Illinois Court Rules Guide
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Overview
Illinois state courts operate under the Illinois Code of Civil Procedure (735 ILCS 5), Illinois Supreme Court Rules, and circuit-level local rules. Illinois has a unified court system with the Illinois Supreme Court at the top, but significant variations exist between Cook County and the remaining 101 downstate counties.
Important: Cook County Circuit Court handles the majority of Illinois civil litigation and has extensive local rules. Always check Cook County General Orders if filing in the First Judicial Circuit.
Illinois Code of Civil Procedure (735 ILCS 5)
Key Sections
- • 735 ILCS 5/2-203: Service of summons
- • 735 ILCS 5/2-301: Appearance and pleadings
- • 735 ILCS 5/2-615: Motion to dismiss
- • 735 ILCS 5/2-619: Involuntary dismissal
- • 735 ILCS 5/2-1005: Summary judgment
Response Deadlines
- • 30 days: Appearance and answer
- • 21 days: Response to motion
- • 14 days: Reply brief
- • 30 days: Notice of appeal
- • 28 days: Summary judgment response
Service Method Extensions
| Service Method | Additional Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Service | None | Most common method |
| Mail Service | +3 calendar days | Illinois Supreme Court Rule 11 |
| Electronic Service | +1 calendar day | With opposing counsel consent |
| Publication | Varies | Used for unknown defendants |
Illinois Supreme Court Rules
Rules 1–99: General Rules
- • Rule 11: Manner of serving papers
- • Rule 12: Proof of service
- • Rule 131: Computation of time
- • Rule 137: Sanctions for frivolous filings
Rules 201–224: Discovery
- • Rule 201: General discovery rules
- • Rule 213: Expert witness disclosure
- • Rule 214: Production of documents
- • Rule 216: Requests to admit
Rules 301–384: Appellate Rules
- • Rule 301: Final orders — 30 days to appeal
- • Rule 303: Notice of appeal requirements
- • Rule 307: Interlocutory appeals
- • Rule 329: Amendment of record
Electronic Filing in Illinois
Mandatory E-Filing
- • Required statewide for civil cases
- • Uses Illinois efile system
- • Deadline: 11:59 PM on filing day
- • Technical failures — notify court immediately
- • Exemptions available for self-represented litigants
Cook County E-Filing
- • eFileIL is the statewide portal
- • PDF format required
- • Specific file naming conventions
- • Immediate electronic service to registered parties
- • Emergency filings — call clerk's office
Statutes of Limitations
Personal Injury
- • General negligence: 2 years
- • Medical malpractice: 2 years
- • Wrongful death: 2 years
- • Government claims: 1 year (notice)
Contract Disputes
- • Written contracts: 10 years
- • Oral contracts: 5 years
- • UCC sales: 4 years
- • Employment: 5 years
Real Property
- • Ejectment: 7 years
- • Breach of lease: 10 years
- • Foreclosure: 10 years
- • Eviction: 5 days notice
Cook County Local Rules
Law Division (Civil cases >$30K)
- • Case management conferences required
- • Complex litigation track available
- • Mandatory arbitration under $50,000
- • Trial management order procedures
Municipal Department (≤$30K)
- • Simplified procedures
- • Mandatory arbitration thresholds
- • Expedited scheduling
- • Small claims division (≤$10K)
Official Resources
Calculate Illinois Deadlines Now
Use our free calculator to compute court deadlines under 735 ILCS 5 and Illinois Supreme Court Rules.
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