This section is on resources about family law. Family law focuses on areas such as divorce, adoption, child custody, child support, and other relationships. Please note that many of these offices are currently close due to COVID-19 regulations, however, most of their services are available remotely.
Domestic Violence
Illinois Domestic Violence Hotline: (877) 863-6338
National Domestic Violence Hotline: (800) 799-7233
24-hr Child Abuse Hotline: (800) 252-2873
Call Illinois’ DCFS Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline for situations including but not limited to:
- Current injuries to the child
- Immediate need for medical treatment (including a child who is suicidal)
- Sexual abuse where the involved adult has or will have access to a child within the next 24 hours
- A child is currently afraid to go home
- A child is currently in protective custody of police or medical personnel
- A child death
The 24-hr child abuse hotline is: (800) 252-2873
Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence
For those not in imediate danger seeking services, this page offers 24/7 options for help and service providers.
ICADV does not offer direct service or operate a 24-hour phone line, but guide individuals to the right resources.
You may call: (217) 789-2830
Hours: Monday – Friday 8:30AM to 4:30PM
You can also reach out by filling in this intake form.
General Resources
Location: 6 S Clark St., Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60603
Phone: (312) 738-2452
To request legal assistance apply for help here.
This organization can help in areas such as divorce, child support, visitation, adoption, and guardianship. Their offices are currently closed, but they are available through phone or legal assistance form above.
CARPLS
Location: 17 N. State Street, Chicago, Illinois
Legal Aid Hotline: (312) 738-9200
Daytime Hours: Monday – Friday, 9AM to 4:30PM
Evening Hours: Mondays and Wednesdays until 7:30PM
To book an appointment refer to this page.
CARPLS can helpin areas like divorce, guardianship and public benefits. Their attorneys offer legal advice but do not represent clients in the courtroom. Also note that CARPLS charges a $25 fee for a 30 min consulation.
Chicago Volunteer Legal Services
Location: 33 North Dearborn Street, Suite 400, Chicago, Illinois 60602
Phone: (312) 332-1624
This organization can help in areas like adoption, divorce, minor/adult guardianship, child support, wills and advanced directives.
CVLS has 24 legal clinics across Chicago, for a detailed list of all their locations, hours of operation and phone numbers please refer to this page.
Location: 211 W. Wacker Drive, Suite 750, Chicago, IL 60606
24-hour intake phone: (312) 726-2938, call and leave message on best time to reach you Monday through Friday between 9AM and 5PM.
For parentage and child support issues, call (312) 796-3070 and leave a message
To schedule a meeting online fill out this form.
GCLC’s services are not all free:
Family Law: The organization has fees on a sliding scale based on income for representation
Domestic Violence: Free representation for protection and family safety litigation
Parentage and Child Support Advice Desk: Free services
For in-depth description of their programs refer to this page.
To request legal aid fill out this form.
Here is a list of other helpful resources provided by ILA, the organization provides easy-to-follow explanations and instructions for different family law situations.
This link provides resources/information on divorce, filing costs of a divorce, child support, parenting plan among other divorce-related topics.
This link provides resources/information on starting a case to get parental responsibilities or custody, changing parental responsibilities, family law changes and other information resources.
This link provides resources/information on getting guardianship for a child, creating a short-term guardianship agreement, changing adult guardianship, among other useful resources.
For a full list of all their resources relating to family law refer to this page.
Phone: (312) 986-4105, leave your name and phone number
Locations of centers
Please note that each location has a link that leads to a page with more information on each center, including whether they have specific programs in each location or more centers within the same area.
