Types of Cases

  • Adoptions (AD)
  • Chancery (CH)
    • The chancery division hears matters in equity which are filed under the following categories:
      • Class actions
      • Declaratory judgments
      • Injunctions
      • Mortgage foreclosures
      • Partnership and corporate dissolutions
  • Criminal Misdemeanor (CM)
    • A misdemeanor is defined as a crime that is punishable by a fine and by a term of imprisonment not be served in a penitentiary and not to exceed one year; a crime that carries a less severe punishment than a felony.
  • Criminal Felony (CF)
    • A felony is defined as a crime that has a greater punishment imposed by statue than that imposed on a misdemeanor; a federal crime for which punishment may be death (if applicable) or imprisonment for more than one year.
  • Dissolution of Marriage (D)
    • We work with petitions for dissolution, the invalidity of marriage, joint simplified dissolution of marriage, custody, visitation, legal separation and all civil order of protection and post-decree issues.
  • Eminent Domain (ED)
    • Eminent domain is defined as the right of the government to take property from a private owner for public use by virtue of the superior dominion of its sovereignty over all lands within it’s jurisdiction.
    • The 5th amendment to the U.S. Constitution requires the government to compensate the owner of property taken by eminent domain.
  • Family (F)
    • The family division handles cases dealing with determining paternity of children, establishing child support for children of unmarried parents, and determining custody of children.
  • Law (L)
    • A law case is defined as a lawsuit that is brought into court for the purpose of seeking relief from or remedy for an alleged wrong when the damages exceed $50,000.
  • Forcible Entry and Detainer (LM)
    • Defined as the forcible entry upon and keeping of real property without the authority of law when plaintiff is seeking up to $10,000.
  • Mental Health (MH)
    • A mental health case determines whether or not a defendant has a mental illness for the purposes of convicting he/she for a crime.
  • Juvenile (J)
    • The juvenile division has jurisdiction over all delinquent minors who, prior to their 17th birthday, have violated a federal or state law or municipal ordinance other than traffic, fishing, boating, and game law violations.
    • Juvenile records are confidential and cannot be viewed by the general public. Only those individuals related to the court action may actually view the file.
  • Miscellaneous Remedy (MR)
  • Order of Protection (OP)
    • An order of protection is issued for the protection of a person or party against another individual.
  • Probate (P)
    • The probate division handles the following types of cases:
      • Actions arising under the Illinois Power of Attorney Act
      • Administration of estates of decedents, disabled persons, minors and wards
      • Claims against estates
      • Contracts to make a will
      • Probate and contest of wills
      • Will constructions
  • Tax (TX)
  • Small Claim (SC)
    • A small claim is a claim for the recovery of money or property whose value is below $10,000.