Illinois Guardianship Required Documents: Complete Filing Checklist

Knowing which documents to file is one thing. Knowing the right order and how they fit together is where most self-represented filers get stuck. Here is the full list of what you need for a minor guardianship case in Illinois, organized by when each document matters.

Documents You File with the Petition

These go to the circuit clerk when you open the case:

Petition for Guardianship of a Minor (Form 1601.1 suite). The main pleading. It identifies the child, the parents, your relationship to the child, and the statutory basis for the court's jurisdiction. You must establish standing, such as a parent voluntarily relinquishing physical custody, consenting in open court or a notarized writing, or being unable to give consent or receive notice because of an administrative separation.

Additional Relatives attachment. Required if you are listing more than two adult nearest kin who must receive notice. The petition form has space for two; this attachment handles the rest.

Additional Cases attachment. Required if the child is or was the subject of another court case — a divorce, parentage action, or child protection proceeding. Disclosure prevents conflicting orders from different divisions.

Oath of Guardian. Your sworn acceptance of fiduciary duties. For person-only guardianship, this is straightforward. If you are also seeking guardianship of the child's estate, you will file the Oath and Bond form instead, which includes a bond pledge.

Consent to Guardianship and Appearance (if the parent consents). The parent signs this form agreeing to your appointment and entering their appearance in the case. It is not the same as waiver of service or surrender of parental rights.

Nomination of Guardian by Minor. Required if the child is 14 years of age or older. The child formally names their preferred guardian. The court gives this substantial weight.

Background check authorizations. Requirements vary by circuit. Cook County and some other circuits require CANTS 689 and fingerprint-based criminal history screening (LEADS) for adult household members; check local rules for who must complete each screening and when.

Local supplemental forms. Cook County requires its own CCP forms (such as CCP 0244 for Appearance and Consent). Other counties may require local cover sheets. Check with your circuit clerk or the court's website.

All documents filed electronically must be flattened — printed to PDF so the form fields are locked. The eFileIL system may reject editable PDFs.

Documents You Need Before the Hearing

These must be ready and filed with the clerk or brought to court before the judge will proceed:

Proof of service. Evidence that you gave proper notice of the hearing to every required party — the living, adoptive, or adjudicated parents, the child (if 14+), any currently serving court-appointed or short-term guardian, and adult nearest kin when the parents are deceased or unreachable. Notice generally must be given at least seven days before the hearing unless the court shortens or waives that period for good cause. Proof comes in the form of service records or a publication affidavit if notice was given by newspaper.

Statement in Support of Notice by Publication. Required only if a parent cannot be located. This is your sworn affidavit describing the diligent search you conducted before requesting publication.

Publication proof. If publication was ordered, the newspaper provides an affidavit confirming the notice ran for three consecutive weeks.

CANTS and LEADS results. The petitioner is subject to required background checks. Local rules determine whether other adult household members must be screened and which screenings to complete; make sure required results are processed and on file before the hearing. Delays can cause a hearing to be continued.

Certified birth certificate. The child's official birth certificate with a raised seal. Hospital souvenir certificates, photocopies, and printouts from unofficial websites are rejected. If you need to order one, the Illinois Department of Public Health handles requests for Illinois births.

Guardian ad Litem report. If the court appointed a GAL, their written findings about the child's best interests must be filed before the hearing. You do not prepare this — the GAL does.

What to Bring to the Hearing

On the day of the hearing, have organized copies of:

• Your filed petition and all attachments
• Background check clearances
• Proof of service on every party
• The child's certified birth certificate
• The Nomination of Guardian form (if the child is 14+)
• Any parental consent forms already filed
• Your photo ID

Bring copies of filed materials, plus any originals or certified documents your circuit court instructs you to provide. Bring the child's official certified birth certificate; check local court instructions for any other originals.

After the Order Is Signed

Letters of Office. Present the signed guardianship order to the circuit clerk and request certified copies of Letters of Office. This is the document you will show to schools, hospitals, banks, government agencies, and insurers as proof of your authority. Order several certified copies — you will need them in multiple places.

Guardian reporting forms. Depending on your circuit, you may have ongoing obligations to file status reports. Cook County issues specific Instructions to Guardians at appointment. Other circuits follow local rules (for example, the Sixth Judicial Circuit requires a biennial report under Rule 5.4).

The Illinois Guardianship and Custody Court Process Guide puts every document in order with a tracking log so you can check off each item as it is completed, from petition assembly through the post-order filings.

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