Location: 235 East 103rd Street, Chicago, Illinois 60628
Phone: (773) 371-3600
Intake Line: (773) 371-3642
Hours
Monday, Tuesday, and Friday 8:30AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday and Thursday: 8:30AM– 8:00PM
Saturday: By appointment only
Location: 3843 West 63rd Street, Chicago, IL 60629
Phone: 773-884-3310
Hours
Monday to Thursday 8:30AM – 8:00PM
Friday: 8:30AM – 5:00PM
Saturday: 9:00AM – 2:00PM by appointment only
Location: 3249 North Central Avenue Chicago, Illinois 60634
Phone: 773-371-3700
Hours
Monday to Friday: 8:30AM – 5:00PM
Extended hours on Tuesday and Thursday until 8:00 P.M. by appointment only
Location: 222 East Willow Avenue, Wheaton, Illinois 60187
Phone: 630-784-4800
Hours
Monday and Wednesday: 8:30AM – 9:00PM
Tuesday: 8:30AM – 6:00PM
Thursday and Friday: 8:30AM – 5:00PM
Evanston/Skokie Valley Centers
Location: 5210 Main Street, Skokie Valley, Illinois 60077
Phone: 847-425-7500
Hours
Monday to Friday: 8:30AM – 5:00PM (evenings by appointment only)
Location: 10537 South Roberts Road Palos Hills, Illinois 60465
Phone: 708-974-2300
Relay Service
|English| (800) 526-0844
|Spanish| (800) 501-0864
Hours
Monday and Friday: 8:30AM – 5:00PM
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday: 8:30AM – 9:00PM
LOCATION: RICHARD J. DALEY CENTER ROOM 802
PHONE: (312) 603-6300
FOR FILE INFORMATION CALL:
(312) 603-5262 OR (312) 603-6228
RICHARD J. DALEY CENTER
50 WEST WASHINGTON STREET, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60602, 18TH FLOOR
THIS OFFICES SEES CASES ON ADULT GUARDIANSHIP ESTATES AND MINOR GUARDIANSHIP ESTATES.
Child Support/Visitation
Location: 17 N. State St., Suite 1390 Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: (312) 971-5932
For more English and Spanish versions of their intake forms visit this page and email it to intake@ascendjustice.org
Ascend Justice provides representation in family law cases involving custody, parenting time, and child support.
This office helps parents and custodial guardians establish paternity, receive child support and enforce support obligations owed by non-custodial parents to their children
Call (800) 447-4278
Adoption
Children can qualify for federal Title IV-E adoption assistance or state (non-IV-E), assistance but not both.
The Subsidy Program (also known as an assistance program) was designed to provide monthly maintenance payments, medical assistance, and other support for the child until they turn 18 or 21. The state is required to enter into an agreement with the adoptive parents if the child qualifies for assistance.
To check whether you fit the elegibility criteria, visit this page.
Other useful links can be found here.
24-hour toll-free number (800) 843-0978
text:(312) 800-1559
Locations:
Main Office
2049 Ridge Avenue Evanston,
Illinois 60201
Office Hours
Monday – Friday 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM
Main Phone: (847) 475-5800
Hyde Park (by appointment)
Hyde Park Bank Building
1525 E. 53rd Street
Chicago, IL 60615
Schaumburg (by appointment)
1901 N. Roselle Road
Schaumburg, IL 60195
Merrillville, Indiana (by appointment)
8105 Georgia Street
Merrillville, IN 46410
Email: cradle@cradle.org
You can fill out the intake form and they will email you back.
If you’re looking into adopting a child fill out this intake form.
If you have been adopted and are looking for information contact them using this form.
Some of their consultations are $25 while others are free, their services include counseling, and connecting with birth relatives all on a case-by-case basis.
Guardianship
Location: 69 W. Washington, 7th Floor Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: (312) 603-0800
Location: 12th Floor next to the Forms Desk, Probate Division of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Richard J. Daley Center
Richard J. Daley Center Room 1202
Phone: (312) 603-6441
Hours: Monday – Friday 8:30AM to 4:30PM
They provide assistance with guardianship for a disabled adult, and understanding the procedure and completing forms
Center for Disability and Elder Law
Location: 205 West Randolph, Suite 1610 Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: (312) 376-1880
Hours: Monday – Friday 9:00AM-12:00PM
Email: info @ cdelaw.org
To apply for a remote appointment fill out this intake form.
