Court Divisions
Probate, Alternative Dispute Resolution And Juvenile Division
The Probate, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and Juvenile Division handles the probate of wills and the administration of estates, as well as cases that are pursuing alternative methods of dispute resolution. This Division also manages cases involving minors who are charged with a crime or whose health and safety are at risk.
The Probate, ADR and Juvenile Division routinely hears the following types of cases:
Probate (P): Probate court handles will disputes, disputes over estates when there is no will, and guardianships for minors and disabled adults.
Arbitration (AR): Arbitration is a mandatory program for dispute resolution. A court-appointed arbitration panel reviews the case to decide a just resolution and award. Arbitration is intended to lower court costs for litigants and allow the Court to utilize judicial resources more effectively. If a party rejects the arbitration panel’s findings, the case will proceed to trial in one of the other divisions.
Mediation (selected L and CH cases): Cases that select a neutral third party (the mediator) to help facilitate a settlement.
Juvenile (J): Juvenile cases are all cases that are covered by the Juvenile Court Act except those that are covered by the JA and JD designations. Actions covered by the J classification are sometimes known as "pre-delinquent" behaviors, or actions which are wrongful, but not criminal violations. Examples of pre-delinquent behaviors include truancy and running away from home.
Juvenile Abuse and Neglect (JA): In abuse and neglect cases, the juvenile is the victim of wrongful behavior committed by parents or caregivers.
Juvenile Delinquency (JD): Delinquency cases occur when any minor, prior to his or her 17th birthday, violates, or attempts to violate, any federal law, state law, county ordinance, or municipal ordinance.
The driving philosophy behind juvenile justice in Illinois is restorative justice. The philosophy of restorative justice holds that, along with the rehabilitation of the offender, the offender will work to "restore" the balance that existed in the community before the offense was committed. Common methods of restoration include compensating victims for their losses and public service for the offender. To protect the privacy of children, juvenile cases are not open to the public.
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