Yes! You can use AI to fill out Affidavit for Service by Publication/Posting (Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois) (CCG 0013 A/B)
The Affidavit for Service by Publication/Posting is a sworn court form filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois to support serving a defendant through publication or posting instead of personal service. It requires the affiant to state why the defendant cannot be served (e.g., out of state, cannot be found after diligent inquiry, or concealed) and to provide the defendant’s residence information or explain that it cannot be ascertained. The affidavit is made under penalty of law pursuant to 735 ILCS 5/1-109 and is used to satisfy statutory requirements for constructive service under 735 ILCS 5/2-206 and 735 ILCS 5/9-107. Completing it accurately is important because improper service can delay the case or result in service being challenged.
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Form specifications
| Form name: | Affidavit for Service by Publication/Posting (Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois) (CCG 0013 A/B) |
| Number of pages: | 2 |
| Filled form examples: | Form CCG 0013 Examples |
| Language: | English |
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How to Fill Out CCG 0013 Online for Free in 2026
Are you looking to fill out a CCG 0013 form online quickly and accurately? Instafill.ai offers the #1 AI-powered PDF filling software of 2026, allowing you to complete your CCG 0013 form in just 37 seconds or less.
Follow these steps to fill out your CCG 0013 form online using Instafill.ai:
- 1 Enter the court caption information at the top (Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois), including the plaintiff and defendant names and the case number.
- 2 Select the type of constructive service requested (publication and/or posting) consistent with the case and the applicable statute cited on the form.
- 3 Identify the defendant and check/complete the statements explaining why personal service cannot be made (resides outside Illinois, has gone out of state, cannot be found after diligent inquiry, or is concealed within the state).
- 4 Provide the defendant’s current place of residence (address, city, state, zip) if known; if unknown, indicate it cannot be ascertained after diligent inquiry and provide the last known residence details.
- 5 Complete the affiant section and review the certification language confirming the statements are true and correct under 735 ILCS 5/1-109.
- 6 Fill in attorney information on page 2 (attorney number, name, party represented, address, phone, and primary email) or the filer’s contact details if applicable.
- 7 Sign the affidavit under oath (as required for an affidavit), then save/print and file it with the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County as part of the request for service by publication/posting.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Form CCG 0013
This affidavit asks the court to allow “constructive service” (service by publication or posting) when the defendant cannot be personally served. It supports a request under 735 ILCS 5/2-206 and/or 735 ILCS 5/9-107.
The “Affiant” (the person making the sworn statements) completes and signs it—often the plaintiff, the plaintiff’s attorney, or another person with personal knowledge of the search efforts. The affiant must be able to truthfully swear to the facts stated.
You generally use it when the defendant is outside Illinois, has left the state, cannot be found after diligent inquiry, or is concealed within the state so process cannot be served. The affidavit is meant to show why normal service is not possible.
It means you made reasonable, good-faith efforts to locate the defendant before asking for publication/posting. Typical efforts may include checking last known addresses, contacting known relatives/employers, searching public records, or other practical steps to find the defendant.
The form title references both publication and posting, but what you can use depends on your case type and what the judge orders. If you are unsure which method applies, review your case requirements or ask the clerk or an attorney for guidance.
You must list the defendant’s name and indicate the reason service cannot be made (outside the state, gone out of state, cannot be found after diligent inquiry, or concealed within the state). Only select statements that are true based on your efforts and knowledge.
Enter the defendant’s place of residence (address, city, state, zip). Provide the most accurate current residence information you have.
If the current residence cannot be ascertained after diligent inquiry, indicate that and provide the defendant’s last known address information. The court typically expects you to list the last known residence if you have it.
The statute references mailing requirements in some situations, but this excerpted form mainly captures the affidavit statements about the defendant’s location and your inquiry. You may need additional paperwork or steps (such as mailing and proof of mailing) depending on the judge’s order and your case type.
Fill in the case caption at the top of the form (the “v.” line for the parties) and the “Case No.” field. Use the same names and case number exactly as they appear on your court case.
The form states it is made “on oath” and includes a certification under 735 ILCS 5/1-109. Court requirements can vary, so follow the filing instructions for your courtroom; if notarization is required for your situation, sign in front of a notary.
It means you are certifying under penalty of law that the statements are true and correct. Do not guess—only include information you know is accurate and supported by your search efforts.
If an attorney is involved, page 2 asks for the attorney number, attorney name, who the attorney represents, address, phone number, and primary email. If you are self-represented, follow local filing instructions for how to list your contact information in place of attorney details.
Typically, you file it in your case with the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, either electronically (if required/available for your case type) or in person at the appropriate filing location. After filing, you usually must obtain a judge’s order before publication/posting occurs.
Timing depends on the court’s order and the publication/posting requirements (for example, how many weeks the notice must run). Plan for additional time beyond normal service because publication/posting and proof of completion can take several weeks.
