(735 ILCS 5/5-105.5)
Sec. 5-105.5. Representation by civil legal services provider.
(a) As used in this Section:
"Civil legal services" means legal services in noncriminal matters provided
without charge to indigent persons who have been found eligible under financial
eligibility guidelines established by the civil legal services provider.
"Civil legal services provider" means a not-for-profit corporation that (i)
employs one or more attorneys who are licensed to practice law in the State of
Illinois and who directly provide free civil legal services or (ii) is established
for the purpose of providing free civil legal services by an organized panel of pro
bono attorneys.
"Court-sponsored pro bono program" means a pro bono program established by or in
partnership with a court in this State for the purpose of providing free civil legal services by
an organized panel of pro bono attorneys. "Eligible client" means an indigent person who has been found eligible for
civil legal services by a civil legal services provider or court-sponsored pro bono program.
"Indigent person" means a person whose income is 125% or less of the current
official federal poverty income guidelines or who is otherwise eligible to
receive civil legal services under the eligibility guidelines of the civil legal services provider or court-sponsored pro bono program.
(b) When a party is represented in a civil action by a civil legal services
provider or attorney in a court-sponsored pro bono program, all fees and costs relating to filing, appearing, transcripts on
appeal, and service of process shall be waived without the necessity of a
motion for that purpose, and the case shall be given an index number or other
appropriate filing number, provided that (i) a determination has been made by
the civil legal services provider or attorney in a court-sponsored pro bono program that the party is an indigent person and (ii) an
attorney's certification that that determination has been made is filed with
the clerk of the court along with the complaint, the appearance, or any other
paper that would otherwise require payment of a fee.
(c) The changes made to this Section by this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly apply to all actions commenced on or after July 1, 2013. The changes made to this Section by this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly also apply to all actions pending on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly, but only with respect to fees and costs that become due in those actions after July 1, 2013.(Source: P.A. 98-351, eff. 8-15-13.)
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