The Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice recently announced the publication of a new statewide standardized court form set: Complaint or Petition.
The form titles include:
- How to File a Complaint or Petition
- Complaint or Petition
- Additional Defendant Information
- Additional Reasons for Lawsuit
The forms can be found on the “Approved Standardized Statewide Forms” page of the Illinois Supreme Court’s website, under the “Forms” tab.
Please note that the Access to Justice Commission does not immediately announce minor updates made to forms. Therefore, it recommends that court users be directed to the forms on the Illinois Supreme Court’s website, rather than sharing a saved PDF.
A complete list of currently published forms can be found here.
What this means for Illinois court users
This new form set provides self-represented Illinois court users with a clear, court-approved way to start a civil case.
Standardized forms ensure that self-represented litigants’ filings meet court requirements and specifications before submission and include instructions to guide users through the process.
The new forms are written in plain language and are ADA-accessible, fillable PDFs. They can be e-filed statewide, making it easier for people across Illinois, including rural and low-income litigants, to initiate cases in court and seek justice.
If you have any questions, please contact forms@illinoiscourts.gov.
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