Illinois runs a single, unified trial court system, and almost every dispute a resident faces starts in a circuit court in their own county. This page covers 134 courthouse and court office entries across the state, from the Daley Center in Chicago to small county seats such as Albion and Aledo. Before you drive anywhere, it helps to know which court handles your problem, who staffs the front counter and what the clerk will ask of you. The sections below explain that in plain terms.

How Courts in Illinois Are Organized Under the 1970 Constitution

The Illinois Constitution of 1970 created a unified judicial branch with three levels: the Supreme Court, the Appellate Court and the circuit courts. The Supreme Court has seven justices and sits in Springfield. It writes statewide court rules and supervises the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts, which handles budgets, statistics, judicial education and other support work for the whole system.

Below the Supreme Court, five appellate districts review decisions from trial courts. Most residents never see them. The courts you will actually visit are the circuit courts. Illinois has 24 judicial circuits covering all 102 counties, and Cook County forms a circuit by itself. Other circuits combine several counties. DuPage is the 18th Circuit, Lake is the 19th, Will is the 12th, and Kane and DeKalb share the 16th with Kendall County.

Every circuit court is a court of general jurisdiction. The same judges and clerks handle felonies, misdemeanors, traffic tickets, civil suits, small claims, evictions, divorces, probate and juvenile matters, usually split into divisions or courtrooms by subject. That is why most Illinois towns have no separate small claims or family court building. You go to the county courthouse and ask for the right division.

Some listings in our directory carry names such as Chicago District Court, Wheaton District Court or Aurora District Court. Those are listing names. In Illinois state practice, the court that decides your case is the circuit court for the county, and federal district courts are a separate system. If a name seems unclear, the street address and phone number are the reliable details to use.

Two local officials matter more than most people expect. The chief judge of each circuit sets local rules and assigns judges to calendars. The circuit clerk, an elected county official, accepts filings, collects fees, keeps the record and issues summonses and certified copies. Clerk staff can explain procedure and point you to forms, but they cannot give legal advice or tell you what to argue.

Judges reach the bench in a way that surprises many newcomers. Illinois judges first win office in partisan elections, then face retention votes in which they need 60 percent approval to stay. Circuit judges serve six-year terms, associate judges are appointed by the circuit judges, and Supreme Court and appellate justices serve ten-year terms.

Chicago, Cook County and the Collar Counties

The Circuit Court of Cook County is one of the largest unified court systems in the country, and our database lists seven courts in Cook County. The Daley Center at 50 West Washington Street in downtown Chicago, listed under 312-603-2000, is the main civil courthouse, with law, chancery and domestic relations calendars. Felony criminal cases are heard at a separate complex on California Avenue, the Leighton Criminal Court Building.

Outside downtown, Cook County divides into six municipal districts. The First covers the city of Chicago. The Second through Sixth serve suburban areas centered on Skokie, Rolling Meadows, Maywood, Bridgeview and Markham. Our Bridgeview District Court listing at 10220 West 75th Street, 708-974-6288, is a suburban courthouse of the kind that typically handles traffic, smaller civil cases and early criminal hearings for the southwest suburbs. Check your ticket or summons, because it prints the exact courthouse and courtroom.

The collar counties run their own circuits. DuPage County has five listings, including Wheaton District Court at 421 North County Farm Road (630-407-8700) and Addison District Court at 131 West Lake Street (630-543-4100). Will County ties Cook for the most listings with seven, including Bolingbrook District Court at 375 West Briarcliff Road (630-226-8400). Kane County has four, in Aurora, Batavia and Carpentersville. Lake County Circuit Court sits at 18 North County Street in Waukegan (847-377-2400).

In these fast-growing counties, expect security screening, busy parking lots and calendars that fill early. Many hearings are set by courtroom and time, so arrive at least 30 minutes ahead. In downtown Chicago, public transit is usually easier than finding parking near the Daley Center.

Downstate and Rural Illinois: Smaller Courthouses, a Different Rhythm

Away from the Chicago region, the county courthouse is often the center of a small-town square. Carroll County Court sits at 301 North Main Street in Mount Carroll (815-244-0221). Edwards County Court is at 50 East Main Street in Albion (618-445-2115), and Mercer County Court is at 100 Southeast 3rd Street in Aledo (309-582-7021). Alexander County Court in Cairo, at the state's southern tip, is at 2000 Washington Avenue (618-734-7000).

Rural circuits cover several counties, so a judge may hear cases in one courthouse on Monday and travel to another on Wednesday. Court days can be limited, and some family or criminal calendars meet only a few times a month. Call the circuit clerk before you go, confirm the date and ask which courthouse your matter is set in. Our Henry County Court listing in Cambridge, at 307 West Center Street, has no phone number in our data, so confirm the number with the county before you travel.

Mid-sized downstate cities have fuller operations. Winnebago County Court in Rockford (400 West State Street, 815-987-2510), Rock Island County Court (210 15th Street, 309-558-3570), Tazewell County Court in Pekin (342 Court Street, 309-477-2264), DeKalb County Court in Sycamore (133 West State Street, 815-895-7138), McLean County Court in Bloomington (104 West Front Street, 309-888-5190) and St Clair County Circuit Court in Belleville (10 Public Square, 618-277-6832) all run several courtrooms.

