Below is a list of Help Desks for the Circuit Court of Cook County, categorized by legal matters
Order of Protection Clinic - Ascend Justice
Legal advice from attorneys for victims of domestic violence seeking civil orders of protection
- Legal representation in divorces for victims of domestic violence may also be available
Location: Domestic Violence Courthouse, Suite 1900
555 West Harrison Street, Chicago, Illinois 60607
Phone: (312) 239-0413
Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. except for court holidays
- Walk-in help available on first come, first serve basis
- Call to get help remotely
Domestic Violence Court Advocates - Between Friends
Help from court advocates for victims of domestic violence seeking orders of protection
Location: Rolling Meadows Courthouse (Third Municipal District), Lower Level
2121 Euclid Ave., Rolling Meadows, Illinois 60008
Phone: (847) 818-8900
Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. except for court holidays
- Walk-in help available on first come, first serve basis
Domestic Violence Advocates Office
Advocates who assist petitioners in filling out court forms seeking orders of protection
Locations:
- Maywood Courthouse (Fourth Municipal District), 2nd floor
1500 Maybrook Drive, Maywood, Illinois 60153
Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. except for court holidays
- Bridgeview Courthouse (Fifth Municipal District), 2nd floor
10220 South 76th Avenue, Bridgeview, Illinois 60453
Phone: (708) 974-6265
Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. except for court holidays
Suburban Courthouse Domestic Violence Help Desks - Legal Aid Chicago
Help from attorneys on domestic violence issues from attorneys, including filing civil Orders of Protection and related family law matters
- Legal representation available for some civil order of protection proceedings
Locations:
- Skokie Courthouse (Second Municipal District), Room 206A
5600 Old Orchard Road, Skokie, Illinois 60077
Hours: Wednesdays 12:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. except for court holidays
- Rolling Meadows Courthouse (Third Municipal District), Located down the Main Hall next to Courtroom 105
2121 Euclid Avenue, Rolling Meadows, IL 60008
Hours: Tuesdays 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. except for court holidays
- Maywood Courthouse (Fourth Municipal District), Located between Courtrooms 109 and 110
1500 Maybrook Drive, Maywood, Illinois 60153
Hours: Mondays 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. except for court holidays
Note: Help Desk Attorneys at this location cannot assist with initial drafting of Petitions for Orders of Protection
- Bridgeview Courthouse (Fifth Municipal District), Room 221 (in the Law Library)
10220 South 76th Avenue, Bridgeview, Illinois 60453
Phone: (708) 974-6201
Hours: Mondays 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. except for court holidays
- Markham Courthouse (Sixth Municipal District), Room 221B
16501 S. Kedzie Parkway, Markham, Illinois 60428
Hours: Mondays 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. except for court holidays
Adult Expungement Help Desk - Cabrini Green Legal Aid
Legal advice and help with court paperwork for expunging or sealing criminal records
- Must have criminal record/rap sheet to be helped
- Cook County arrests and court cases only
Location: Richard J. Daley Center, Room 1006 (10th Floor)
50 West Washington Street, Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: (312) 738-2452
Hours: Monday - Wednesday, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. except for court holidays
- Walk-in help available on first come, first serve basis
Online: cgla.net/get-legal-help
- Apply online to get help remotely for any arrests of cases in Cook County, including Chicago and the suburbs
Expungement Help Desk - James B. Moran Center
Legal advice and help with expunging or sealing criminal records
- Must have criminal record/rap sheet to be helped
Location: Skokie Courthouse (Second Municipal District)
5600 Old Orchard Road, Skokie, Illinois 60077
Phone: (847) 492-1410 ext. 102
Email: contact@moran-center.org
Hours: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. except for court holidays
- Walk-in help available on first come, first serve basis
Rich Cozzola Memorial Juvenile Expungement Help Desk ("JEHD") - Legal Aid Chicago
Help with expunging (erasing) records of arrests and court records for juveniles (arrest or case occurred when under the age of 18)
- Cook County arrests and court cases only
- No need to obtain criminal record/rap sheet for help
Location: Cook County Juvenile Center, First Floor (next to Clerkâs Office)
1100 South Hamilton Avenue, Chicago, IL 60612
Phone: (312) 229-6072
Hours: Monday - Thursday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. except for court holidays
- Walk-in help available on first come, first serve basis
Domestic Relations Advice Desk - CARPLS
Legal advice for family law cases, including divorce, allocation (custody), parenting time (visitation), and child support
- Drafting of documents, like petitions, answers, and appearances, available in certain cases
- Attorneys do not provide representation in court
Location: Richard J. Daley Center, CL-29 (Concourse Level)
50 West Washington Street, Chicago, IL 60602
Hours: Monday - Thursday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. except for court holidays
- Walk-in help available on first come, first serve basis
- Appointments can also be made
Domestic Relations Help Desk - Legal Aid Society
Location: Rolling Meadows Courthouse (Third Municipal District)
2121 Euclid Ave., Rolling Meadows, Illinois 60008
Hours: Tuesdays 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. except for court holidays
Guardianship Assistance Desk for Minors
Help preparing court documents for guardianship of a minor
- Referrals for more complex cases
Location: Dunne Cook County Admin Building, Room 1020
69 West Washington Street, Chicago, IL 60602
(Across the street from the Richard J. Daley Center)
Phone: (312) 603-0135
Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. except for court holidays
- Call to make an appointment
The Guardianship Assistance Desk for Minors is a cooperative effort between the Office of the Chief Judge and Chicago Volunteer Legal Services.