Compliance CCG 0013
Validation Checks by Instafill.ai
1
Validates Case Number is present and matches Cook County case number format
Checks that the "Case No." field is not blank and conforms to the expected local case numbering pattern (e.g., year + case type + sequence, as configured for Cook County). This is critical to ensure the affidavit is filed into the correct court case and can be docketed and retrieved. If the case number is missing or malformed, the submission should be rejected or routed to manual review because it may be misfiled or unusable.
2
Ensures Plaintiff and Defendant caption fields are completed (party names not blank)
Validates that the case caption includes the parties (the line above/beside “v.” and the defendant name line) and that the defendant name is not empty. Party identification is essential for legal sufficiency and for matching the affidavit to the correct litigants. If either party name is missing, the form should fail validation because the affidavit cannot be reliably associated with a specific case and defendant.
3
Validates Defendant name is a full legal name (not placeholder text or initials-only)
Checks that the defendant field contains a plausible full name (e.g., at least two alphabetic tokens) and is not a placeholder (e.g., “unknown,” “N/A,” or a blank line). Service by publication/posting requires clear identification of the person to be served. If the name appears incomplete or generic, the submission should be flagged for correction or manual review to prevent defective service.
4
Requires at least one statutory basis checkbox/statement for constructive service to be selected
Validates that at least one of the listed grounds is affirmatively selected/indicated: resides outside the state, has gone out of the state, cannot be found after diligent inquiry, or is concealed within the state. The affidavit must state a legally recognized reason why personal service cannot be made. If none are selected, the affidavit is legally insufficient and should be rejected.
5
Prevents contradictory service-basis selections without explanation
Checks for logically conflicting combinations (e.g., selecting both “resides outside the state” and “is concealed within the state”) unless an additional explanation field is provided in the system. Contradictions can undermine credibility and may cause the court to deny the request for constructive service. If contradictions are detected, the system should require clarification or route to manual review.
6
Validates Defendant residence section completeness when residence is known
If the form indicates the defendant’s place of residence is known (i.e., the “Cannot be ascertained after diligent inquiry” option is not selected), the system must require Address, City, State, and Zip to be completed. This ensures the affidavit contains the best available location information and supports required mailing steps. If any required subfield is missing, validation should fail and prompt the filer to complete the address.
7
Validates last known residence section completeness when current residence cannot be ascertained
If “Cannot be ascertained after diligent inquiry” is selected, the system should require the “last known place of residence” fields (Address, City, State, Zip) to be completed when available, or require an explicit “unknown” indicator if truly unavailable. Courts typically expect the last known address to support mailing and due diligence. If the last known address is omitted without an allowed “unknown” reason, the submission should be rejected or flagged.
8
Validates State field uses a valid two-letter US state/territory code
Checks that each State entry (current residence and/or last known residence, and attorney address) is a valid USPS two-letter abbreviation (e.g., IL, IN, WI) and not free-form text. Standardized state codes improve mailing accuracy and downstream integrations (printing, envelope generation, and address validation). If the state code is invalid, the system should block submission and request correction.
9
Validates ZIP code format (5-digit or ZIP+4) for all address blocks
Ensures ZIP codes are either 5 digits (e.g., 60602) or ZIP+4 (e.g., 60602-1234) and contain only digits and an optional hyphen. Correct ZIP formatting is important for mailability and for any automated address standardization. If the ZIP is missing where required or formatted incorrectly, the system should fail validation and prompt for a corrected ZIP.
10
Validates address fields are not empty/placeholder and meet minimum content rules
Checks that address lines contain meaningful content (e.g., street number and street name) and are not placeholders like “TBD,” “unknown,” or a single character, unless the form explicitly allows “unknown” with a corresponding diligence statement. This reduces undeliverable mail and supports the affidavit’s due diligence requirements. If the address content is insufficient, the system should require correction or an allowed “unknown” selection.
11
Ensures Affiant identification and signature/attestation are present
Validates that the “Affiant:” field is completed with the affiant’s name and that the submission includes a signature/attestation indicator consistent with 735 ILCS 5/1-109 (e.g., e-signature, typed /s/ name, or captured signature depending on system rules). The affidavit is not valid without an identifiable affiant who certifies the truth of the statements. If the affiant name or signature/attestation is missing, the submission should be rejected.
12
Validates attorney registration number (Atty. No.) format and presence when attorney fields are used
Checks that “Atty. No.” is present when an attorney is listed and matches the expected Illinois ARDC number format (typically digits only, length as configured). This supports accountability, contact, and court compliance requirements. If the attorney number is missing or invalid while attorney representation is indicated, the system should block submission or require manual review.
