Terms of Service

Last updated: December 8, 2025

Welcome to cookil.org (the “Website”). These Terms of Service (“Terms”) govern your access to and use of the Website. By accessing or using cookil.org, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree with any part of these Terms, you should not use the Website.

cookil.org is an independent, privately operated information resource. It is not owned, operated, or endorsed by Cook County, the State of Illinois, any municipality, or any government agency. All information is provided solely as a general reference to help users discover resources, tools, contact details, and frequently asked questions related to Cook County, Illinois.

Nature of the Website and Independence from Government

The Website is an informational platform only. It collects and organizes publicly available resources, third-party links, and general guidance related to services and topics in Cook County, Illinois.

The Website does not provide official government services.

The Website is not an agency, representative, or affiliate of any federal, state, county, or local government body.

Any mention of government offices, departments, programs, or services is for informational and navigational purposes only.

Because of this independent status, all information presented on the Website should be verified directly with official government sources or other authoritative organizations before you rely on it for any decision, especially those involving legal, financial, medical, or other significant personal matters.

Information-Only; No Professional Advice

All content on cookil.org, including text, links, tools, FAQs, and any other material, is offered for general informational purposes only.

The Website does not provide:

Legal advice (including but not limited to criminal, civil, immigration, housing, or family law).

Financial or tax advice.

Medical, mental health, or health-related advice.

Professional advice of any kind, including but not limited to social services, real estate, insurance, or employment counseling.

Nothing on the Website creates an attorney-client relationship, doctor-patient relationship, financial advisor-client relationship, or any other professional relationship. You should always consult qualified professionals and official agencies before making decisions that may affect your rights, health, finances, or safety.

By using this Website, you acknowledge that you are solely responsible for verifying the accuracy, completeness, and suitability of any information with relevant official or professional sources.

No Fees, Accounts, or Transactions

The Website:

Does not require users to register an account.

Does not charge any fees to users for accessing its information.

Does not participate in or facilitate actual transactions between users and any third parties.

If you pay any fee to a third-party website, service provider, or advertiser that you found through cookil.org, such payment is solely between you and that third party. The Website is not involved in and does not assume responsibility for these transactions.

Third-Party Websites, Listings, and Advertising

cookil.org may display links, references, or advertisements, including third-party and AdSense advertising. These may lead you to external websites, services, or resources.

These third-party sites are not controlled by cookil.org.

Inclusion of a link, listing, or advertisement does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation.

Any fees charged or policies imposed by third-party sites are not related to or controlled by this Website.

You are responsible for reviewing the terms, conditions, and privacy practices of any third-party website or service you access. The Website is not liable for any loss, damage, dispute, or claim arising from your interactions with third parties.

User Responsibilities

By using the Website, you agree that you will:

Use the information solely at your own risk and discretion.

Independently verify all information, especially when making decisions that involve legal rights, financial commitments, medical care, or other important matters.

Comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.

You understand and agree that the Website does not guarantee the real-time accuracy, completeness, or current status of any data, including but not limited to office hours, eligibility criteria, fees, locations, or procedures. Information may change without notice, and the Website may not be updated immediately or at all.

Prohibited Uses, Robots, and Automated Tools

You agree not to misuse the Website or interfere with its normal operation. Prohibited activities include, but are not limited to:

Using robots, crawlers, spiders, scrapers, or other automated tools to access, collect, or harvest data from the Website without express written permission.

Conducting unauthorized data scraping, bulk downloading, or automated querying that places an unreasonable load on the Website’s infrastructure.

Attempting to circumvent security measures or disrupt the operation of the Website, its servers, or its networks.

Using the Website for any illegal, abusive, or harmful purpose.

The Website reserves the right to suspend or terminate access for any user or system that engages in unauthorized or harmful activities, with or without notice.

Intellectual Property and Use of Content

Unless otherwise stated, all content on cookil.org—including text, layout, design, and compilation—is owned or licensed by the Website and protected by applicable intellectual property laws.

You are granted a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to access and use the Website for personal, non-commercial purposes. Without prior written permission, you may not:

Copy, reproduce, or distribute content in bulk.
Use the content for commercial purposes or resale.
Create derivative works based on the Website’s data or structure.

Unauthorized copying, distribution, or commercial use of any data or content from the Website is strictly prohibited.

Service Availability and Data Accuracy

The Website is provided on an “as-is” and “as-available” basis. We do not guarantee:

That the Website will be uninterrupted, secure, error-free, or free from viruses or other harmful components.

That the information on the Website is accurate, complete, current, or suitable for any particular purpose.

We do not guarantee the real-time nature of any listing, policy, procedure, or contact details. You acknowledge that service interruptions, data errors, and delays can occur, and that the Website may be modified, updated, suspended, or discontinued at any time without notice.

Disclaimers and Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Website and its owners, operators, and contributors disclaim all warranties, whether express or implied, including but not limited to warranties of accuracy, completeness, reliability, merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement.

In particular, the Website disclaims responsibility for:

Any decisions you make based on the information found on the Website, especially those involving legal, financial, medical, or professional matters.

Any losses or damages arising from reliance on outdated, incomplete, or incorrect information.

Any losses caused by service interruptions, technical failures, data errors, unauthorized access, or third-party behavior.

To the maximum extent permitted by law, the Website and its owners will not be liable for any indirect, incidental, consequential, special, exemplary, or punitive damages, or for any loss of profits, revenues, data, or goodwill, arising out of or related to your use of the Website, even if they have been advised of the possibility of such damages.

Some jurisdictions do not allow limitations on certain warranties or types of damages; in such cases, these disclaimers apply only to the extent permitted by applicable law.

Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the Website and its owners, operators, affiliates, and contributors from and against any and all claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of or in any way connected with:

Your use of or access to the Website.
Your violation of these Terms.
Your violation of any rights of another person or entity.

Changes to the Website and to These Terms

We reserve the right to update, modify, or replace any part of the Website or these Terms at any time. Changes to the Terms will be communicated through announcements or notices posted on the Website.

Your continued use of the Website after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms. You are encouraged to review these Terms periodically to stay informed of any updates.

Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the federal laws of the United States and the laws of the state in which the Website operates, without regard to conflict-of-law principles.

Any dispute arising out of or related to these Terms or your use of the Website shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts located in that state, unless applicable law requires otherwise.

If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, that provision shall be enforced to the maximum extent permissible, and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

By accessing or using cookil.org, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to be bound by these Terms of Service and that you will independently verify important information with official and professional sources before relying on it.