How to Prepare for a Zoom Court Hearing in Illinois

When you can appear by Zoom

Knowing how to prepare for a Zoom court hearing starts with knowing whether you may appear remotely at all. Illinois Supreme Court Rule 45 governs remote appearances in circuit court. It treats divorce, family and order of protection cases as civil matters. In civil matters, you may appear by phone or video without asking first for most court dates, such as status dates, case management conferences and motion calls. The rule says a remote appearance is equivalent to an in-person appearance for all purposes.

You need the judge's approval to appear remotely for:

• Evidentiary hearings, except emergency hearings where only one side presents evidence, such as an emergency order of protection.
• Settlement conferences.
• Trials.

Cook County's General Administrative Order 2023-03 explains how to ask: make an oral request at a court date, or file a written motion at least two days before the court date with notice to the other side. If you are not told that the request was granted, you must appear in person. A judge can also require anyone to come to court in person for reasons specific to the case, and you may always choose to appear in person.

If you were served with an order of protection, see our guide on how to respond to an order of protection in Illinois. Chicago Family Attorneys handles family law only; if a criminal charge is pending, talk with a criminal defense lawyer about that charge.

Before the hearing: links, names and devices

Find the right Zoom information. Summonses and court notices for dates you may attend remotely must include the Zoom details or tell you where to find them. The Circuit Court of Cook County's Remote Court Proceedings page links to Zoom information by division and district, and the Domestic Relations Division's contact and Zoom sheet lists each calendar's meeting ID, passcode, courtroom and staff email. The Clerk's office can look up your courtroom and Zoom information by name or case number at (312) 603-5030. Our Cook County Domestic Relations Zoom links page and DuPage County Zoom information page point to the current lists. Check again before every court date, because the lists are updated.

Use the right name. Cook County asks you to enter your name before joining. A party without a lawyer uses "P - Your Name" as the petitioner or "D - Your Name" as the respondent. People who are not properly identified may not be admitted, and nicknames or phone-number labels can delay your admission.

Prepare your device and space.

• Charge or plug in your device and check your internet connection.
• Log in a few minutes early to test audio and video.
• Set your camera at eye level with light in front of you so the judge can see you clearly.
• Find a quiet, private place and remove distracting filters or backgrounds.
• Keep a pen, paper, your case number and your court papers nearby.

These Zoom court hearing tips apply to any remote hearing in Illinois family court, whether the date is a status call or a motion.

No device or internet? The court runs Remote Access Centers with computers and staff help, including Room CL-16 at the Daley Center and a room in each suburban courthouse.

Watch for scams. The court warns that people have used Zoom chat to ask litigants for money. The Court and the Clerk never ask for payment through apps such as Venmo, Zelle or PayPal.

Exhibits and documents

If you are wondering how to submit exhibits for Zoom court in Illinois, know that there is no single statewide rule for sharing exhibits on Zoom, so start with your judge's standing order, which is posted on the court's website, and any trial order in your case. Cook County's Domestic Relations trial order form, for example, can require courtesy copies of trial documents and exhibits to be sent electronically to the judge's Domestic Relations email at least five court days before trial, with a labeled list of every document.

Practical steps that help in most courtrooms:

• Send every document to the other side (or their lawyer) before or at the same time you send it to the judge. The court's FAQ explains that anything you give the judge must also go to the other party.
• Number your pages and label each exhibit, for example "Petitioner Exhibit 1."
• Keep each exhibit as its own PDF and have them open and ready.
• Share your screen only if the judge asks you to.

If you will testify remotely at an evidentiary hearing, you need the judge's permission first, and the court must have safeguards against outside communication or improper access to documents while you testify. Keep notes, phones and other screens away unless the judge allows them.

Courtroom rules on Zoom

Cook County's order on remote proceedings says that a remote court appearance is a court appearance, and the same rules on behavior, language, dress and respect apply. In practice, that means:

• Dress as you would in the courtroom. Hats are not allowed except for religious, medical or cultural reasons, and sunglasses must be removed.
• Stay muted until your case is called or you are asked to speak, and keep your video on unless told otherwise.
• Let one person speak at a time and do not talk over the judge.
• Do not eat, chew gum, smoke or vape. The court's tips allow water.
• Stay in one place. Do not join while driving or walking around.
• Silence other devices and do not text or browse during court.

If someone is disruptive, the judge can give a warning, mute or remove the person, or order an in-person appearance. Recording, photographing or taking screenshots of a remote proceeding is prohibited without permission and can lead to contempt. A livestream is not an official transcript, so if you need a record, arrange for a court reporter.

If you lose the connection

1. Rejoin right away using the same meeting ID and passcode.
2. If video will not work, dial in by phone at (312) 626-6799 and enter the meeting ID and passcode. On a phone, *6 mutes and unmutes you and *9 raises your hand.
3. Email the courtroom staff listed on the Domestic Relations contact and Zoom sheet to explain that you were disconnected.
4. Write down the time and what happened.

If you missed your case entirely, contact the courtroom staff or the Clerk the same day to find out what happened and get a copy of any order. The court may have entered an order without you. Depending on the order, you may need a motion to address it; see our article on motions to vacate in Illinois family law cases. Keeping a second device ready can prevent this problem.

Interpreters and Spanish-language hearings

The Circuit Court of Cook County provides foreign language interpreters at no cost to people with limited English proficiency. Tell the courtroom clerk or the judge that you need an interpreter, and court staff will request one. According to the court's interpreter page, Spanish and Polish interpreters are available on a first-come, first-served basis with the judge's approval, and other languages need at least 48 working hours' notice, except for emergency orders of protection and in-custody matters. Sign language interpreters are arranged through the court's Deaf and Hard of Hearing access program. Ask for a court interpreter rather than relying on a family member.

The court posts Zoom instructions in English and Spanish, and the Illinois courts' court by phone or video page has more guides. Chicago Family Attorneys offers consultations in English and Spanish; Spanish speakers can reserve a free consultation in Spanish.

Common mistakes

• Using an old Zoom link instead of checking the current list.
• Joining under a phone number or nickname.
• Leaving the meeting before your case is called.
• Sending exhibits to the judge without sending them to the other side.
• Assuming you can testify remotely at an evidentiary hearing without permission.

For a broader look at the court, see our Cook County Domestic Relations Division guide and our article on the case management conference.

How Chicago Family Attorneys can help

Chicago Family Attorneys appears in family cases in person and by Zoom in Cook, DuPage, Will and Lake Counties. The firm can:

• Confirm whether your court date allows a remote appearance and, if needed, ask the judge for permission.
• Organize and label exhibits and prepare courtesy copies under the judge's standing order.
• Appear with you at a single hearing under a limited scope arrangement.
• Draft motions and responses for you to file.

Limited scope drafting starts at $500, and one hearing appearance starts at $1,200. See limited scope fees. Fees are confirmed in writing before you engage the firm, and no outcome can be promised.