- Illinois exhibit marking and exchange rule (Ill. Sup. Ct. R. 218) (Ill. Sup. Ct. R. 218)
Governs exhibit marking, exchange deadlines, and disclosure for bankruptcy cases in Illinois courts.
Bankruptcy Exhibits in Illinois
You are in an adversary proceeding over a transfer made before the petition. Bank statements for the look-back period, the schedules, the transfer documents and the tax returns have to be marked so each exhibit can be read against the schedule it supports.
Complete guide to preparing bankruptcy exhibits that comply with Illinois court requirements. Learn the correct labeling conventions, exchange deadlines, and e-filing procedures.
- Illinois's primary rule governing exhibit preparation is Ill. Sup. Ct. R. 218.
- Plaintiffs in Illinois label exhibits with Numbers (1, 2, 3...).
- Defendants in Illinois label exhibits with Letters (A, B, C...).
- Illinois courts require electronic exhibits to be filed through eFileIL.
- Exhibits must be exchanged with opposing counsel 21 days before trial (Ill. Sup. Ct. R. 218) under Ill. Sup. Ct. R. 218.
- Common bankruptcy exhibits in Illinois include financial statements, tax returns, bank statements.
- ExhibitPrep applies Illinois exhibit stamps entirely in the browser, so bankruptcy case files never leave the user's computer.
What goes wrong with bankruptcy exhibits, and how it is handled
What goes wrongMonthly statements from several accounts need one continuous sequence.
How ExhibitPrep handles itBatch stamping applies sequential labels across the whole set — 1, 2, 3 or A, B, C — from the starting value you choose, in the document order you set.
What goes wrongThe trustee cites statements by page, so each exhibit needs page references that continue across the set.
How ExhibitPrep handles itBates numbering adds page numbers with the prefix, starting number and zero padding you set — ABC-001 onward — and the count continues across the documents in a set or restarts in each file.
What goes wrongA contested matter wants a binder with per-exhibit pagination and a contents page.
How ExhibitPrep handles itTrial Binder mode adds per-exhibit page labels — A1, A2 … B1 — using the exhibit labels you choose, with a contents page listing exhibit titles and page ranges.
What goes wrongFinancial records are confidential.
How ExhibitPrep handles itDocument bytes are processed locally in your browser and are not uploaded to our servers.
Essential tools for bankruptcy exhibits
Batch stamping
Sequential labels across the whole set — 1, 2, 3 or A, B, C — from the starting value you choose
How it worksBates numbering
Page numbers with the prefix, starting number and zero padding you set — ABC-001 onward
How it worksTrial binder
Per-exhibit page labels — A1, A2 … B1 — using the exhibit labels you choose
How it worksIllinois Exhibit Requirements at a Glance
| Plaintiff Exhibits | Numbers (1, 2, 3...) |
| Defendant Exhibits | Letters (A, B, C...) |
| Exchange Deadline | 21 days before trial (Ill. Sup. Ct. R. 218) |
| Primary Rule | Ill. Sup. Ct. R. 218 |
| E-Filing System | eFileIL |
Common Bankruptcy Exhibits
Financial Statements
Income schedules, expense schedules, asset declarations. For Illinois e-filing on eFileIL, confirm the current file-size cap (Not confirmed — check the filing portal) before uploading.
Tax Returns
Personal and business returns for relevant years
Bank Statements
All accounts for 6+ months prior to filing
Property Documents
Deeds, vehicle titles, valuations of assets
Debt Documentation
Credit card statements, loan documents, collection letters
Business Records
Formation documents, financial statements, contracts
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Illinois-Specific Considerations
- Wildcard exemption available
- Personal property exemptions moderate
- High Chapter 13 filing rates in Chicago
- Means test affected by regional median income
How to Prepare Your Exhibits
Gather Your Documents
Collect all documents relevant to your bankruptcy case. This typically includes financial statements, tax returns, bank statements, and other supporting evidence.
Convert to PDF
Convert all documents to PDF format. Illinois courts require electronic exhibits to be filed via eFileIL. Scan paper documents at 300 DPI.
Apply Exhibit Labels
Use ExhibitPrep to add exhibit stamps for Illinois filing review. Plaintiffs commonly use Numbers (1, 2, 3...), while defendants commonly use Letters (A, B, C...); verify the governing rules.
Exchange with Opposing Counsel
Exchange your exhibit list and copies with opposing counsel 21 days before trial (Ill. Sup. Ct. R. 218) per Ill. Sup. Ct. R. 218.
Save Hours on Exhibit Preparation
ExhibitPrep stamps all your bankruptcy exhibits in minutes, not hours. Upload your documents, select the correct Illinois template, and download court-ready exhibits.
Frequently Asked Questions
How should I label bankruptcy exhibits in Illinois?
Use Numbers (1, 2, 3...) for plaintiff exhibits and Letters (A, B, C...) for defense exhibits, per Ill. Sup. Ct. R. 218. Illinois e-filing standards call for a two-inch top margin on the first page of an e-filed document when possible, and exhibit sticker placement is set by local rule or the judge. ExhibitPrep's Bankruptcy templates apply the right prefix automatically, so you're not re-deriving the local convention on every filing.
When do I have to exchange bankruptcy exhibits in Illinois?
Illinois sets the exhibit exchange window at 21 days before trial (Ill. Sup. Ct. R. 218), though the exact date can shift with your assigned judge's scheduling order. Confirm the deadline in your case's pretrial order before you start stamping, then batch-process the full bankruptcy production in one ExhibitPrep session once it's locked in.
What e-filing system handles bankruptcy exhibits in Illinois?
Illinois runs electronic filing through eFileIL. Check the current upload cap before filing (Not confirmed — check the filing portal), export each exhibit as a text-searchable PDF, and split any long financial statements into separate files so a single scanned record doesn't blow past the limit.
What exhibits come up most in a Illinois bankruptcy case?
Bankruptcy matters in Illinois typically turn on financial statements, tax returns, bank statements, plus whatever case-specific records the dispute calls for. Wildcard exemption available. Stamp them all inside ExhibitPrep using the matching plaintiff or defense template, so every exhibit in the production carries a consistent, consistent exhibit mark before it goes to opposing counsel.
Can I stamp a large bankruptcy production for Illinois courts?
Yes. The Day Pass ($14.99) gives you unlimited stamping for 24 hours, which covers hundreds of exhibits in a single bankruptcy case. Processing runs entirely in your browser, so your Illinois case files never leave your computer. That matters here because e-filing upload caps (Not confirmed — check the filing portal) often force a large production into multiple separate uploads.
Related Resources
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ExhibitPrep formats documents; it does not provide legal advice or filing approval. Some guidance remains unverified. Citations support only their stated claims and scope. Review the finished files against current court instructions and case orders before filing. Check requirements and the finished PDF before filing.