Northern District of Illinois

This page is for submitting Pro Se PDF filings ONLY. The United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois will accept filings from pro se litigants through this page. This portal allows you to file into an existing case or initiate a new case. Prior to filing, the court encourages you to review the requirements on correct document formatting. You may read Local Rule 5.2 or click here. It is also encouraged that you review the guide created for Pro Se Litigants on filing a new Civil Case without an Attorney by clicking here.

The Pro Se Filer portal should not be used for documents that contain personal identifiable information that should not be seen on the court’s public docket. (Examples: Social Security Numbers, Birth Dates, names of Minor Children, etc.). Please follow Local Rule 26.2, Sealed Documents, for filing sealed documents.

If your document is successfully uploaded through the Pro Se Filer PDF Submission portal, you will receive a confirmation that the pleading was successfully submitted. Once the document has been submitted, the Clerk’s Office will either reject or accept the pleading. If the document is accepted, a copy will be returned to you with a "Received" stamp. If there are issues with the answer you filed, the document will be sent back to you with an explanation.

Filing into an existing case?
Click here.

Filing a new case?
Click here.

Submitting summons?
Click here.

How-To Submit your Summons Video - Pro Se Litigant

Need copies? If you wish to attain a pdf copy of a document, you may set up a PACER account by clicking HERE. If you do not wish to set up a PACER account, please send your request to the Certified Copy Desk (CCD) inbox CCD_ILND@ilnd.uscourts.gov. You will be provided with a CCD invoice and charged according to the Fee Schedule.