Divisions: For a visual representation of the Cook County court structure, click here.

Chancery Division: The term “chancery” describes lawsuits in which the plaintiff seeks to have the defendant perform or refrain from performing a specific action, rather than suing for monetary damages. This division hears injunctions, class-actions, mortgage foreclosures, declaratory judgments, contract matters, creditors’ rights, and more.

Child Protection Division of the Juvenile Court: Judges hear cases involving child abuse, child neglect, child dependency, private guardianship, termination of parental rights, and orders of protection related to child protection proceedings.

County Division: Judges hear cases involving adoption, elections, mental health proceedings, real estate taxes, municipal proceedings, and annexation of land to a tax body.

Criminal Division: Judges in the criminal division hear felony cases (cases that could result in a prison term of a year or more). The division also handles issues related to felony trials like record expungement and petitions for post-conviction relief. Criminal judges hearing Chicago cases sit at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse on Chicago’s Southwest Side. Others also hear felonies in the suburban courthouses.

Domestic Relations Division: Judges hear cases involving divorce (and related matters like legal separation or dissolving a civil union), allocation of parental responsibilities and parenting time, child support, third-party visitation, and parentage matters.

Domestic Violence Division: Judges hear matters involving order of protections, no contact orders, and certain criminal cases related to domestic violence.

Elder Law and Miscellaneous: This division includes certain matters involving individuals aged 60 and older, including issues such as elder abuse, domestic violence, and some criminal cases.

Juvenile Justice Division: Judges conduct trials for minors charged with violations of laws or ordinances, and proceedings for minors addicted to alcohol or drugs and for runaways.

Law Division: The law division hears lawsuits for monetary damages larger than $30,000 in the city and larger than $100,000 in the suburbs. Examples include personal injury, legal malpractice, property damage, employment security, and much more.

Pretrial Division: This division includes initial proceedings in criminal cases, such as bail hearings, preliminary hearings, and applications for search warrants. This division also oversees cases referred to deferred prosecution programs. This division was created in 2017 when Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans issued an order reforming bail.

Probate Division: Judges hear matters involving wills, estates, and guardianship of minors or those with disabilities.