Illinois Court Directory: Cook, DuPage, Lake, Will, Kane, McHenry Courthouses | Chicago Accident Encyclopedia
Free Reference · 6 Counties · Attorney-Reviewed

Illinois court directory.

Complete directory of Chicagoland courts handling personal injury cases. Addresses, phone numbers, divisions, filing fees, parking, and public transit access for every courthouse across Cook, DuPage, Lake, Will, Kane, and McHenry counties. The Cook County Circuit Court is the largest unified trial court in the United States, with multiple satellite locations covering specific geographic districts.

Direct Answer

Most Illinois personal injury cases are filed in the Circuit Court of the appropriate county, the trial court of general jurisdiction. The Richard J. Daley Center at 50 W. Washington St in Chicago is the primary civil courthouse for Cook County personal injury cases over the jurisdictional minimum. Cases involving crashes in specific Cook County districts may venue to one of five satellite courthouses (Bridgeview, Markham, Skokie, Maywood, Rolling Meadows). Each surrounding county (DuPage, Lake, Will, Kane, McHenry) has its own primary judicial center.

Cook County Circuit Court

The Circuit Court of Cook County is the largest unified trial court in the United States, with approximately 400 judges handling roughly 1.2 million case filings per year. The Law Division at the Daley Center handles civil cases seeking damages above the jurisdictional minimum (currently $30,000). Smaller cases proceed in the Municipal Division. The Cook County Circuit Court is divided into six geographic districts, each anchored by a primary courthouse.

Primary · 1st District

Richard J. Daley Center

Cook County's primary civil courthouse · Law Division

Address 50 W. Washington St, Chicago, IL 60602
Phone (312) 603-5031 Civil Division Clerk
Divisions Law Division (civil >$30K), Municipal Division (civil ≤$30K), Chancery, Probate, Domestic Relations
Filing fee ~$350-$450 plaintiff filing fee (varies by division and amount)
E-filing Required via Odyssey eFileIL (efile.illinoiscourts.gov)
Parking No public parking on site. Nearby garages at Block 37, Theatre District. Street parking limited.
Transit CTA: Washington Blue/Red Line, Daley Center is across from Chicago Temple. Metra: Ogilvie or Union Station, 0.5 mi walk.
Hours M-F 8:30am-4:30pm. Court calls typically 9:30am or 10:00am.
Geographic Crashes in Chicago city limits typically venue here
Satellite · 5th District

Bridgeview Courthouse

Southwest suburban Cook County

Address 10220 S. 76th Ave, Bridgeview, IL 60455
Phone (708) 974-6500
Coverage Crashes in Bridgeview, Burbank, Chicago Ridge, Hickory Hills, Hometown, Justice, Oak Lawn, Palos communities, Worth
Parking On-site parking available
Satellite · 6th District

Markham Courthouse

South suburban Cook County

Address 16501 S. Kedzie Pkwy, Markham, IL 60428
Phone (708) 232-4551
Coverage Crashes in Calumet City, Country Club Hills, Dolton, Harvey, Markham, Midlothian, Oak Forest, Olympia Fields, Riverdale, South Holland, Tinley Park
Satellite · 2nd District

Skokie Courthouse

North suburban Cook County

Address 5600 Old Orchard Rd, Skokie, IL 60077
Phone (847) 470-7250
Coverage Crashes in Evanston, Glencoe, Glenview, Kenilworth, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, Niles, Northbrook, Northfield, Skokie, Wilmette, Winnetka
Parking On-site parking available · Adjacent to Old Orchard Mall
Satellite · 4th District

Maywood Courthouse

West suburban Cook County

Address 1500 Maybrook Dr, Maywood, IL 60153
Phone (708) 865-6040
Coverage Crashes in Berwyn, Bellwood, Broadview, Cicero, Forest Park, Hillside, La Grange, Maywood, Melrose Park, Oak Park, Riverside, Stickney, Westchester
Satellite · 3rd District

Rolling Meadows Courthouse

Northwest suburban Cook County

Address 2121 Euclid Ave, Rolling Meadows, IL 60008
Phone (847) 818-3000
Coverage Crashes in Arlington Heights, Barrington, Buffalo Grove, Des Plaines, Elk Grove Village, Hoffman Estates, Inverness, Mount Prospect, Palatine, Park Ridge, Prospect Heights, Rolling Meadows, Rosemont, Schaumburg, Streamwood, Wheeling

Educational Purposes Only

This information is for educational purposes only. Court information is verified as of May 2026 and subject to change. Confirm filing requirements with the court clerk before filing. If you have questions about your case and would like to hire a lawyer, please call (312) 278-3625 for a free consultation.

