Per the Probate Division’s General Administrative Order 2020 P 8, hearings will be held remotely via Zoom. Detailed instructions are available in RELATED DOWNLOADS.
Each Probate Judge has unique Zoom login information which will be provided to you before your hearing.
If you are new to Zoom or have never used Zoom for court before, we recommend viewing our recent Zoom training here before your court date, and make sure to test the service on your computer prior to your scheduled time. www.zoom.us
Related Downloads
Please remember when using Zoom:
- We recommend changing your name on the Zoom platform to “CVLS - Your Full Name.” This will allow the court to recognize who you are right away when you sign in.
- You should know before the Zoom hearing whether parties will appear and encourage them to log in on time so you can let the clerk know when you check in. Judges will be hearing cases in order based on who is ready to “step up,” much like a usual court call. If you do not know whether the parties are appearing, you may have to wait until the end of the call to have your case heard.
- You may want to log in to the Zoom hearing up to 30 minutes before your scheduled time.
In addition to the change in platform, the following court procedures have changed:
- All proposed orders and courtesy copies must be submitted via email to the judge at least 2 business days but no more than 5 days prior to your appearance.
- Courtesy copies must be submitted as a PDF and cannot be longer than 25 pages total. You should send the copies in one email per case. Please send the copies to the judge directly via email.
- You must include your email address in your proposed order; the Probate Division will send the stamped order to the email address listed on the order.
Agreed Orders: If you plan to request a continuance, or you otherwise have an agreement among parties, you can submit an Agreed Order to your judge before your court date to avoid appearing in court. Here’s how:
- Before submitting an Agreed Order, you MUST confirm agreement from all parties. If possible, have all parties sign the proposed agreed order electronically. If they are unable to sign the Order, make sure your Order states that all parties have agreed and let the judge know that you have confirmed their agreement when you email the Order.
- Prepare your Order. For your convenience, a downloadable Agreed Order for continuance is available in your LegalServer case profile at the bottom of the page under the tab “Recommended Documents”. This form will automatically complete your case caption and include the language required by the Court in the Administrative Order.
- Email a courtesy copy of a proposed agreed order to your judge 2-5 days before your scheduled court appearance. You will receive a copy of the signed and stamped order on or after your scheduled hearing to the email address listed in your order.
- Distribute the Order to the other parties. The Court will not do this.
More information regarding Agreed Orders is included in the Administrative Order. Please make sure to review it before submitting an Agreed Order.
Other notes: If you are presenting a case for adjudication, you do not need to provide the court with the original CCP-211, but please review the Notice of Motion available in RELATED DOWNLOADS. Finally, if any party in your case requires an interpreter, please email Joseph Fleming (joseph.fleming@cookcountyil.gov) and Daniel Duffy (probate.divatty@cookcountyil.gov) with the case name, case number, court calendar, name of the assigned Judge, and language needed well in advance of your hearing.
If you have any questions that are not answered in the attached documents or on the court website, please feel free to contact your CVLS supervising attorney.
Above all else, please be patient and flexible as we all get used to this new world. We’re all in it together, and CVLS is here to help with any questions or concerns you have along the way.
Thank you for your time and commitment to CVLS.