What to Bring to an Illinois Courthouse and When to Go

A little preparation saves a second trip. Most Illinois courthouses ask for the same basics:

Filing fees differ by county and case type, so ask the circuit clerk for the current schedule instead of trusting an old number. If you cannot afford the fees, Illinois lets you apply for a waiver based on income or public benefits. Civil cases are generally filed electronically through an approved system, with exceptions for self-represented people who show good cause.

Weekday mornings are the busiest time, because many courtrooms start their calendars early. Clerk counters usually run through business hours, but some offices close at lunch or early on certain days. Call first, especially in smaller counties.

Courts in Illinois operate under a unified state judicial system that handles everything from traffic infractions and small claims disputes to major felony trials and civil litigation. The Illinois Supreme Court serves as the highest state court with authority over all state court matters.

Courts locations are available in 125 cities across Illinois. They are spread across 101 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration include Chicago, Mount Carroll, Wheaton, reflecting areas where county seats and urban centers house multiple court divisions to handle high caseloads.

Residents of Illinois should know which court has jurisdiction over their matter — whether it is a municipal, district, circuit, or superior court — before filing documents or appearing for a hearing.

Courts by Counties

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Residents of Illinois who need to access court services should identify the correct court for their matter, check the court's website for filing fees, forms, and procedures, and consider using the court's self-help resources if they are not represented by an attorney.

Browse Courts by county across Illinois to find the nearest location.

Reaching the Right Illinois Courthouse Without a Wasted Trip

Illinois courts are county-based, so the first question is always which county. Civil cases usually belong in the county where the defendant lives or where the events happened. Criminal and traffic cases are heard where the offense took place. Your ticket or summons names the courthouse, and the circuit clerk can confirm it by phone.

Border regions show how this works. People in the Quad Cities area often start with Rock Island County, where four listings are on file, including the court at 210 15th Street. In northwest Illinois, Carroll County has two listings in Mount Carroll, a reminder that one county can have more than one court location.

If you are handling a case without a lawyer, the Illinois Supreme Court approves standardized statewide forms for common matters such as small claims, fee waivers, name changes and orders of protection. Circuit clerks accept them, and many are available through the Illinois Court Help website. Larger courthouses often have a self-help desk, and regional legal aid organizations and local bar association referral services can fill the gaps. Bring questions written down, because clerks and help desk volunteers are usually busy.

Frequently Asked Questions About Courts in Illinois

Start with the county. In Illinois, civil cases are usually filed in the county where the defendant lives or where the events happened, and criminal and traffic cases are heard where the offense occurred. Your summons, ticket or notice lists the courthouse address, courtroom and time. If you have none of these, call the circuit clerk of the likely county and ask which division hears your type of case. Each county has one elected clerk, and the staff can point you to the right place. In Cook County, for example, a traffic ticket might send you to a suburban municipal district courthouse such as Bridgeview rather than the Daley Center downtown.

Illinois small claims cases cover money disputes up to $10,000, not counting court costs. You file a complaint with the circuit clerk in the county where the defendant lives or where the transaction took place, pay the filing fee and arrange service on the defendant, often through the county sheriff or a private process server. Fees depend on the county and the amount claimed, so ask the clerk for the current schedule. Bring contracts, receipts, photos and messages as evidence, with copies for the judge and the other side. Calendar days vary, especially in rural circuits, so confirm your hearing date before you travel.

Yes, for most civil cases. Illinois requires civil filings to be made electronically through an Illinois Supreme Court approved e-filing system, known as eFileIL, using an approved service provider. Self-represented litigants can ask for an exemption by showing good cause, such as lack of internet access or a disability, and can then file on paper at the circuit clerk's office. Some providers charge a service fee on top of the court's filing fee, while a fee waiver can cover the court's charges. Criminal and traffic matters follow separate procedures. Check your county clerk's website for the portal and any local rules in your circuit.

Illinois lets people who cannot afford court costs ask for a fee waiver. You complete an Application for Waiver of Court Fees, a standardized form approved by the Illinois Supreme Court and available from circuit clerks and the Illinois Court Help website. Eligibility generally rests on receiving certain public benefits, having income below a set level compared with federal poverty guidelines, or showing that paying would leave you unable to meet basic needs. A judge or clerk reviews it, and you may need to attach proof. Petitions for an order of protection under the Illinois Domestic Violence Act can be filed without a filing fee. Ask the clerk for the form before paying anything.

Illinois calls divorce dissolution of marriage, and it is filed in the circuit court of the county where either spouse lives. One spouse must have lived in Illinois for at least 90 days before the court enters a judgment. The ground is irreconcilable differences, and the law presumes this once the spouses have lived apart for six months. If you have children, you must address parental responsibilities through a parenting plan, and some circuits require a parenting class. File with the circuit clerk, pay the filing fee or request a waiver, and arrange service on your spouse. Many counties publish local family court rules, so read them before filing.

Illinois state trial courts are circuit courts, organized by county or group of counties. Labels such as Chicago District Court, Wheaton District Court or Aurora District Court in our listings most likely point to courthouse locations serving the local circuit, so the clerk's office there handles your paperwork. Federal courts are separate. Illinois has three federal districts: Northern, Central and Southern. They hear federal crimes, bankruptcy and certain disputes between citizens of different states, and they have their own filing rules. If your matter is a traffic ticket, eviction, divorce or small claims case, you want the county circuit court, so confirm with the clerk when in doubt.