Cook County Guardianship of a Minor: Forms, Filing, and What Other Counties Do Differently

Illinois uses one set of statewide approved forms for every minor guardianship case, but the circuit court where you file adds its own local requirements on top. If you are a grandparent or relative filing in Cook County, the differences are real enough to trip you up. Here is what to expect in Cook County and what changes when your case is elsewhere.

Statewide Forms Every County Must Accept

The Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice released a standardized minor guardianship form packet, most recently updated November 2025. Every circuit clerk in Illinois is required to accept these forms. The core packet includes the Petition for Guardianship of a Minor (Form 1601.1 suite), the Oath of Guardian, the Notice of Hearing, and proof-of-delivery sheets.

You can download every form free from IllinoisCourts.gov. The statewide "How to File for Guardianship of a Minor" instruction sheet walks through each document.

What Cook County Adds

Cook County's Probate Division at the Richard J. Daley Center handles minor guardianship separately from family division matters. When you file there, expect these local requirements on top of the state packet:

• CCP local forms. Cook County uses its own supplemental forms, including CCP 0244 (Appearance and Consent). Your state forms alone may get your filing sent back to the window.
• Background check intake at the courthouse. All adult household members complete the CANTS 689 child abuse registry authorization and submit to fingerprint-based criminal history checks (LEADS). Free fingerprinting for fee-waiver-approved filers is available at the Daley Center, Room 701.
• Calendar assignment system. Cook County assigns your case to a specific probate courtroom calendar. You will receive a calendar date and courtroom number after filing.
• Instructions to Guardians. After appointment, Cook County issues a separate instruction sheet with ongoing reporting obligations for person-only guardians.

Filing fees for minor guardianship are eliminated statewide under M.R. Order 29741, effective October 1, 2025. This applies to Cook County the same as every other county. Ancillary costs like sheriff service or certified copies may still apply, but you can request a fee waiver under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 298 for those.

DuPage, Will, Lake, and Kane Counties

The collar counties surrounding Cook each have their own procedural quirks:

DuPage County (18th Judicial Circuit) requires a local cover sheet with probate filings and routes minor guardianship through its Chancery/Probate Division at the Judicial Center in Wheaton. DuPage also requires local background checks; verify the county's current instructions for who must be screened and how.

Will County processes guardianship petitions through its probate clerk's office in Joliet. Local filing instructions may differ from Cook County's calendar system but the statewide forms apply.

Lake County and Kane County accept the statewide packet and handle minor guardianship through their general probate dockets. E-filing through eFileIL is mandatory unless you qualify for a Rule 9(d) paper-filing exemption.

Downstate and Rural Counties

If you are filing in Madison County, Winnebago County, McHenry County, St. Clair County, or another downstate circuit, you will generally find the process simpler in one respect: fewer local forms. The statewide packet is more likely to be the complete filing requirement.

But downstate differences show up in other ways:

• Hearing schedules may run less frequently. Some circuits set probate hearings on specific days of the month rather than the rolling calendar Cook County uses.
• E-filing is still mandatory under Supreme Court Rule 9(a), though the Rule 9(d) paper exemption is available if you lack internet access or have a disability.
• Ancillary fee waiver forms may differ. Some rural circuits have local supplemental forms for requesting waivers on service costs or publication fees.
• Publication requirements for missing parents use the local county newspaper. Costs vary significantly by county.

E-Filing Works the Same Everywhere

Every county in Illinois uses the eFileIL system (Odyssey File & Serve) for civil and probate filings. Whether you are in Cook County or a rural circuit, the upload process is the same: flatten your completed PDF forms (print-to-PDF to lock the fields), create an eFileIL account, select the correct court and case type, and upload your documents.

The biggest mistake filers make is uploading editable PDFs instead of flattened ones. If a clerk can still type into the form fields after upload, the filing may be rejected.

What This Means for Your Case

Your county determines the courthouse, any local supplemental forms, and the hearing schedule. It does not change the legal standard, the forms the court must accept, or the fee elimination for minor guardianship cases.

If the combination of statewide and local requirements feels overwhelming, our Illinois Guardianship and Custody Court Process Guide organizes every step from petition assembly through the hearing and post-order duties, with county-specific notes for Cook and the collar counties.

See more Illinois guides →