the State's Attorney; civil cases by the plaintiff or petitioner.
- Case Assignment: Cases are assigned to a specific judge or courtroom, typically based on case type and division.
- Initial Hearing: Criminal defendants appear for arraignment, where charges are read and bail is addressed. Civil cases receive an initial case management date or scheduling conference.
- Pre-Trial Phase: Both sides exchange information through discovery. In criminal cases, plea negotiations occur. Motions may be filed and argued.
- Trial or Resolution: Cases proceed to a bench or jury trial, or they resolve through plea agreement, settlement, dismissal, or default judgment.
- Post-Judgment: Criminal cases move to sentencing. Civil judgments may be enforced or appealed. Either party may appeal to the Illinois Appellate Court, First District.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Cook County
The Chief Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County oversees court administration with the assistance of an executive director and administrative staff. The Circuit Court's official website publishes general orders and local rules that govern practice in Cook County.
Under Illinois law, most court records are presumptively public. The Illinois Supreme Court's Electronic Access Policy governs what case information can be made available online. Certain records — including juvenile cases, sealed cases, expunged records, and some mental health proceedings — are restricted. You can request bulk court data through the Clerk's office under the court's Bulk Electronic Data Dissemination Policy.
Hearings are generally open to the public. The Circuit Court of Cook County offers remote access through Zoom for certain proceedings — check the court's website for Remote Access Centers and Zoom room information.
For FOIA requests directed to the Cook County Sheriff's Office, a separate process applies. The Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140) governs access to records held by county agencies.
Court Records and Related Court Resources in Cook County
- Online Case Search: The Clerk of the Circuit Court's online portal provides public case information including case numbers, parties, filing dates, and disposition data.
- Court Calendar: Hearing schedules and courtroom assignments are available at the courthouse and through the Circuit Court website.
- Court Forms and Self-Help: The Circuit Court offers self-help resources and standardized forms through its website. The Pro Se Division assists self-represented litigants.
- Clerk of Court / Public Records: Official court records are maintained by the Clerk of the Circuit Court. Visit the Court Records and Archives page for details on requesting copies.
- Cook County Jail Inmate Search: The Cook County Sheriff's inmate locator allows you to search for individuals currently detained in Cook County Jail.
- Illinois Department of Corrections Inmate Search: For individuals sentenced to state prison, use the IDOC Individual in Custody Search.
- Criminal History Records: The Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification processes criminal background checks and maintains the state's criminal history repository.
- Vital Records: Birth, death, and marriage records for Cook County are available through the Cook County Clerk's Vital Records office.
- Property Records: The Cook County Assessor's Office provides property assessment data. Recorded documents such as deeds are searchable through the Cook County Clerk's recordings search.
- State Public Records: The State of Illinois public records portal offers access to various state-maintained databases and archives.
- Circuit Court Clerks Directory: The statewide directory of Illinois Circuit Court Clerks can help you locate the correct filing office for any county.