The eFileIL e-filing system integration with the Cook County case management system is ongoing, and not yet perfect. In the meantime, please keep in mind the following guidelines and workarounds related to case searches, date selection, and the use of case cross reference numbers.
Tips
Initate New Court Cases
Filers may now initiate cases in Cook County. This help article walks users through the process for Cook County courts. Learn more…
Filing on Existing Court Cases
Filers may now file on existing cases in Cook County. This help article walks users through the process for Cook County courts. Learn more…
Scheduling of Motions
The scheduling of motions is dependent upon real-time calls into the Cook County CMS (Case Management System). This capability is only available from 8:30am to 11:59pm Central Time on court business days.
Selecting Return Dates
The logic the court uses to allow filers to select/verify a Return Date in a filing requires a real-time query into the Cook County CMS (Case Management System). As such, if the CMS is unavailable at the time of the filing, for any reason, the e-filing system will be unable to obtain and verify return dates.
In this situation, the filer may try leaving the filing clerk a message in the Note to Clerk field along the lines of “This filing needs a return date, and the Odyssey system is not providing one no matter how I request and validate, please assign a return date of mm/dd/yy”.
Scheduling Hearing Dates
The logic the court uses to allow filers to Schedule a Hearing Date requires a real-time query into the Cook County CMS (Case Management System). As such, if the CMS is unavailable at the time of your filing, for any reason, the e-filing system will be unable to obtain and schedule hearing dates.
To schedule a hearing, filers may return later to the filing, and (as long as the filing’s status is still Pending) open the filing before clicking the Request Hearing Date link on the upper right of the filing to try again. Learn more about scheduling hearing dates…
Cross Reference Numbers
Any time you select a Cook County court for filing, an additional feature will appear allowing the filer to enter Case Cross Reference Numbers. Cook county requires this feature be used for the purposes described below.
Local / County Attorney Code
The Cook County’s CMS (Case Management System) requires the filer identify their locally defined, or county defined, attorney code. The Court asks that you use the Case Cross Reference Number feature and select a Type of Attorney Code, then enter the attorney number / code into the Number field.
Ad-Damnum (Amount Claimed) Requirement
At this time, the e-filing system doesn’t provide a specific field to identify the Ad-Damnum or Amount Claimed. This will be added in the near future. In the meantime, the Court asks that filers use the following work-around.
1) Use the Case Cross Reference Number feature and select a Type of Amount Claimed and enter the amount in the associated number field.
2) Then, in the Security and Optional Services section, you must select the Optional Service option matching the range of your claim amount so that the proper filing fee is calculated.
Motion Types in the Domestic and Probate Divisions
When filing or scheduling motions, a type is required. The Court asks that you use the Case Cross Reference Number feature and select a Type of Motion, then enter a description of your motion type in the Number field.
Property Identification Numbers (PINs)
These PINs are necessary for tax cases within the County Division. The Court asks that you use the Case Cross Reference Number feature and select a Type of Property ID, then enter the property ID Number field. The Court requests that the filer enter the first ten (10) PINS.
Expungement Case Type & Arrest Numbers
If you are filing an expungement, the court requires you provide the arrest number. You can provide this using the Case Cross Reference Number feature by selecting a Type of Arrest Number, and entering the arrest number in the number field.