Arbitration Administrator

22nd Judicial Circuit Mandatory Arbitration Program

666 Russel Court, Suite 309

Woodstock, IL 60098

P: 815/337-0582

F: 815/337-0661

aelowery@co.mchenry.il.us

Arbitration

Arbitration is a type of alternate dispute resolution (ADR) which is mandatory in all Arbitration cases filed in McHenry County. These are civil cases where money damages between $10,000 and $50,000 are sought. Small Claims suits in which a jury demand is filed are also subject to the Arbitration process, as well as cases that are transferred to Arbitration from other divisions. Arbitration Hearings are similar to court proceedings: parties present their arguments and evidence to a panel of three attorneys serving as Arbitrators; the Arbitrators deliberate; and then the Arbitrators deliver a non-binding decision, called an Award, which can be rejected by any party who has participated in the Hearing in good faith. For more information, please see the Additional Resources below.

Forms

Although certain Arbitration forms, such as the Arbitration Summons and Notice of Rejection, are available in the Circuit Clerk’s Office and online at http://www.co.mchenry.il.us/departments/circuitclerk/Pages/On-LineCourtForms.aspx, other forms, such as the Arbitration Complaint and Answer, are not. For examples of these forms, as well as others, please see the Arbitration Question & Answer Booklet under Additional Resources.