- Supreme Court Rule 218 (Illinois Supreme Court Rule 218 (Pretrial Procedure)) (opens in a new tab)
Pretrial procedure requiring case management conferences to address admissions of fact and documents. Discovery to be completed not later than 60 days before anticipated trial, unless the parties agree otherwise.
Source links open in a new tab.
Illinois Court Exhibit Requirements
A comprehensive guide to preparing exhibits for Illinois courts under Supreme Court Rule 218, including eFileIL requirements, Cook County Rule 4.1, and circuit-specific rules.
Numbering a 40-exhibit set by hand — whatever scheme the judge sets, including group exhibits like 1A and 1B — means typing every label and checking the sequence by eye. ExhibitPrep stamps the whole set with consistent labels in minutes, ready for review against SCR 218 and the case order.
Opens the tool set up for Illinois — plaintiff: Numbers starting at 1; defendant: Letters starting at A.
- Illinois Supreme Court Rule 218 governs civil pretrial procedure and case management conferences.
- A common convention is numbers for plaintiff exhibits and letters for defendant exhibits, and group labels such as 1A, 1B, 1C can be used for related documents like correspondence chains; confirm with the assigned judge.
- Place exhibit stickers where they do not obscure document content, and confirm any required position with the court.
- eFileIL e-filing is mandatory in civil cases unless an exception or exemption applies; documents cannot contain security or encryption, and trial courts limit each document to 25 MB.
- Cook County Rule 4.1 requires the pretrial memorandum to be mailed to all attorneys of record not less than 30 days before the pretrial conference; check the case management order for exhibit exchange dates.
- Confirm Lake County's local exhibit binder and exhibit list requirements with the circuit clerk before trial.
- Illinois Supreme Court Rule 455, effective January 2023, requires each party to file an exhibit inventory and submit its offered exhibits to the circuit clerk within 30 days after sentencing of a defendant entitled to appointed counsel on appeal.
Quick Reference
Updated 2026-07- Primary Rule
Illinois Supreme Court Rule 218 (Pretrial Procedure) Source (opens in a new tab)
- E-Filing
- eFileIL (opens in a new tab)
- Size Limit
Not confirmed — check the filing portal
- Plaintiff
Numbers (1, 2, 3...)
- Defendant
Letters (A, B, C...)
- Deadline
Set by court order or local rule — confirm the assigned judge's order Source (opens in a new tab)
Source links open in a new tab.
Source citations apply to the statement beside them, not the whole page. Check current court instructions and your case orders before filing.
Applicable Rules & Citations
Primary Rule
Pretrial procedure governing case management conferences. Check the pretrial order for how exhibits must be disclosed.
Cook County Rule
Rule 4.1
Cook County Rule 4.1 requires the pretrial memorandum to be mailed not less than 30 days before the pretrial conference; exhibit exchange dates are set by the case management order or the assigned judge. Confirm attorney identification requirements with the Clerk of the Circuit Court.
E-Filing System
Not confirmed — check the filing portal — confirm the current cap with your filing provider. Text-searchable (OCR) PDF when possible. Mandatory in civil cases unless an exception or exemption applies.
Criminal Rule
Rule 455 (Jan 2023)
Exhibits due to the clerk within 30 days after sentencing in appointed-appeal-counsel cases. Ensures proper preservation of trial evidence.
Overview
Illinois circuit courts require electronic filing in civil cases through eFileIL unless an exception or exemption applies. Exhibit requirements are governed by Supreme Court Rule 218 for pretrial procedure, supplemented by local rules for each of the 25 judicial circuits. Cook County has specific requirements under Rule 4.1.
Key principle: group exhibit numbering (e.g., 1A, 1B, 1C) can be used for related documents if the judge allows it. Confirm sticker placement with the assigned court. Confirm attorney identification requirements with the Clerk of the Circuit Court.
Lake County Local Rules: Large Exhibit Sets
Check Lake County's local rules for document-heavy cases. For cases with many trial exhibits, confirm any local binder or exhibit index requirements with the circuit clerk. Pre-trial conferences are a good time to ask how the court wants exhibits organized.
Illinois Exhibit Numbering Conventions
Standard Illinois Conventions
Plaintiff Exhibits
- Numbers: 1, 2, 3... (sequential)
- Group exhibits: 1A, 1B, 1C...
- Sticker placement set by the court
Defendant Exhibits
- Letters: A, B, C... (traditional)
- Group exhibits: AA, AB, AC...
- Or: numbers starting at 100+
Group Exhibits: Confirm With the Judge
Group exhibit numbering (for example, Exhibit 1A, 1B, 1C) can be used for related documents if the assigned judge allows it. This is useful for correspondence chains, medical records series, or multiple pages of the same document type. Reference the group (e.g., "Exhibits 1A-1F") in your exhibit list.
Circuit-Specific Requirements
Cook County
Rule 4.1 requires typewritten memorandum mailed 30 days before pretrial conference. Check the Domestic Relations division's orders for when trial exhibits must be retrieved after judgment. Cook County Attorney ID Number required.
Cook County Rule 4.1Lake County
Rule 2-4.04 provides detailed physical exhibit requirements. Exhibits with 50+ documents submitted in tabbed, three-ring binders with exhibit list.
