The Pro Se Small Claims Court of the Circuit Court of Cook County is a section within the First Municipal District.
Persons who choose to represent themselves in court without the aid of an attorney are known as pro se litigants. This is because pro se is Latin for “for himself” or in one’s own behalf.
The Pro Se Branch of the First Municipal District’s Small Claims Court was established to give people without lawyers the opportunity to pursue their claims for small amounts of monetary damages in a quicker and less expensive way than traditional litigation.
The Pro Se Branch works as follows:
- The person filing the complaint (the plaintiff) must be pro se; attorneys are not allowed to file complaints on behalf of clients in this branch.
- Plaintiffs may seek monetary damages only up to $3,000.00.
- Defendants can defend against the complaint either pro se or with an attorney.
- If the defendant appears with a lawyer, the plaintiff has the right to hire an attorney, and the case remains in the Pro Se Branch of the Small Claims Court.
- The judge refers all cases to mediation before hearing the cases to give the parties the opportunity to reach a solution to their conflict on their own.
The following types of cases are heard in the Pro Se Branch of the Small Claims Court:
- Torts
- Fraud
- Breach of contract
- Personal injury motor vehicle
- Property damage
- Personal injury subrogation
Guidebook: How to Initiate a Lawsuit in the Pro Se Branch of Small Claims Court
Additional Information and Resources
Contact and Location Information
Pro Se Small Claims Court
Richard J. Daley Center, Room 1308
(312) 603-3484
Daily Court Schedule
- 9:30 a.m. – Trial Call
- 2 p.m. – Motions of Course
Pro Se Help Desk
Both plaintiffs and defendants without lawyers can receive free assistance for their cases in the Pro Se Branch of the Small Claims Court of the First Municipal District. Help includes interpreting and filling out court documents, and providing information on required court fees and on how to follow orders entered by the court.
Richard J. Daley Center
6th Floor, Room 602
Phone: (312) 603-5626
Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday – Friday; except court holidays
No appointment needed; walk-ins welcome.
Staff does not provide legal advice.
Court Forms
Court forms are available from the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County. Forms commonly used in Pro Se litigation include:
- Pro Se – Complaint and Summons
- Sample Pro Se – Complaint and Summons (English)
- Sample Pro Se – Complaint and Summons (Spanish)
- Section 2-1401 – Petition to Vacate
- Sample Section 2-1401 – Petition to Vacate
- Motion & Order for Special Process Server
- Sample Motion & Order for Special Process Server
- Memorandum of Judgment
- Sample Memorandum of Judgment
- Satisfaction Release of Judgment
- Sample Satisfaction Release of Judgment
- Rule to Show Cause (2 pages)
- Sample Rule to Show Cause (2 pages)
- Summons After Conditional Judgment
- Sample Summons After Conditional Judgment
- Attachment for Contempt Order
- Sample Attachment for Contempt Order