DuPage County Circuit Court

DuPage County operates a single primary judicial center in Wheaton. With a population of approximately 925,000, DuPage is the second-largest county in Illinois and handles a substantial volume of suburban personal injury cases, particularly involving I-88, I-355, and the East-West Tollway corridors.

Primary · DuPage

DuPage County Judicial Center

DuPage County's primary courthouse · 18th Judicial Circuit

Address 505 N. County Farm Rd, Wheaton, IL 60187
Phone (630) 407-8700 Circuit Court Clerk
Divisions Law Division (civil), Chancery, Probate, Family Law, Criminal, Juvenile
Filing fee ~$300-$400 plaintiff filing fee (Law Division)
E-filing Required via Odyssey eFileIL
Parking Free on-site parking · Large surface lot adjacent to building
Transit Metra: UP-W Line to College Avenue station (Wheaton), ~1 mi from courthouse. Pace bus 714 stops nearby.
Hours M-F 8:00am-4:30pm
Coverage All DuPage County cases (Aurora-DuPage portion, Addison, Bloomingdale, Bolingbrook-DuPage, Burr Ridge, Carol Stream, Clarendon Hills, Darien, Downers Grove, Elmhurst, Glen Ellyn, Glendale Heights, Hinsdale, Itasca, Lisle, Lombard, Naperville, Oak Brook, Roselle, St. Charles-DuPage, Villa Park, Warrenville, West Chicago, Westmont, Wheaton, Winfield, Wood Dale, Woodridge)

Educational Purposes Only

This information is for educational purposes only. Court information is verified as of May 2026 and subject to change. If you have questions about your case and would like to hire a lawyer, please call (312) 278-3625 for a free consultation.

Lake County Circuit Court

Lake County serves approximately 714,000 residents across the North Shore and northern suburbs. The 19th Judicial Circuit handles personal injury cases arising from I-94 north of the Edens, US-41, and the major North Shore communities including Highland Park, Lake Forest, and Waukegan.

Primary · Lake

Robert W. Depke Lake County Courthouse

Lake County's primary courthouse · 19th Judicial Circuit

Address 18 N. County St, Waukegan, IL 60085
Phone (847) 377-3209 Circuit Clerk
Divisions Civil, Criminal, Family, Probate, Juvenile, Traffic
Filing fee ~$300-$400 plaintiff filing fee (Civil)
E-filing Required via Odyssey eFileIL
Parking Public parking garage adjacent to courthouse · Limited street parking
Transit Metra: UP-N Line to Waukegan station, walking distance. Pace bus.
Coverage All Lake County cases (Antioch, Buffalo Grove-Lake, Deerfield, Grayslake, Gurnee, Highland Park, Highwood, Lake Forest, Lake Zurich, Libertyville, Mundelein, North Chicago, Riverwoods, Round Lake, Vernon Hills, Wadsworth, Waukegan, Wauconda, Zion)

Educational Purposes Only

This information is for educational purposes only. If you have questions about your case and would like to hire a lawyer, please call (312) 278-3625 for a free consultation.

Will County Circuit Court

Will County serves approximately 696,000 residents and handles a high volume of commercial trucking cases due to the CenterPoint Intermodal hub and the I-55/I-80 freight corridors. The 12th Judicial Circuit is based in Joliet, the county seat.

Primary · Will

Will County Courthouse

Will County's primary courthouse · 12th Judicial Circuit

Address 100 W. Jefferson St, Joliet, IL 60432
Phone (815) 727-8592 Circuit Clerk
Divisions Civil, Criminal, Family, Probate, Juvenile, Traffic
Filing fee ~$300-$400 plaintiff filing fee (Civil)
E-filing Required via Odyssey eFileIL
Parking Public parking adjacent · Downtown Joliet structures
Transit Metra: Heritage Corridor to Joliet Union Station, walking distance. Amtrak also stops at Joliet.
Coverage All Will County cases (Bolingbrook-Will, Channahon, Crest Hill, Crete, Frankfort, Homer Glen, Joliet, Lockport, Manhattan, Mokena, Monee, Naperville-Will, New Lenox, Plainfield, Romeoville, Shorewood, Tinley Park-Will, University Park)
Specialty High volume of commercial trucking and FMCSA cases due to intermodal freight hub

Educational Purposes Only

This information is for educational purposes only. If you have questions about your case and would like to hire a lawyer, please call (312) 278-3625 for a free consultation.

