COURT SCHEDULE
MONDAY – FRIDAY
9:00 am. Presentment of Motions
9:00 am. - 10:30 am. Case Management Conferences; Status Dates.
10:00 am.- 12:00 Noon Hearings (limited issues); Prove-Ups for Divorce.
1:30 p.m. – 4:30 pm. Continuation of on-going Trials; Hearings .
FORMS
See Will County Circuit Clerk’s Website, link to State Forms for necessary forms created by the Illinois Supreme Court.
GENERAL PROCEDURES
THIS COURTROOM IS ASSIGNED CASES WHERE BOTH PARTIES ARE SELF-REPRESENTED LITIGANTS. ANY AND ALL MATTERS THAT HAVE ONE OR MORE ATTORNEYS REPRESENTING THE PARTIES WILL BE TRANSFERRED INSTANTER TO JUDGE VICTORIA KENNISON, PRESIDING JUDGE, IN COURTROOM 703 FOR REASSIGNMENT TO ANOTHER JUDGE. PARTIES WHO APPEAR VIA ZOOM ON THE TRANSFER DATE WILL BE ALLOWED TO ENTER JUDGE KENNISON’S CALL AND THE NEW JUDGE’S CALL VIA ZOOM.
ZOOM APPEARANCES
Pursuant to Administrative Order 2023-10, Parties may appear without advance authorization each day via Zoom for presentment of motions, status, and case management conferences.
Parties appearing by Zoom shall follow the Court’s rules regarding remote appearances. See below.
IN-PERSON APPEARANCES
All other proceedings, including but not limited to hearings, prove-up hearings, trials, and special status hearings, shall be held in person (all Parties shall appear in person) unless advance permission is obtained from the Court for good cause shown for the requesting Party to appear via Zoom.
Individuals who habitually have difficulty appearing remotely, e.g. connectivity issues, technical difficulties, or inappropriate behavior will be required to appear in person.
COMMUNICATION WITH THE COURT
The Parties should not communicate directly with the Court via email or otherwise unless directed to do so. If so directed, all communication with the Court shall be via writing with all parties included on the communication. The Court does not accept documents via email.
COURTESY COPIES
The Court does not require courtesy copies of Pleadings (e.g. Motions, Petitions, Responses, or Replies) unless specifically requested.
COURT ORDERS
No order is necessary when scheduling status, case management conferences, and agreed prove-ups.
A written/typed order is required for all other matters, including orders regarding orders of
protection.
A calculation sheet with data information must be attached to any Order of Support or Income Withholding Order.
Prove-ups Hearings:
Prove-ups shall be in person unless prior authorization to appear via zoom is granted by the Court for good cause shown.
The original hard copies of all prove-up documents including, but not limited to, the proposed Judgment for Dissolution of Marriage, Parenting Plan, Marital Settlement Agreement, Name Change Order, Support Order, Certificate of Dissolution of Marriage, etc. shall be presented in open court. If there is a maintenance or child support obligation, then a copy of the Child support/Maintenance calculations with data input information shall be filed with the Court.
Do NOT submit these documents electronically unless otherwise directed by the Court.
TRIALS
Trials are conducted in-person unless the Court grants a Party’s Motion to Appear via Zoom.
ZOOM RULES FOR COURTROOM 704
- Anyone permitted to appear remotely must have video and audio capability on their chosen device and must know how to use both features.
- All people must use and display their legal first and last name on the Zoom platform to participate in the remote court.
- Upon entry participants must check-in with the Clerk using the Chat feature.
- Participants must be appropriately dressed and conduct themselves as they would in a physical courtroom.
- All participants must be in an environment free of video and/or audio distractions.
- Participants should ensure any video background used is appropriate.
- Participants are prohibited from drinking, smoking, chewing gum, driving, and any other distracting behavior while on Zoom.
- When permitted entry into the Zoom meeting, participants will be on mute. Stay on mute until your case is called and you are asked to identify yourself.
- Participants present in the courtroom will be called first so please be patient.
- Before advising the clerk that you are ready for your case to be called, participants shall have already spoken to the opposing party/attorney to confirm what is scheduled before the court today; identify any areas of agreement that can be entered in a court order; and have agreed upon at least 5 future dates ready to propose to the Judge for the next court date.
- Do not speak over other participants in the Zoom proceeding.
- There are NO contested matters heard via Zoom.
- Failure to comply with these rules may result in removal from the remote proceeding and revocation of your ability to appear remotely in the future.