Title
Ordinance amending portions of the certain civil fees in Chapter 35.15 Criminal, Traffic and Civil Fees the Lake County Code of Ordinances.
Staff Summary
• Effective July 1, 2026, Public Act 104-0468 increased certain Circuit Court Clerk filing and appearance fees by $5 to support the State of Illinois’s Guardianship and Advocacy Fund.
• The amendment also includes the removal of a fee for probate filings for each account (other than one final account) filed in the estate of a ward.
Body
ORDINANCE
WHEREAS, the Illinois General Assembly enacted Public Act 104-0468 during the 104th General Assembly, and it was signed into law on June 16, 2026; and
WHEREAS, Public Act 104-0468 increased certain civil filing and appearance fees by $5, with the additional revenue remitted to the State of Illinois for the Guardianship and Advocacy Fund, requiring counties to update their Circuit Court Clerk fee schedules accordingly; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary for the County Board to formally amend portions of the certain civil fees in Chapter 35.15 Criminal, Traffic and Civil Fees the Lake County Code of Ordinances.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED, that by the County Board for the County of Lake, Illinois, that Section 35.15 of the Lake County Code of Ordinances is hereby amended and replaced with the following.
(A) Civil fees.
(1) Fees in civil matters shall be assessed and distributed as set forth
herein, in compliance with Section 27.1b of the Clerks of Courts Act, 705 ILCS 105/27.1b.
(2) The fees for filing a complaint, petition or other pleading initiating a civil action shall be as set forth in the schedules below in accordance with case categories established by the Illinois Supreme Court.
(a) SCHEDULE 1: $319 to be divided as follows:
1. $45 to be retained by the Clerk of the Circuit Court and deposited as follows:
A. Court Automation Fund - $20.
B. Court Document Storage Fund - $20.
C. Circuit Court Clerk Operation and Administrative Account -
$5.
2. $24 to be remitted to the State Treasurer and deposited as follows:
A. Mandatory Arbitration Fund - $8.
B. Access to Justice Fund - $2.
C. Supreme Court Special Purposes Fund - $9.
D. Guardianship and Advocacy Fund - $5.
3. $250 to be remitted to the County Treasurer and deposited as follows:
A. General Fund (Circuit Clerk) - $184.
B. General Fund (Court Security) - $40.
C. Neutral Site Exchange Fund - $10.
D. Children's Waiting Room Fund - $11.
E. Law Library Fund - $5.
(b) SCHEDULE 2: $264 to be divided as follows:
1. $45 to be retained by the Clerk of the Circuit Court and deposited as follows:
A. Court Automation Fund - $20.
B. Court Document Storage Fund - $20.
C. Circuit Court Clerk Operation and Administrative Account -
$5.
2. $19 to be remitted to the State Treasurer and distributed as follows:
A. Mandatory Arbitration Fund - $8.
B. Access to Justice Fund - $2.
C. Supreme Court Special Purposes Fund - $9.
3. $200 to be remitted to the County Treasurer and distributed as follows:
A. General Fund (Circuit Clerk) - $134.
B. General Fund (Court Security) - $40.
C. Neutral Site Exchange Fund - $10.
D. Children's Waiting Room Fund - $11.
E. Law Library Fund - $5.
(c) SCHEDULE 3: $94 to be divided as follows:
1. $22 to be retained by the Clerk of the Circuit Court and deposited as follows:
A. Court Automation Fund - $10.
B. Court Document Storage Fund - $10.
C. Circuit Court Clerk Operation and Administrative Account - $2.
2. $16 to be remitted to the State Treasurer and distributed as follows:
A. Access to Justice Fund - $2.
B. Supreme Court Special Purposes Fund - $9.
C. Guardianship and Advocacy Fund - $5.
3. $56 to be remitted to the County Treasurer and distributed as follows:
A. General Fund (Circuit Clerk) - $30.
B. General Fund (Court Security) - $10.
C. Neutral Site Exchange Fund - $6.
D. Children's Waiting Room Fund - $7.
E. Law Library Fund - $3.
(d) SCHEDULE 4: $0.
(3) The fees for filing an appearance in a civil action shall be as set forth in the schedules below in accordance with case categories established by the Illinois Supreme Court:
(a) SCHEDULE 1: $194 to be divided as follows:
1. $45 to be retained by the Clerk of the Circuit Court and distributed as follows:
A. Court Automation Fund - $20.
B. Court Document Storage Fund - $20.
C. Circuit Court Clerk Operation and Administrative Account - $5.
2. $24 to be remitted to the State Treasurer and distributed as follows:
A. Mandatory Arbitration Fund - $8.
B. Access to Justice Fund - $2.
C. Supreme Court Special Purposes Fund - $9.
D. Guardianship and Advocacy Fund - $5.
3. $125 to be remitted to the County Treasurer and distributed as follows:
A. General Fund (Circuit Clerk) - $60.
B. General Fund (Court Security) - $39.
C. Neutral Site Exchange Fund - $10.
D. Children's Waiting Room Fund - $11.
E. Law Library Fund - $5.
(b) SCHEDULE 2: $114 to be divided as follows:
1. $10 to be retained by the Clerk of the Circuit Court follows:
A. Court Automation Fund - $5.
B. Court Document Storage Fund - $5.
C. Circuit Court Clerk Operation and Administrative Account - $0.
2. $14 to be remitted to the State Treasurer and distributed as follows:
A. Supreme Court Special Purposes Fund - $9.
B. Guardianship and Advocacy Fund - $5.
3. $90 to be remitted to the County Treasurer and distributed as follows:
A. General Fund (Circuit Clerk) - $38.
B. General Fund (Court Security) - $28.
C. Neutral Site Exchange Fund - $10.
D. Children's Waiting Room Fund - $10.
E. Law Library Fund - $5.
BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED, that the fee for probate filings for each account (other than one final account) filed in reference to the estate of a ward be removed.
(p) Probate filings:
1. For each account (other than one final account) filed in the estate of a decedent: $25.
BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED, that the Clerk of the County Board is hereby authorized and directed to prepare and deliver certified copies of this Ordinance to the Clerk of the Circuit Court, the Chief Judge of the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit, and the Lake County Bar Association.
DATED at Waukegan, Illinois, on October 13, 2026.