Parentage and Child Support Advice Desk - Greater Chicago Legal Clinic
Legal advice and help with child support and paternity cases
- Attorneys do not provide representation in court
Location: Remote services only
Phone: (312) 796-3070
- Call and leave a message with your name and number to receive a call back for help
Municipal Court Advice Desk - CARPLS
Legal advice for civil court cases in the Municipal Division
- Help is not available for cases in the Early Resolution Program (ERP)
Location: Richard J. Daley Center, CL-29 (Concourse Level)
50 West Washington Street, Chicago, IL 60602
Hours: Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. except for court holidays
- Help is available in person Monday - Thursday and remotely (by phone or by Zoom) Monday - Friday
- Walk-in help available on first come, first serve basis
- Last client admitted in person at 3:45 and remotely at 4:15
Phone: (312) 626-6799
Zoom Meeting ID: 477 826 7667 (Link to join Zoom Meeting)
Self-Help Web Center - Chicago-Kent College of Law
Law students who help navigating online resource like looking up cases, applying for legal aid, and completing court forms
- Law student volunteers cannot provide legal advice or representation
Location: Richard J. Daley Center, Room 602 (6th Floor)
50 West Washington Street, Chicago, Illinois 60602
Hours: Hours vary, but open most days except for court holidays
- Walk-in help available on first come, first serve basis
Eviction Defense Help Desk - Legal Aid Chicago
Advice and help with legal matters involving landlord/tenant issues, eviction defense including document preparation
- Legal representation available for some eviction proceedings
Location: Markham Courthouse (Sixth Municipal District), Room 202B
16501 S. Kedzie Parkway, Markham, Illinois 60428
Phone: (312) 332-6041
- Call and leave a message with your name and number to receive a call back for help
Hours: Monday - Thursday, 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. except for court holidays
- Walk-in help available on Thursdays on a first come, first serve basis
- Help is available remotely Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays
Foreclosure Advice Desk - Greater Chicago Legal Clinic
Legal advice for foreclosure cases in the Chancery Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County
- Attorneys do not provide representation in court
Location: Richard J. Daley Center, CL-29 (Concourse Level)
50 West Washington Street, Chicago, IL 60602
Hours: Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. except for court holidays
- Desk hours may also vary based on staff availability
Phone: (312) 570-6320
- Walk-in help available on first come, first serve basis
The Foreclosure Advice Desk is a cooperative effort of the Office of the Chief Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County and the Greater Chicago Legal Clinic, Inc.
Foreclosure Housing Counseling and Legal Aid - Mortgage Foreclosure Mediation Program (MFMP)
Help with pending foreclosure actions in Cook County from HUD-Certified Housing Counselors
- Assistance negotiating mortgage modifications
Location: Varies depending on housing counselor agency
Phone: (855) 452-2637
Hours: Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. except for court holidays
- Call to make an appointment
MFMP is a cooperative effort between the Office of the Chief Judge, the Illinois Housing Development Authority, and The Chicago Bar Foundation.
Mediation Service - Center for Conflict Resolution
Mediation services (when the parties in a case work with a third, neutral person to resolve conflicts outside of court) for small claims, pro se court cases, eviction, family law, and chancery cases pending in the Chancery Division
- Mediation services are primarily remote (via Zoom)
- If your case is already in court, you may request mediation by asking the courtroom clerk or judge
- Cases may also be referred by attorneys or judges
- Mediation is voluntary
Phone: (312) 922-6464 ext. 222
Email: newcase@ccrchicago.org
Locations:
- Richard J. Daley Center
50 W. Washington St., Chicago, IL 60602
Hours: Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. except for court holidays
- Rolling Meadows Courthouse (Third Municipal District), Courtroom 206 (Via Zoom Only)
2121 Euclid Avenue, Rolling Meadows, IL 60008
Hours: Fridays 8:45 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. except for court holidays
- Maywood Courthouse (Fourth Municipal District)
1500 Maybrook Drive, Maywood, IL 60153
Hours: Mondays 1 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. except for court holidays
- Markham Courthouse (Sixth Municipal District)
16501 S. Kedzie Parkway, Markham, IL 60426
Hours: Tuesdays 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.; Thursdays 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. except for court holidays