Cook County process serving rules have changed.
We’ve got all the details Chicago law firms need to know to navigate the transition from the Cook County Sheriff to professional process servers.
What changed
“A new law … allows licensed private detectives and their employees to serve process in Cook County without court appointment.”
JUDGE E. KENNETH WRIGHT, JR.
First Municipal District
Circuit Court of Cook County
When did it change?
Thursday, January 2, 2025
Since Cook County courts were closed on January 1 in observance of New Years Day, the amended rules took practical effect the following day.
The fine print
Under the amended statute, the Cook County Sheriff collects a $5 surcharge on case-initiating serves, which is assessed as a court fee on the filing of each summons.
Learn how to pay the fee in this article.
FREE WEBINAR
Ditch the Sheriff, Pt. II: What Law Firms Need to Know After the Cook County Process Serving Rule Change
Recorded Tuesday, January 14, 2025
Join Jeff Karotkin, Lydia Malone and Chicago process server Bob Rusch for a no-fluff webinar breaking down the biggest process serving change Cook County has seen in decades. We’ll cover what this means for your firm, why it matters, and how to make the transition seamless.
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