Cook County Guardianship Process

Why Cook County Is Different

Cook County handles more adult guardianship cases than any other county in Illinois, and its probate division operates under local rules that do not apply in the collar counties. If you are filing in Cook County, following generic "Illinois guardianship" instructions will leave you unprepared for the fingerprint screening, specific form numbers, and GAL appointment process that the Daley Center requires.

Step 1: Get the Physician's Report (Form CCP 0211)

Before you can file anything, you need a licensed physician to examine the person you are seeking guardianship over (the "respondent"). The examination must occur within three months of the date you file the petition. If the petition involves an intellectual disability, a psychological evaluation by a licensed clinical psychologist within one year is acceptable — but a physician must still sign the final report.

The physician fills out Cook County Form CCP 0211, which requires a detailed description of the respondent's disability, how it affects their decision-making ability, an assessment of mental, physical, and social functioning, and a clinical opinion on whether guardianship is necessary and at what level (limited or plenary).

Step 2: Prepare and E-File the Petition

Cook County requires electronic filing through the statewide e-filing portal. Your filing package includes:

• Petition for Appointment of Guardian (Form CCP 0200) — states your relationship to the respondent, their birth date and residence, specific reasons guardianship is needed, and the name and qualifications of the proposed guardian. You must list the names and post office addresses of the respondent's spouse, parents, and all adult siblings.
• Probate Division Cover Sheet (Form CCP 0199)
• Completed Physician's Report (Form CCP 0211)

Filing fees:

• Guardian of the Person only: $50
• Guardian of the Estate (assets up to $15,000): $70
• Guardian of the Estate (assets over $15,000): $105
• If the petitioner or respondent is indigent, file an Application for Fee Waiver (Form CCP 0380) under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 298

Step 3: Serve the Respondent

A formal Guardianship Summons (Form CCP 0201) and a copy of the petition must be personally served on the respondent by a sheriff or licensed process server at least 14 days before the hearing. Substitute service — leaving the summons with a family member — is invalid. Service cannot be waived, even if the respondent already has an attorney.

Sheriff service fees in Cook County are $23.00 plus $0.40 per mile. You must also mail or deliver written notice of the hearing date to all immediate relatives listed on the petition at least 14 days in advance.

Step 4: The Background Check Packet (Form CCP 0232)

This is Cook County's distinctive requirement. Every proposed guardian must complete the Fingerprint / Background-Check Packet (Form CCP 0232) before the court will appoint them.

The screening has two parts:

1. LEADS (criminal history) — fingerprint-based criminal background check. Fingerprinting is done at an approved private vendor or in Room 701 of the Daley Center.
2. CANTS (child abuse) — all adults living in the proposed guardian's home must sign consent forms for a DCFS Child Abuse and Neglect Tracking System check.

Submit completed CANTS forms and LEADS fingerprint receipts to the court clerk and the assigned judge's coordinator immediately. Delays here push back your hearing date.

Step 5: The Guardian ad Litem Investigation

Upon filing, the court appoints a Guardian ad Litem (GAL) — an independent attorney who investigates the case for the court. The GAL must personally interview the respondent, explain the nature of the petition, and inform them of their rights:

• Right to attend the hearing
• Right to be represented by an attorney (the court must appoint one if the respondent requests it or takes a position adverse to the GAL)
• Right to demand a six-person jury trial
• Right to present evidence, cross-examine witnesses, and request an independent clinical evaluation

The GAL files a written report with the court. For routine, uncontested matters, GAL fees range from $200 to $400. The fee is typically paid from the ward's estate or assessed against the petitioner depending on financial circumstances.

Step 6: The Hearing and Letters of Office

At the hearing, the judge reviews the physician's report, the GAL's recommendation, and any evidence presented. If the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the respondent meets the legal standard for disability, it signs the Order Appointing Guardian — Form CCP 0204 for plenary guardianship or Form CCP 0207 for limited.

Before Letters of Office can issue, the appointed guardian must take an oath and file a bond:

• Guardian of the Person only: the court can waive the surety bond, allowing an Oath and Bond - No Surety (Form CCP 0307)
• Guardian of the Estate: a surety bond is mandatory and cannot be waived. The bond amount must be at least 1.5 times the value of the ward's personal estate (corporate surety) or double the value (individual sureties)

After Appointment

Cook County guardians of the person must complete mandatory guardian training within 13 months of appointment through the state's online portal at onenet.illinois.gov. File the Certificate of Completion with the probate court clerk. You must also file an Annual Report (Form CCP 0222) every year on the anniversary of your appointment, and estate guardians must file an initial Inventory (Form CCP 0334) within 60 days.

Before committing to this process, consider whether a less-restrictive alternative — a supported decision-making agreement, power of attorney, or limited guardianship — might provide the protection your family member needs without a full probate proceeding.

The Illinois Adult Guardianship & Alternatives Guide maps the entire Cook County process with a county-specific filing checklist, e-filing instructions, and hearing preparation plan.

See more Illinois guides →