Help Desks in the Court House

Below is a list of Help Desks for the Circuit Court of Cook County, categorized by legal matters

    Domestic Violence (Orders of Protection)

    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:

    Suburban Courthouse Domestic Violence/Relations 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: 

    Expungements

    Adult Expungement Help Desk - Cabrini Green Legal Aid

    Operated by Cabrini Green Legal Aid (CGLA), this help desk assists individuals seeking to clear their criminal records by offering help with expungement and sealing paperwork and applications, legal advice, and referrals for other remedies, such as health care worker waivers and certificates of good conduct.

    • The individual must have their criminal record/rap sheet before coming to the Help Desk for assistance
    • Apply online to get help remotely for any arrests for cases in Cook County — including Chicago and the suburbs
    • Cook County arrests and court cases only 

    Location: Richard J. Daley Center, Room 1006 (10th Floor)
    50 West Washington Street, Chicago, IL 60602
    Hours: Monday - Wednesday, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. (except for court holidays)
    Website: cgla.net/get-legal-help 
    Phone: (312) 738-2452

    • Walk-in help available on first come, first serve basis

    Tom Verdun Memorial Expungement & Sealing Help Desk

    The Expungement Help Desk is available for people needing free legal assistance regarding their expungement or sealing of criminal records.

    • The individual must have their criminal record/rap sheet before coming to the Desk for assistance

    Location: Skokie Courthouse (Second Municipal District), Room 200
    5600 Old Orchard Road, Skokie, Illinois 60077
    Hours: Tuesdays, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. (except for court holidays)
    Phone: (847) 492-1410 ext. 102
    Email: contact@moran-center.org
    Website: moran-center.org

    • Walk-in help available on first come, first serve basis

    Pro Bono Attorney Program at Bridgeview

    Legal assistance is provided by the Southwest Suburban Bar Association for expungement paperwork review. Referrals to an attorney are also available. The Pro Bono attorney cannot represent clients in court.

    Location: Bridgeview Courthouse (Fifth Municipal District), Lower Level, Cafeteria
    10220 South 76th Avenue, Bridgeview, Illinois 60453
    Hours: Tuesdays, 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. (except for court holidays)
    Phone: (708) 371-4930

    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 the criminal record/rap sheet for help 

    Location: Cook County Juvenile Center, First Floor (next to Clerk’s Office)
    1100 South Hamilton Avenue, Chicago, IL 60612
    Hours: Monday - Thursday, 9 a.m. -  4 p.m. (except for court holidays)
    Phone: (312) 229-6072

    • Walk-in help available on first come, first serve basis
    Family & Children

    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 ZOOM ONLY - Legal Aid Society

    Location: Rolling Meadows Courthouse (Third Municipal District)
    2121 Euclid Ave., Rolling Meadows, Illinois 60008 
    Hours: Thursday 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. (except for court holidays)

    Zoom ID: 928 2226 3691
    Zoom Passcode: RMHD

    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)
    Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (except for court holidays)
    Phone: (312) 603-0135

    • 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.

    Adult Guardianship Help Desk

    Help preparing court documents for adult guardianship proceedings.

    • Assistance with preparing guardianship petitions and related court forms
    • Phone appointments are available

    Location: Richard J. Daley Center, CL-29 (Concourse Level)
    50 West Washington Street, Chicago, IL 60602
    Hours: Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. (except for court holidays)
    Phone: (312) 376-1880

    • Walk-ins welcome; no appointment necessary
    • To request a phone appointment, call (312) 376-1880 between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.
    • Phone appointments are generally scheduled within one week

    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
    General / Small Claims / Other

    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

    Zoom Dial-in Phone Number: (312) 626-6799
    Zoom Meeting ID: 477 826 7667 (Link to join Zoom Meeting)

    Self-Help Resource Center - Chicago-Kent College of Law

    Law students who help navigate online resources 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
    Housing & Eviction

    Eviction Defense Help Desk - Legal Aid Chicago

    Advice and help for TENANTS ONLY with legal matters involving landlord / tenant issues, eviction defense including document preparation. Note that the help desk attorney:

    • Provides legal advice and limited document preparation for tenants in eviction court
    • Cannot act as your attorney (or represent you) in eviction court, but can advise you
    • Cannot help tenants who want to sue their landlords

    Location: Markham Courthouse (Sixth Municipal District), Room 202B
    16501 S. Kedzie Parkway, Markham, Illinois 60428

    Phone: (312) 229-6014

    • Call and leave a message with your name, phone number and eviction case 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 is available on Tuesdays and Thursdays on a first-come, first-served basis
    • Telephone Help is available on Mondays and Wednesdays
    • Closed on Fridays

    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 
    • 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

    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: