HOW TO OBTAIN COURT RECORDS AND TRANSCRIPTS

HOW TO OBTAIN COURT RECORDS AND TRANSCRIPTS

To do a probate case search to see the various orders and motions in your case:
You will want to do this on a reliable, high-speed internet computer. The files are lengthy and take several minutes to download.

Go to the website below:

http://www.cookcountyclerkofcourt.org/?section=CASEINFOPage&CASEINFOPage=4210

Click on Probate Case Search

Type in the case number at the top of the page, or the ward's name under the box marked "estate". You will see lawyers' names, judges' names, guardians' names, and a chronological report of all orders, motions, petitions, etc. that have been submitted on your case. You can also see the next scheduled court date if you scroll to the entries at the bottom of the file.

This timeline will also come in handy if you want to order specific transcripts or view specific records (you need to go to the Daley Center to see your records); this timeline will also come in handy as you report identified unethical or illegal behaviors to the appropriate agencies.

To Order Court Transcripts:

Official transcripts are recorded for every status hearing, trial, etc. They contain valuable information about your case. These transcripts are PUBLIC records, available to anyone who requests them. However, there is a fee involved, and it can become quite costly. The current rate for they typing of a transcript is $3.15/page. The transcripts may be mailed to you upon request; there is an additional postage fee involved, usually amounting to several dollars.

You can order a transcript by phone. The number is: (312) 603-8405. You will need to give them the name of the judge, the name of the ward, and the case number.

They usually ask you how you are related; however, these are public records, and you can just tell them you are requesting a public record.

After you supply them with the above information, they will look in their records to see who was the transcriptionist for the judge that day. They will give you their name, and the transcriptionist will call you back with an estimate on the cost. You will need to send a deposit, usually as a certified check or money (though some will take personal checks). When they are done typing the transcript (this can take several weeks), the transcriptionist will call you back with the final amount due. The transcript will be mailed to you upon receipt of your final payment.

The payments are mailed to the attention of the transcriptionist at the following address:

Official Court Reports
69 W. Washington
Suite 900
Chicago, IL 60602

Though the transcripts are supposed to be reliable, probate sharks has heard of many instances were the transcripts were either lost or inaccurate. This is especially true during proceedings where the lawyers, judges, and guardians would rather the public record not reflect what occurred in court.

That said, please take your own notes if you are present in court that day. It is also advisable to have someone else document the proceedings as well. If you are so lucky as to have a reporter accompany you to court, that would be ideal.

Additionally, it is advisable that you keep ALL communications with your attorney (if you have one) in email form. After EACH court appearance, ask them to report to you exactly what occurred in court that day. Having all communications in writing may be very valuable down the road if you need to report the case to any authorities.

In the event that a transcriptionist tells you he/she has lost the transcript that you are requesting, you should report this immediately to :

Judge Timothy C. Evans, Chief Judge
Ms. Marilyn A. Filishio, Administrator
State of Illinois Circuit Court of Cook County
Official Court Reporters
69 West Washington Street
Suite 900
Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 603-8509
Fax (321) 603-9820


To View and Obtain Court Records:

Probate court files are public records. You are able to view and copy them at the Daley Center, Room 1202. You will need a photo ID to check out the case file. Files must be kept in the room, but may be photocopied in the room for 25 cents per page. Here is the name, address, and phone number of the court office:

Richard J. Daley Center
50 West Washington Street
Room 1202
Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 603-6441 or (312) 603-6457
Hours: 8:30 - 4:30 Mon-Fri

If you want to view case files, these websites will be helpful to you:

http://www.cookcountyclerkofcourt.org/?section=DDPage&DDPage=4200
and
 http://www.cookcountyclerkofcourt.org/?section=RecArchivePage

If you are appearing as a pro-se litigant (without an attorney), this website is where you can find various court forms that may be helpful to you for submission into court:

http://www.cookcountyclerkofcourt.org/?section=FormsPage&FormsPage=4200&FORMNAME=&TITLE=&Submit=Submit

Court records may also be ordered from the Clerk's office; however, this method is more expensive, as you are paying for them to search the records for you. More information on this may be obtained at the following website:http://www.cookcountyclerkofcourt.org/?section=RecArchivePage&RecArchivePage=6020

We hope you find this information useful in your fight against Cook County Probate Court Corruption

Signed,

Your Probate Sharks Court Records Specialist

Editor's note: Alice R. Gore Estate value about 1 million dollars: Alice R. Gore, deceased, a disabled 99 year old ward of the Probate Court of Cook County, Judge Kawamoto’s courtroom was hours away from ending up in the Cook County Morgue. Alice's estate was depleted by probate court parasites and there were reportedly no funds to bury her. Her loving family paid for the burial expenses so that Alice would not have to suffer the indignity of being stacked like an Auschwitz inmate in the Cook County morgue. The judge allowed an easily manipulated mentally disabled granddaughter to be appointed as Alice’s guardian and yet no sanctions were instituted against the judge or court officers for this blatant infraction of the law.KawamotoDragon.com


Strangely, 16 of Alice’s annuity checks, two of which show forged endorsements, disappeared. Alice’s daughter has a copy of a check with her signature possibly forged. The daughter’s attorney has been trying to obtain copies of the 16 other annuity checks for two years without success. Even more puzzling is a $150,000 life insurance policy owned by Alice and not inventoried into the estate by the court. The Probate Court of Cook of Cook County refuses to investigate these blatant infractions of the law. Lucius Verenus, Schoolmaster, ProbateSharks.com