Lake County Rule 2-4.04Common eFileIL Issues
File Size Exceeds the Provider’s Limit
Solution: Split large exhibits into parts. Label clearly (e.g., "Exhibit 5, Part 1 of 3"). ExhibitPrep exports individual files that stay within eFileIL limits.
Missing attorney name and contact details
Solution: Confirm attorney identification requirements with the Clerk of the Circuit Court. Ensure your name, business address, e-mail address and telephone number appear on pleadings and other documents you file or serve.
Unredacted Personal Identifiers
Solution: Redact Social Security and taxpayer-identification numbers, driver's license numbers, financial account numbers and card numbers to the last four digits under Rule 138, and confirm with the court whether any other information must be redacted before stamping.
Password-Protected PDFs
Solution: Remove password protection before e-filing. eFileIL documents cannot contain any security or encryption. ExhibitPrep requires unprotected source files.
Oversized files and inconsistent exhibit labels are exactly the formatting problems ExhibitPrep prevents automatically. Stamp eFileIL-ready exhibits now →
Take the Illinois Requirements With You
Get the complete Illinois exhibit guide as a PDF — SCR 218 disclosure requirements, eFileIL filing specifications, Cook County Rule 4.1's 30-day pretrial-memorandum deadline, and circuit-specific notes, ready to share with your paralegal.
Free Illinois Exhibit Guide
Enter your email to download
Use the guide as a preparation checklist
- Check the instructions for your assigned court.
- Confirm labels, deadlines, and delivery method.
- Review the finished files before submitting.
How ExhibitPrep Helps with Illinois Requirements
Time Savings
Stamp 50 exhibits in 5 minutes vs. 2+ hours manually preparing labels.
Cost Effective
$14.99 Day Pass vs. $100+/hr paralegal time. Stamp unlimited exhibits for one low price.
eFileIL Ready
Formatting per the court's local rules and orders. Preserves searchability. Export within your provider’s size limits.
Opens the tool set up for Illinois — plaintiff: Numbers starting at 1; defendant: Letters starting at A.
ExhibitPrep Configuration for Illinois Courts
Recommended Settings
Exhibit Format
Label exhibits as the assigned judge or case management order directs, for example Plaintiff's Exhibit 1 or Defendant's Exhibit A. Ask the judge whether group exhibits are permitted. (e.g., "Exhibit 1A", "Exhibit 1B").
Stamp Position
Check the local rules and the assigned judge's order for where exhibit stickers should be placed. Ensure stamps don't obscure document content, especially signatures.
Export Format
Keep individual files under the cap your eFileIL provider displays. Combined PDF with bookmarks can be convenient for motion practice and summary judgment, but confirm the judge's preferences.
Before you file
ExhibitPrep formats documents. It does not provide legal advice, submit filings, or determine whether evidence is admissible or a filing meets court requirements.
Some guidance has not been verified against current official sources. A citation supports only its stated claim and scope. Compare the finished PDF with current court instructions and orders in your case. Follow the filing review checklist.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Illinois Supreme Court Rule 218 exhibit requirements?
Supreme Court Rule 218 governs pretrial procedure in Illinois civil cases. Check the assigned judge's pretrial order and the local rules for how trial exhibits must be disclosed. Mark exhibits clearly and confirm the assigned judge's requirements for inspection and exchange. Check the case management order and the assigned judge's orders for exhibit disclosure requirements.
What is the eFileIL size limit for exhibits?
Confirm the current per-document limit with your e-filing system: Not confirmed — check the filing portal. Confirm the current file-size limit with the e-filing system you file through, and split large exhibits into parts with clear sequential labeling.
What are Cook County exhibit requirements under Rule 4.1?
Cook County Rule 4.1 requires the pretrial memorandum to be mailed to all attorneys of record not less than 30 days before the pretrial conference; check the case management order for exhibit exchange dates. The Law Division and Chancery Division have their own case management orders; confirm attorney identification requirements with the Clerk of the Circuit Court.
What are Lake County requirements for large exhibit sets?
Lake County local rules may address exhibit organization for document-heavy cases; confirm the current rule with the circuit clerk. Confirm any binder or exhibit index requirements with the Lake County circuit court before trial. Ask at the pretrial conference how the court wants exhibits organized in document-heavy cases.
Where should exhibit stickers be placed in Illinois courts?
Sticker placement can vary by court, so confirm the preferred position with the assigned judge or clerk. This allows for clear identification without obscuring document content. ExhibitPrep places stamps consistently in your chosen position.
What changed with Illinois Rule 455 effective January 2023?
Rule 455, effective January 2023, addresses criminal case exhibits. Under Rule 455, within 30 days after sentencing each party files an exhibit inventory and submits its offered exhibits to the clerk, where the defendant is entitled to appointed counsel on appeal. This ensures proper preservation of trial exhibits in criminal matters.
Prepare Illinois Court Exhibits in Minutes
ExhibitPrep makes it easy to prepare professional Illinois exhibits for review against SCR 218, local rules, and the case order. Preview your stamped exhibits before paying.
Opens the tool set up for Illinois — plaintiff: Numbers starting at 1; defendant: Letters starting at A.
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