Kane County Circuit Court

Kane County serves approximately 518,000 residents across the western Chicagoland suburbs including Aurora (the second-largest city in Illinois), Elgin, Geneva, and St. Charles. The 16th Judicial Circuit handles cases involving the I-88 corridor and Fox Valley arterials.

Primary · Kane

Kane County Judicial Center

Kane County's primary courthouse · 16th Judicial Circuit

Address 540 S. Randall Rd, St. Charles, IL 60174
Phone (630) 232-3413 Circuit Clerk
Divisions Civil, Criminal, Family, Probate, Juvenile, Traffic
Filing fee ~$300-$400 plaintiff filing fee (Civil)
E-filing Required via Odyssey eFileIL
Parking Free on-site parking · Large surface lot
Transit Limited transit; primarily car access. Pace bus 802 stops nearby.
Coverage All Kane County cases (Aurora-Kane, Batavia, Big Rock, Burlington, Carpentersville, East Dundee, Elburn, Elgin, Geneva, Gilberts, Hampshire, Huntley-Kane, Maple Park, Montgomery-Kane, North Aurora, Pingree Grove, Plato Center, Sleepy Hollow, South Elgin, St. Charles, Sugar Grove, Virgil, West Dundee)

Educational Purposes Only

This information is for educational purposes only. If you have questions about your case and would like to hire a lawyer, please call (312) 278-3625 for a free consultation.

McHenry County Circuit Court

McHenry County serves approximately 310,000 residents in the northwest Chicagoland suburbs. The 22nd Judicial Circuit handles cases involving rural two-lane roads, the US-14 and Route 47 corridors, and cross-border issues with Wisconsin. McHenry sees a disproportionately high rate of catastrophic and fatal single-vehicle crashes.

Primary · McHenry

McHenry County Government Center

McHenry County's primary courthouse · 22nd Judicial Circuit

Address 2200 N. Seminary Ave, Woodstock, IL 60098
Phone (815) 334-4193 Circuit Clerk
Divisions Civil, Criminal, Family, Probate, Juvenile, Traffic
Filing fee ~$300-$400 plaintiff filing fee (Civil)
E-filing Required via Odyssey eFileIL
Parking Free on-site parking
Transit Metra: UP-NW Line to Woodstock station, ~2 mi from courthouse
Coverage All McHenry County cases (Algonquin, Bull Valley, Cary, Crystal Lake, Fox River Grove, Harvard, Hebron, Huntley-McHenry, Island Lake, Johnsburg, Lake in the Hills, Lakemoor, Marengo, McHenry, Oakwood Hills, Prairie Grove, Richmond, Ringwood, Spring Grove, Union, Wonder Lake, Woodstock)

Educational Purposes Only

This information is for educational purposes only. If you have questions about your case and would like to hire a lawyer, please call (312) 278-3625 for a free consultation.

U.S. District Court · Northern District of Illinois

Federal court jurisdiction in personal injury cases requires diversity of citizenship between the parties (no plaintiff and defendant in the same state) and an amount in controversy exceeding $75,000 under 28 U.S.C. § 1332. Most Illinois personal injury cases proceed in state court, but federal jurisdiction may apply in trucking cases involving out-of-state carriers and in some product liability matters.

