Cook County has lowered it adoption fee to address a declining rate of adoption filings.
The court filing fee, cut from $265 to $89, was approved last month by the Cook County Board, Chief Judge Timothy Evans’ office announced Tuesday.
The county’s fee now matches that of DuPage, Will and McHenry counties. Some attorneys said they had filed adoptions in the collar counties because it was cheaper, according to Evans’ office. Cook County has seen a steep drop in adoption filings, from 1,085 in 2014 to 628 last year, a 42% drop, according to Evans’ office. The collar counties reported a 9% rise in filings over the same period.
The high filing fees were a disincentive for filing in Cook County, according to Illinois Appellate Court Justice Sanjay Tailor, who helped draft the legislation."This legislation, which had strong support from the adoption bar, removes that obstacle, which we anticipate will drive cases back to Cook County. Making adoption less expensive benefits everyone," Tailor said in a statement.
Ahead of National Adoption Day Saturday, Evans and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle will hold a ceremony Friday at the Daley Center to celebrate the lower court fee.that I have read and agree
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Cook County Assessor blames another county department for homeowners' higher property tax billsAssessor Fritz Kaegi says if left to his office, the homeowners would not see a hike at all.
Read more »
Cook County property tax bills: Homeowners in for surprise, assessor warnsThe Cook County assessor warns many of the 1.8 million bills will be flat or higher, when he says they should lower for homeowners.
Read more »
Cook County Prosecutors Undecided on New R. Kelly TrialCook County prosecutors on Monday asked for more time to decide on whether to prosecute R&B star R. Kelly on sexual abuse charges involving four Chicago-area women. At a brief hearing at the Leighton Criminal Court building, Assistant State’s Attorney Tene McCoy Cummings told Judge Lawrence Flood that the prosecution still is assembling transcripts from Kelly’s trials in federal court…
Read more »
Cook County property tax bills to be posted online TuesdayWhen you get the bill, you can pay it online, for free.
Read more »