Cook County Small Claims Court (Illinois): How to File, Fees, Forms & Districts

Cook County small claims: the $10,000 limit, the six municipal districts, Daley Center and suburban courthouses, fees, forms and case search. Checked 2026-10-27.

Navy cover with a drawn generic courthouse and the words Cook County Small Claims, Six districts, one clerk: where and how to file
Where and how to file small claims in Cook County, Illinois.

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Quick answer: In Cook County, small claims are heard by the Circuit Court of Cook County, and the Clerk of the Circuit Court handles filing. The Illinois small claims limit is $10,000. For claims up to $2,500, the filing fee is $287.00 (no appearance fee). The county has six municipal districts, each with its own courthouse. If you're not sure which one to use, call the Clerk's Civil Division at 312-603-5116.

Drawn generic courthouse beside a pinned info board for the Circuit Court of Cook County: six municipal districts with District 1 in Chicago, Clerk's Civil Division hours 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, and e-filing marked check your court's rules, ask the clerk.
Cook County small claims at a glance, checked 2026-10-27.

This independent guide covers small claims cases in Cook County, Illinois, in places such as Chicago, Evanston, Skokie, Schaumburg, Arlington Heights, Oak Park, Cicero, Oak Lawn, Orland Park and Calumet City. Small Claims Coach is not the court; we link to the court's and the Clerk's official pages throughout.

Checked on 2026-10-27 against the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County and Circuit Court of Cook County websites. Sources are listed below. Jump to court addresses and phones ↓ For the statewide rules, see our Illinois small claims guide.

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Which court hears small claims in Cook County?

  • Court: the Circuit Court of Cook County. The Clerk of the Circuit Court handles filing.
  • Limit: $10,000 (Illinois Supreme Court Rule 281).
  • Pro Se Small Claims Court (Chicago): at the Daley Center, Room 1308, (312) 603-3484. The plaintiff must be pro se (attorneys can't file complaints for clients in this branch), and claims are limited to $3,000. The judge refers all cases to mediation before hearing them. Trial call is at 9:30 a.m. and motions at 2 p.m.

Which municipal district courthouse do I file in?

  • Cook County is split into six municipal districts. District 1 is Chicago (Daley Center); Districts 2 to 6 are suburban courthouses, and each lists small claims among its case types.
  • The Clerk's Suburban Districts page lists which cities and villages each district serves (see the by-city list below).
  • Which address decides the district (for example, the defendant's home or where the incident happened) isn't confirmed on the pages we checked. Call the Clerk's Civil Division at 312-603-5116 to confirm which district to file in.
  • Some towns on the Clerk's lists (for example Hinsdale, Burr Ridge, Bartlett and Elgin) are partly outside Cook County. If your case may belong in another county, check with the clerk.

Cook County small claims courthouses by city (approximate)

Approximate guide. This list shows the cities and villages the Clerk lists for each suburban district. It isn't an address lookup: the defendant's address (or other facts of your case) may decide the district, not the city name. Confirm with the Civil Division at 312-603-5116 before you file.

District 1: Chicago

Chicago (Daley Center)

District 2: Skokie

Deerfield, Des Plaines, Evanston, Glencoe, Glenview, Golf, Kenilworth, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, Niles, Northbrook, Northfield, Oakton, Park Ridge, Skokie, Wilmette, Winnetka

District 3: Rolling Meadows

Arlington Heights, Barrington, Barrington Hills, Bartlett, Bensenville, Buffalo Grove, Elgin, Elk Grove Village, Hanover Park, Harwood Heights, Hoffman Estates, Inverness, Kildeer, Mount Prospect, Norridge, Palatine, Prospect Heights, Rolling Meadows, Roselle, Rosemont, Schaumburg, Schiller Park, South Barrington, Streamwood, Wheeling

District 4: Maywood

Bellwood, Berkeley, Berwyn, Broadview, Brookfield, Cicero, Elmwood Park, Forest Park, Franklin Park, Hillside, Hines, La Grange Park, Maywood, Melrose Park, Memorial Park, North Riverside, Northlake, Oak Park, River Forest, River Grove, Riverside, Stone Park, Westchester

District 5: Bridgeview

Alsip, Bedford Park, Bridgeview, Burbank, Burr Ridge, Chicago Ridge, Countryside, Crestwood, Evergreen Park, Forest View, Hickory Hills, Hinsdale, Hodgkins, Hometown, Indian Head Park, Justice, La Grange, Lemont, Lyons, McCook, Merrionette Park, Oak Forest, Oak Lawn, Orland Hills, Orland Park, Palos Heights, Palos Hills, Palos Park, Stickney, Summit, Tinley Park, Western Springs, Willow Springs, Worth

