§ 5/5-105.5 Representation by civil legal services provider
§ 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 civil legal services or (ii) is established for the purpose of providing 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.
“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 Legal Services Corporation Act of 1974. [FN1]
(b) When a party is represented in a civil action by a civil legal services provider, 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 that the party is indigent 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.
[FN1] 42 U.S.C.A. § 2996 et seq.