The Early Resolution Program (ERP) was developed by the Circuit Court of Cook County and the Administrative Office of Illinois Courts (AOIC), in partnership with the Chicago Appleseed Fund for Justice. The goal of ERP is to meet the needs of the growing population of self-represented litigants in the Domestic Relations Division while furthering the mission of the Illinois Supreme Court’s Access to Justice Commission to “promote, facilitate, and enhance equal access to justice.”
 

Criteria to be invited to the program:

• The Petitioner must be self-represented;
• A Summons must have been issued; and
• Cases must be filed at the Daley Center.

Once cases have been identified, an invitation letter from the Presiding Judge’s Office is mailed to parties.  The letter includes pertinent information for the session including the date and time.  Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ERP is being held remotely.

Program Benefits for the Party/Parties:

• There is no charge for the ERP session(s);
• Meet with an impartial Hearing Officer who will provide early intervention and make recommendations on cases;
• Become informed on what to expect during the process of litigation;
• Become informed on a variety of resources;
• Learn about the process in a positive and impartial environment;
• Learn to successfully navigate through the court system, resulting in fewer visits to court; and
• In instances where parties have an agreement, parties will leave the session with all relevant documents and instructions to appear before their assigned calendar/judge.

DISCLAIMER:  The information provided on this website and the during ERP session does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available on this site are for general informational purposes only.