How do I file an Appearance in Cook County?

An Appearance is a legal document that notifies the court that you want to participate in the lawsuit (for example, to sign a settlement agreement or contest the divorce). It also identifies who represents you. If you are “pro se,” you will file your own appearance, which costs $206 for a divorce, child support or child custody case in Cook County. Click here for more information about Appearances in family law cases.

Step 1: Fill out the Appearance Form

  1. Download the Cook County Domestic Relations Division Appearance Form.
  2. Find your case number. If you don’t know your case number, you can find it on a document your spouse has already filed, or you can look it up on the Cook County Clerk of Court’s website. Click here to learn how to look up Cook County cases online.
  3. Fill out the form:
    1. In the upper right corner, fill in the case number
    2. In the upper left corner of the form, put your spouse’s or other parent’s name above the line labeled Petitioner, and put your first and last name above the line labeled Respondent
    3. In the middle of the form, fill out section II (labeled Pro Se) and sign above the line labeled Respondent
    4. In the lower right, fill in your address and phone number
  4. Print and Sign the form, then make 3 copies.
  5. Be prepared to pay the $206 Appearance fee. Pay by check or money order if you are mailing in your form. If you are filing in person, you can also pay by cash or credit card.

Step 2: How to File an Appearance in Person

 Note: These instructions refer to filing an Appearance at the Daley Center in downtown Chicago. If your case is in a suburban district within Cook County, you should file your appearance there.

  1. Take your 3 copies of the Appearance form, and the $206 fee to the Daley Center (50 W Washington, Chicago, IL)
  2. Go to room 802 on the 8th Floor of the Daley Center and then to the Domestic Relations Cashier’s station.
  3. Tell the clerk that you would like to file your Appearance. They will take your documents and your fee, then time stamp your forms and give you two copies back.
  4. Keep one copy for your records and send the other copy to the Petitioner.

Step 3: How to File an Appearance by Mail

 Note: These instructions refer to filing an Appearance at the Daley Center in downtown Chicago. If your case is in a suburban district within Cook County, you should file your appearance there.

  1. Prepare 3 copies of your Appearance form, and a Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope.
  2. Prepare a Check or Money Order for $206:
    1. Make the check payable to “Clerk of the Circuit Court”
    2. Make sure your name and address is on the front of the check
    3. Put your Driver’s License or State ID number on the check
    4. Put your telephone number on the check
  3. Prepare a short cover letter asking the clerk to file your appearance and then to mail you back the copies in the envelope you are including.
  4. Mail all the above to the following address:

Clerk of the Circuit Court
Richard J. Daley Center
50 West Washington Street
Domestic Relations Room 802
Chicago, IL 60602
Attn: Customer Care Team

  1. The clerk will stamp and file your Appearance within 1-2 weeks after it’s been mailed. You can check the status online (Click here to read how to look up Cook County cases online).
  2. Once you’ve received the stamped copies back from the Clerk, keep one copy for your records and mail one copy to the Petitioner.