Court Support

Do you need help finding or electronically filing court documents? Do you need to attend court hearings via Zoom?

The library can help! Reserve a semi-private study room for your Zoom Court appearance or book an appointment with a Court Navigator Librarian to review legal resources. Services are available free of charge, and you do not need a library card.

Library staff cannot offer legal advice.

What services are available?

Virtual (Zoom) Court Appearances

The library can provide study rooms, a laptop, and Zoom account to attend a Zoom court hearing. This service is available at our Santori Library and West Branch locations.

Study rooms are available on a walk-in basis. To ensure room availability, you may reserve a room in advance by calling 630-264-4117. Be sure to mention you have a Zoom Court appearance.

Court Resources Assistance

We provide one-on-one appointments with library staff if you would like assistance finding and e-filing court forms, finding general information about court rules and procedures, or finding legal resources. Appointments will last 30-60 minutes and are offered at our Santori Library location.

To request an appointment, please call us at 630-264-4117 or fill out the request form. A staff member will follow up to schedule your appointment.


An APLD Staff Member CAN:
  • Provide general information about court rules, terms, and procedures.
  • Provide information and technical assistance to allow you to appear remotely before the Court.
  • Instruct how to electronically file (e-file) court documents or get an exemption from e-filing.
  • Inform you about free or low-cost legal help.
  • Help you identify what court forms you may need for your case and explain how to fill them out.
  • Guide you on how to ask to waive your court fees.
  • Help you to get an interpreter.
  • Inform you on how to obtain reasonable accommodations for a disability.
An APLD Staff Member CANNOT:
  • Give you legal advice.
  • Provide information about a case in violation of an order, statute, or rule.
  • Refer you to a lawyer or firm that charges fees.
  • Represent you in court, including via Zoom or other remote technology.
  • Fill out a form for you unless you are unable to complete it yourself due to a disability, a literacy barrier, or limited English proficiency.
  • Give an opinion about what will happen in court.
  • Tell you if a case should be started or help you decide how to handle your case.
Lawyers in the Library

Have a legal question? Come for a free, 15. minutes, walk-in consultation. 

Second Thursday of the month from 6 - 7:30 p.m. at Santori Library in room 125/126. 

General Resources
  • Ascend Justice: Provides a variety of legal services for survivors of gender-based violence, including family law, immigration services, and orders of protection services.
  • CARPLS: Legal hotline with high capacity to provide advice. Callers may need to wait 5-10 minutes to talk to a lawyer. Promotes self-advocacy and serves as a legal advocate for people with disabilities.
  • Eviction Help Illinois: Provides free legal aid, mediation services, and connections to other resources including rental assistance to increase housing stability.
  • Free Legal Answers: A secure portal monitored by volunteer lawyers where you can pose legal questions. You will be notified via email when a lawyer has answered your question, but there is no time limit on when questions will be answered. You will need to create an account to use this service.
  • Illinois Armed Forces Legal Aid Network: Statewide legal assistance hotline and coordinated network of legal support services for military personnel, veterans, and their families.
  • Lawyers for the Creative Arts: Provides legal assistance and education to artists and arts organizations throughout the Chicago metropolitan area.
  • Legal Aid Society: Provides legal representation and assistance on domestic violence, family law, consumer and housing issues, elder abuse and financial exploitation, human trafficking, and victims of crime.
  • National Immigrant Justice Center: Provides legal consultations and representation for low-income immigrants seeking a wide range of immigration legal relief.
  • Prairie State Legal Services (West Suburban/Joliet Offices): Provides legal advice and representation, advocacy, education, and outreach to low-income people in their service area.