District 6: Markham

Blue Island, Burnham, Calumet City, Calumet Park, Chicago Heights, Country Club Hills, Crete, Dixmoor, Dolton, East Hazel Crest, Flossmoor, Ford Heights, Glenwood, Harvey, Hazel Crest, Homewood, Lansing, Lynwood, Markham, Matteson, Midlothian, Olympia Fields, Park Forest, Phoenix, Posen, Richton Park, Riverdale, Robbins, Sauk Village, South Chicago Heights, South Holland, Steger, Thornton

Checked 2026-10-27, from the Clerk's Suburban Districts page.

Addresses, phone numbers and hours

Clerk's Civil Division hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Civil Division also offers live chat with the Clerk during those hours. Addresses and phones are from the Clerk's Civil Division and Suburban Districts pages. Hours at the suburban courthouses weren't on the pages we checked; call before you go.

District 1: Chicago (Richard J. Daley Center)

Address: 50 West Washington St., Chicago, IL 60602

Phone: 312-603-5116

Courts in this building:

District 2: Skokie Courthouse

Address: 5600 Old Orchard Rd., Skokie, IL 60077

Phone: 847-470-7250

Courts in this building:

  • Second Municipal District

District 3: Rolling Meadows Courthouse

Address: 2121 Euclid Ave., Rolling Meadows, IL 60008

Phone: 847-818-3000

Courts in this building:

  • Third Municipal District

District 4: Maywood Courthouse

Address: 1500 Maybrook Dr., Maywood, IL 60153

Phone: 708-865-6040

Courts in this building:

  • Fourth Municipal District

District 5: Bridgeview Courthouse

Address: 10220 S. 76th Avenue, Bridgeview, IL 60455

Phone: (708) 974-6500

Courts in this building:

  • Fifth Municipal District

District 6: Markham Courthouse

Address: 16501 South Kedzie, Markham, IL 60428

Phone: (708) 232-4551

Courts in this building:

  • Sixth Municipal District

How much does small claims cost in Cook County?

From the Clerk's Civil Division Filing Fees sheet (CCG-0603, dated 05/21/26):

  • Small claims up to $2,500 (to file): $287.00, for every small claims case type on the sheet, including motor vehicle injury and property damage
  • Appearance fee (defendant): $0.00
  • Claims over $2,500: the sheet's small claims table stops at $2,500. Call the Civil Division at 312-603-5116 to confirm the filing fee.
  • Service: by the Sheriff, or by certified mail if your claim does not exceed $10,000 and the defendant is in Illinois. The Clerk charges a nominal fee to serve by certified mail.
  • Foreign judgment cases: CCG-0603 adds a statutory mailing fee plus postage per defendant.

Can I e-file in Cook County?

Possibly required. Illinois generally requires e-filing unless you're exempt, but we haven't confirmed how that applies to Cook County small claims. Ask the Civil Division at 312-603-5116 whether you must e-file.

Cook County small claims forms

You need a complaint, a summons and a Civil Division Action Cover Sheet. Get them from the Clerk's Civil Division (Daley Center, Room 601) or the Clerk's online forms page.

How to file in Cook County, step by step

Illustrated winding road with six numbered stations for Cook County small claims: check your claim fits the limit, find your district, get the three forms (complaint, summons, cover sheet), file with the Clerk and ask if you must e-file, serve by Sheriff or certified mail, and go to court with evidence.
The steps to file a small claims case in Cook County.

See all our county small claims guides

  1. Make sure your claim is $10,000 or less (Chicago's Pro Se Small Claims Court is limited to $3,000).
  2. Find your municipal district (see the district section above), and call the Civil Division at 312-603-5116 if you're not sure.
  3. Get the complaint, summons and Civil Division Action Cover Sheet from Room 601 or the Clerk's online forms page.
  4. File with the Clerk and pay the fee ($287.00 for claims up to $2,500; call 312-603-5116 for larger claims). Ask whether you must e-file.
  5. Have the defendant served by the Sheriff, or by certified mail if your claim is $10,000 or less and the defendant is in Illinois.
  6. Go to court on your date with your evidence. Illinois statewide rules are in our Illinois guide.