Their offices are closed but they are available through phone. CDEL does not represent individuals, instead, they help individuals file petitions for adult guardianship of the person and finalized for presentation of the petition to the court.
For individuals with disabilitites.
Locations:
Main Office
20 North Michigan Ave., Suite 300 Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 341-0022 (Español)
(800) 537-2632 (English)
(800) 610-2779 (TTY)
Central Illinois Region
1 West Old State Capitol Plaza, Suite 816, Springfield, IL 62701
(217) 544-0464 (Español)
(800) 758-0464 (English)
(800) 610-2779 (TTY)
Southern Illinois Region
300 East Main St., Suite 18 Carbondale, IL 62901
(618) 457-7930 (Español)
(800) 758-0559 (English)
(800) 610-2779 (TTY)
Guardianship Assistance Office for Minors
Phone: (312) 603-0135
Adult Guardianship/Domestic Relations Division
Location: 69 W. Washington, 7th Floor Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: (312) 603-0800
Juvenile Division
Location: 2245 W. Ogden Ave. 14th Floor Chicago, IL 60612
Phone: (312) 433-4300
Illinois Guardianship & Advocacy Commission, Office of State Guardian
Phone: (312) 793-5900
IL Guardianship & Advocacy Commission
Commission’s intake number: (866) 274-8023
Locations:
Administrative Office
160 N La Salle Street, Suite S500 , Chicago Illinois 60601
Phone: (312) 793-5900
North Suburban Regional Office
9511 Harrison Avenue W-335
Des Plaines Illinois 60016-1565
Phone: (847) 294-4264
Served Counties:
DuPage, Lake, Northwest Cook County, plus City of Chicago North of Foster Avenue (5200 North)
West Suburban Regional Area
Post Office Box 7009
Hines, Illinois 60141-7009
Phone: (708) 338-7500
Served Counties:
Cook County south of 5200 North, Will and Grundy.
For more locations visit this page.
OSG offers services such as helping individuals figure out when guardianship alternatives may be helpful, handling medical matters or fianances for an adult with a disability. and how to fulfill one’s duties as guardian of a person and/or estate, among other things. For a full list of services please refer to this page.
Juvenile Division
Location: 2245 W. Ogden Ave. 14th Floor, Chicago, IL 60612
Phone: (312) 433-4300
OPG offers programs in health, housing and recreation sectors. For a list of detailed description of the types of services the Cook County Public Guardian offers visit this page.
Adult Guardianship
Location: 69 W. Washington St., 7th Fl., Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: (312) 603-0800
For a list of resources provided by the OPG visit this page.
Social Services
Illinois Department of Human Services
You can find an office that offers the services you’re looking for by clicking on this page. There are brief descriptions of the different offices and the types of services they offer under the locator.
Costumer Help Line: (800) 843-6154
The Help Line can asnwer questions about case status, benefits, services or eligibility.
Hours: Monday – Friday 8:00AM to 5:00PM
To check if you are eligible to apply for benefits refer to this page. This link will also help you find out if you are eligible for other benefits such as cash assistance and/or health coverage. The website is available in Spanish too.
If you already know you are eligible for SNAP you can apply here. The applications are also available in Spanish.
These are benefits that are ready in 5 days or less from the date you apply.
You can apply if:
- Your monthly income, cash and bank accounts are less than your rent or mortgage plus your utility costs, OR
- Your monthly income is less than $150 and your cash and bank accounts are not more than $100, OR
- At least one person in your household is a migrant farm worker and your cash and bank accounts are not more than $100.
- You must have valid identification. We prefer photo identification. We will also take other kinds of identification.
For more information visit this page.
What is a Link card: Anyone approved to receive cash assistance or SNAP (Food Stamps) benefits will be issued an Illinois Link card. The Illinois Link card is a plastic card that looks and works like a debit card. The LINK card is typically used to buy groceries.
To apply for SNAP services (to later be issued a LINK card) visit this page.
Help Line: (800) 678-5465
Language options of English, Arabic, Chinese, Polish, Spanish, or Urdu.
