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Illinois-compliant · 47 states covered
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Stop Guessing Cook County Exhibit Rules

Get Circuit Court of Cook County-compliant exhibit stamps in under 2 minutes. Max file size: 25 MB.

  • Cook County plaintiffs mark exhibits with Plaintiff's Exhibit 1, 2, 3..., and defendants use Defendant's Exhibit A, B, C....
  • Cook County's primary exhibit rule is Cook County General Order 1.3.
  • Cook County courts e-file through Odyssey eFileIL, with a maximum file size of 25 MB.
  • Cook County is part of the Circuit Court of Cook County.
  • Second largest court system in the us.
  • Chicago and surrounding suburbs.
  • Cook County case assignments span multiple courthouse locations, including Richard J. Daley Center.
  • ExhibitPrep generates court-compliant Cook County exhibit stamps entirely in the browser, with files never leaving the user's device.
IllinoisOdyssey eFileIL25 MB limit

Quick Reference

Plaintiff MarkingPlaintiff's Exhibit 1, 2, 3...
Defendant MarkingDefendant's Exhibit A, B, C...
Court SystemCircuit Court of Cook County
E-Filing SystemOdyssey eFileIL
File Size Limit25 MB
Primary RuleCook County General Order 1.3

Key Requirements for Cook County

  • Second largest court system in the US
  • Chicago and surrounding suburbs
  • Mandatory e-filing for most case types
  • Separate rules for Law, Chancery, and Domestic Relations
  • Pre-trial exhibit deadlines strictly enforced

Local Practice Notes

Among the strictest local rule sets in the state. Attorneys must have Cook County Attorney ID Number in addition to ARDC number for eFiling. Typewritten memorandum mailed not less than 30 days before pretrial. Domestic Relations exhibits collected within 30 days after final order or disposed. This traces to Cook County Rule 4.1. Confirm current practice with the Cook County clerk's office before trial, since standing orders can change between cycles.

Court Locations

Richard J. Daley CenterSkokieRolling MeadowsBridgeviewMarkham

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Opens the tool set up for Cook County — plaintiff: Numbers starting at 1; defendant: Letters starting at A.

Free Illinois Exhibit Guide

Get the complete Illinois requirements with:

  • County-specific rules for Cook County
  • E-filing format requirements
  • Common mistakes to avoid

Free Illinois Exhibit Guide

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Court-rule updates and exhibit-prep tips, by state

Every year, Illinois courts reject exhibits for:

  • Wrong marking convention
  • Missing electronic bookmarks
  • Non-compliant file formats

This guide prevents those mistakes.

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Typical Cook County Exhibit Timeline

Discovery
Gather exhibits
Pre-Trial
Mark & exchange
Trial
Present exhibits

Cook County Circuit Court requires exhibits to follow general orders for each division.

Cook County Exhibit FAQs

Do I need more than an ARDC number to e-file in Cook County?

Yes -- under Cook County Rule 4.1, attorneys need a Cook County Attorney ID Number in addition to their standard ARDC registration to e-file, one of the strictest local requirements in Illinois.

How quickly are exhibits disposed of after a Cook County Domestic Relations case ends?

Domestic Relations Division exhibits must be collected within 30 days after the final order, or they get disposed of -- a tighter window than the general civil divisions, so retrieve trial exhibits promptly once judgment is entered.

Which Cook County courthouse handles my case?

Depends on location and case type: the Richard J. Daley Center downtown handles most Chancery and Law Division matters, while Skokie, Rolling Meadows, Bridgeview, and Markham are suburban district courthouses. Confirm your assigned location before finalizing exhibit binder logistics.

Don't Risk Having Your Exhibits Rejected

Download the checklist so you know exactly what Cook County courts require

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Cook County Courthouses

Specific filing requirements vary by courthouse. Select your courthouse for detailed information:

Practice Area Guides for Cook County

Last updated: 2026-07. Always verify current requirements with your court.