13
Ensures attorney name and role fields are complete and consistent
Validates that “Atty Name” and “Atty. for” are not blank and that “Atty. for” corresponds logically to a party in the caption (e.g., Plaintiff/Petitioner or Defendant/Respondent, as applicable). This prevents misdirected notices and ensures the court can contact the correct representative. If the attorney role is missing or does not match the case caption parties, the system should prompt for correction.
14
Validates attorney telephone number format and minimum digits
Checks that the Telephone field contains a valid phone number format (e.g., 10 digits for US numbers, allowing punctuation like parentheses and hyphens) and is not alphabetic text. Reliable phone contact is important for clerk communication and deficiency resolution. If the phone number is missing (when required by filing rules) or invalid, the system should fail validation and request a correct number.
15
Validates primary email address format and deliverability constraints
Ensures “Primary Email” matches standard email syntax ([email protected]), does not contain spaces, and is not an obvious placeholder (e.g., “[email protected]” if disallowed by policy). Email is often used for e-filing notifications and deficiency notices, so accuracy is essential. If the email is missing when required or fails format checks, the system should block submission and request correction.
Common Mistakes in Completing CCG 0013
People often focus on the affidavit statements and forget the top caption (party names) and the Case No. field, or they copy a case number from another matter. A missing or mismatched caption/case number can cause the clerk or judge to reject the filing or delay issuance/approval of publication/posting. Always copy the case caption and case number exactly as it appears on the complaint/petition and prior court filings.
This form references both “Service by Publication” and “Service by Posting,” and filers sometimes assume checking nothing is acceptable or they mark both without confirming which statute/procedure applies. Using the wrong method can result in ineffective service and later challenges to jurisdiction, potentially undoing orders or judgments. Confirm with the applicable statute/court order whether you need publication, posting, or both, and make the selection unambiguous on the form.
A common error is listing an incomplete defendant name (missing middle initial, suffix, or entity designation like LLC/Inc.) or using nicknames/aliases without clarity. If the defendant is not correctly identified, the service may be attacked as not reasonably calculated to give notice, and the court may require re-service. Use the defendant’s full legal name exactly as in the complaint and include known aliases only if clearly labeled and consistent with the case pleadings.
The affidavit lists several grounds (resides outside Illinois, has gone out of state, cannot be found after diligent inquiry, concealed within the state), and people sometimes check several “just in case.” Overbroad or unsupported assertions can undermine credibility and lead the court to deny the request for constructive service. Select only the statement(s) you can truthfully support and be prepared to explain the basis for each selection.
Filers often state “cannot be found after diligent inquiry” without documenting what was actually done (e.g., searches, contacts, last known employer/relatives, databases). Courts may reject the affidavit or require a more detailed showing because constructive service is a last resort. Before signing, ensure you can articulate specific steps taken to locate the defendant and that those steps are recent and reasonable.
People frequently omit apartment/unit numbers, city, state, or ZIP, or they put a mailing address where a residence is requested. Incomplete addresses can prevent required mailing, reduce the likelihood of actual notice, and trigger re-filing or additional court scrutiny. Enter the full address in standard USPS format (street, unit, city, state, ZIP) and confirm it is the defendant’s residence or last known residence as required.
Some filers check “Cannot be ascertained after diligent inquiry” but then fail to complete the “last known place of residence” section, or they leave it blank because they are unsure. If you have any last-known address information, the court typically expects it to be provided to support mailing and notice efforts. If the current residence is unknown, still complete the last-known address fields as fully as possible and explain gaps only when truly unknown.
The form requires an “Affiant” (the person swearing to the facts), but people sometimes put the attorney’s name by default or leave the affiant line blank. If the wrong person signs (someone without personal knowledge) or the affiant is not identified, the affidavit may be invalid and service may be challenged. Ensure the affiant is the person with knowledge of the search efforts and facts, and clearly print/type the affiant’s name where indicated.
Because it is an affidavit “on oath,” some filers sign casually without notarization when required by local practice, or they misunderstand the 735 ILCS 5/1-109 certification language and omit required signature elements. An improperly executed affidavit can be rejected or later attacked, delaying service and the case. Follow the court’s filing requirements for affidavits (including notarization if required) and ensure the signature and date are properly completed.
On page 2, filers often skip the attorney number, phone, address, or primary email, especially when rushing or when self-represented parties are unsure what applies. Missing contact information can cause filing delays, prevent notices from being sent, or create confusion about who is responsible for the publication/posting process. Attorneys should complete all attorney fields accurately; self-represented filers should follow the form’s instructions for pro se entries (and provide their own contact information where applicable).
A frequent issue is that the defendant name, last known address, or service assertions differ from what was stated in the complaint, summons returns, or prior affidavits. Inconsistencies raise red flags and can lead to denial of constructive service or later motions to vacate for improper notice. Before filing, cross-check all names, addresses, and factual statements against the pleadings and any prior service attempts to ensure they match or are clearly explained.
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