Federal · Eastern Division

Everett McKinley Dirksen U.S. Courthouse

U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois · Eastern Division (Chicago)

Address 219 S. Dearborn St, Chicago, IL 60604
Phone (312) 435-5670 Clerk of Court
Jurisdiction 18 counties in northern Illinois including Cook, DuPage, Lake, Will, Kane, McHenry
Filing fee $405 civil filing fee (federal standard)
E-filing Required via CM/ECF federal e-filing system (PACER account required)
Transit CTA: Jackson or LaSalle/Van Buren stations. Metra: LaSalle Street station, walking distance.
Western Div. Stanley J. Roszkowski U.S. Courthouse, 327 S. Church St, Rockford, IL 61101 · (815) 987-4354

Educational Purposes Only

Federal court filing decisions involve complex jurisdictional analysis. Strategic considerations include jury composition, discovery scope, and procedural differences from Illinois state court. Consult counsel before filing in federal court. If you have questions about your case and would like to hire a lawyer, please call (312) 278-3625 for a free consultation.

Frequently asked questions

The most-asked questions about Illinois courts and personal injury filings.

Which Illinois court handles my personal injury case?
The Circuit Court of the county where the crash occurred generally has jurisdiction over Illinois personal injury cases. Cases involving more than $30,000 typically go to the Law Division. Cases involving $30,000 or less go to the Municipal Division. Federal court is available only when there is diversity of citizenship and over $75,000 in controversy.
Where do I file a Cook County personal injury case?
For most Cook County personal injury cases involving Chicago crashes, you file at the Daley Center, 50 W. Washington St, Chicago, IL 60602. Cases arising in specific Cook County districts may be assigned to one of five satellite courthouses (Bridgeview, Markham, Skokie, Maywood, Rolling Meadows) based on the location of the crash. The Civil Division Clerk at (312) 603-5031 can confirm proper venue.
How much does it cost to file a personal injury lawsuit in Illinois?
Illinois state court plaintiff filing fees range from approximately $300-$450 depending on the county and division. Cook County Law Division fees are typically the highest at about $400-$450. Suburban counties charge $300-$400. Federal court filing fees are $405 nationwide. Fee waivers are available for indigent plaintiffs through the Application for Waiver of Court Fees process.
Is e-filing required in Illinois state courts?
Yes. Illinois courts require electronic filing through Odyssey eFileIL (efile.illinoiscourts.gov) for most civil cases. Self-represented litigants must register for an account; attorneys file through their bar-credentialed accounts. Paper filings are permitted in limited circumstances (e-filing exemption petitions, in-camera filings, etc.).
Can I file my case in Cook County if the crash happened elsewhere?
Sometimes. Illinois venue rules under 735 ILCS 5/2-101 allow filing in the county where any defendant resides, where the cause of action arose, or in some cases where the plaintiff resides. Many trucking and product liability cases venue to Cook County under these rules. Strategic venue selection is an important early case decision. See our Illinois procedural framework reference.
What is the difference between state court and federal court?
State court (Illinois Circuit Court) handles the overwhelming majority of personal injury cases. Federal court (U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois) is available only in cases involving complete diversity of citizenship between the parties and an amount in controversy exceeding $75,000 under 28 U.S.C. § 1332. Differences include jury composition (federal juries draw from broader geographic pools), discovery procedures, and overall case timelines. Strategic considerations vary by case type.
What time should I arrive for my court date?
Arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled court time to account for security screening (metal detectors, bag scans), courthouse navigation, and locating your courtroom. Cook County's Daley Center has security lines that can extend 15-20 minutes during peak hours. Suburban courthouses typically have shorter wait times. Court calls in Illinois civil divisions are usually called at 9:30am or 10:00am; arriving late risks default or dismissal of motions.
Can I bring my phone into an Illinois courthouse?
Yes, but with restrictions. Most Illinois courthouses allow phones into the building but require them to be silenced or turned off in the courtroom. Some courts prohibit photography, recording, or video. The Daley Center allows phones but requires them off in courtrooms. Federal courts have stricter rules and may require phones be left in lockers or with security.
Do I need an attorney to file an Illinois personal injury case?
No, but it is strongly advised. Illinois courts allow self-representation (pro se filing), but personal injury cases involve complex procedural rules, discovery, motion practice, expert witnesses, and damages calculation. Illinois personal injury attorneys typically work on contingency fees with no upfront cost. Free consultations are standard. See our reference on Illinois settlements and recovery.

Related references

Continue your research with these related references.

Filing an Illinois personal injury lawsuit involves strategic venue, procedural compliance, and deadline management. An Illinois-licensed attorney can handle the entire process. Free consultation. No obligation. Available 24/7.

Call (312) 278-3625