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How to look up a Cook County small claims case

  • Use the Clerk's online case search at casesearch.cookcountyclerkofcourt.org (the Clerk calls it the Online Electronic Case Docket Lookup).
  • We couldn't confirm what you can search by. If the online search doesn't find your case, call the Civil Division at 312-603-5116.

What does it cost to collect a judgment?

Winning doesn't mean you get paid automatically. Cook County's collection fees weren't on the pages we checked. Ask the Civil Division at 312-603-5116 about the current fees, and see our Illinois guide for the statewide steps.

Fee waivers and venue changes

  • Fee waiver: ask the Clerk's Civil Division at 312-603-5116 how to apply.
  • Wrong district: if you think the case was filed in the wrong district, ask the clerk before your court date how to raise it.

Coach's Tips for Cook County

  • Suing for $3,000 or less in Chicago without a lawyer? Ask the Clerk about the Pro Se Small Claims Court at the Daley Center. The judge sends every case there to mediation first, so come ready to talk settlement.
  • Confirm the district before you file. The Clerk's town lists are a starting point, not an address lookup. A quick call to 312-603-5116 can save a refiling.
  • Use the live chat. The Civil Division offers live chat with the Clerk, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Cook County small claims checklist

  • My claim is $10,000 or less (or $3,000 or less for the Pro Se court).
  • I know which municipal district to file in, or I called the Civil Division to confirm.
  • I have the complaint, summons and Civil Division Action Cover Sheet.
  • I know the filing fee for my claim amount, or I asked about a fee waiver.
  • I know whether I must e-file.
  • I have a plan to serve the defendant (Sheriff or certified mail).
  • My evidence is organized and copied for court.

Cook County small claims FAQ

What is the small claims limit in Cook County?

$10,000, under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 281. Chicago's Pro Se Small Claims Court at the Daley Center is limited to $3,000.

How much does it cost to file small claims in Cook County?

For claims up to $2,500, the Clerk lists a $287.00 filing fee and a $0.00 appearance fee. For larger claims, call the Civil Division at 312-603-5116 to confirm the fee.

Which Cook County courthouse do I file in?

Cook County has six municipal districts. The Clerk lists which towns each suburban district serves, and District 1 is Chicago. Call the Civil Division at 312-603-5116 to confirm the right district for your case.

Where is small claims court in Chicago?

At the Richard J. Daley Center, 50 West Washington St. The Clerk's Civil Division is in Room 601, and the Pro Se Small Claims Court is in Room 1308.

How do I look up a small claims case in Cook County?

Use the Clerk's online case search at casesearch.cookcountyclerkofcourt.org. If it doesn't find your case, call the Civil Division at 312-603-5116.

Where do I get Cook County small claims forms?

From the Clerk's Civil Division in Room 601 of the Daley Center, or on the Clerk's online forms page. You need a complaint, a summons and a Civil Division Action Cover Sheet.

Do I need a lawyer for small claims in Cook County?

No. Many people file small claims on their own. In Chicago's Pro Se Small Claims Court, the plaintiff must be pro se, and attorneys can't file complaints for clients.

Where do I get the Cook County small claims complaint form?

From the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Civil Division. The complaint, summons and Civil Division Action Cover Sheet are available in Room 601 or at https://services.cookcountyclerkofcourt.org/Forms/.

What is the Pro Se Small Claims Court at the Daley Center?

It's a small claims courtroom of the Circuit Court of Cook County at the Daley Center (Room 1308) for people without a lawyer. Attorneys can't file there, and you can ask for up to $3,000.

Sources

Checked 2026-10-27.

More for Illinois: Illinois small claims guide · Ready to sue · Just got sued · How to serve small claims papers · What to say on hearing day

Free: the Small Claims Starter Kit (basic timeline and checklists).

You do the work. The Playbook hands you the plays.

This page covers where and how to file in Cook County. The Playbook coaches you from filing to hearing day: a filled-in sample of the Illinois Small Claims Complaint (CS-C 702.4), your Illinois Playbook section, and step-by-step prep guides. One membership covers every state. $149 for your first year (introductory offer), then $199 a year. Join now.

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Small Claims Coach is built to help you handle your case yourself, without a lawyer. But if your situation is complicated, doesn't fit our samples, or a deadline is close, you may want to call a lawyer.

Small Claims Coach uses public information to build the Playbook, which coaches you as you organize and present your own case. We are not your lawyer, there is no attorney-client relationship, and we don't want the details of your case.

This information is for educational purposes only. It is not legal advice.