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 — plaintiff numbers, defendant letters, group exhibits like 1A and 1B — takes about 2 hours. ExhibitPrep stamps the whole set with SCR 218-compliant labels in minutes.
Opens the tool set up for Illinois — plaintiff: Numbers starting at 1; defendant: Letters starting at A.
- Illinois Supreme Court Rule 218 governs pretrial procedure and requires parties to disclose all trial exhibits in their pretrial memorandum.
- Plaintiffs use numbers (1, 2, 3) and defendants use letters (A, B, C); Illinois permits group exhibits such as 1A, 1B, 1C for related documents like correspondence chains.
- Illinois courts require exhibit stickers in the lower right corner of the first page so the marking does not obscure document content.
- eFileIL is mandatory for represented parties in Illinois and rejects password-protected PDFs; Illinois publishes no confirmed statewide per-document size cap, so the filing provider's limit controls.
- Cook County Rule 4.1 sets the pretrial memorandum deadline at 30 days before the pretrial conference; exhibit and witness lists are exchanged at least 14 days before trial in Law Division practice.
- Lake County Rule 2-4.04 applies to cases with 50 or more trial documents and requires tabbed binders plus a detailed exhibit index.
- Illinois Supreme Court Rule 455, effective January 2023, requires criminal case exhibits to be retained for 30 days after sentencing or appeal disposition.
Quick Reference
Updated 2026-07Not confirmed — check the filing portal
Numbers (1, 2, 3...)
Letters (A, B, C...)
Set by local rule or pretrial order; Cook County 14 days before trial
These conventions reflect common practice but have not been independently verified with the court — confirm with your clerk before filing.
Applicable Rules & Citations
Primary Rule
Pretrial procedure governing exhibit disclosure. Exhibits must be disclosed in pretrial memorandum.
Cook County Rule
Rule 4.1
Pretrial memorandum due 30 days before the pretrial conference; exhibit and witness lists exchanged at least 14 days before trial. Attorney ID Number required on all filings.
E-Filing System
Not confirmed — check the filing portal — the cap is set by your filing provider. Text-searchable PDF required. Mandatory for represented parties.
Criminal Rule
Rule 455 (Jan 2023)
Criminal exhibits retained 30 days after sentencing. Ensures proper preservation of trial evidence.
Overview
Illinois circuit courts use eFileIL for mandatory electronic filing. Exhibit requirements are governed by Supreme Court Rule 218 for pretrial procedure, supplemented by local rules for each of the 24 circuits. Cook County, the largest unified court system in the country, has specific requirements under Rule 4.1.
Key principle: Illinois allows group exhibit numbering (e.g., 1A, 1B, 1C) for related documents. Stickers should be placed in the lower right corner. Cook County requires Attorney ID Numbers on all filings.
Lake County Rule 2-4.04: Cases with 50+ Documents
Lake County has specific requirements for document-heavy cases. When 50 or more documents are expected at trial, parties must use binders with tabbed exhibits and provide a detailed exhibit index. Pre-trial conferences address exhibit organization for these complex cases.
Illinois Exhibit Numbering Conventions
Standard Illinois Conventions
Plaintiff Exhibits
- Numbers: 1, 2, 3... (sequential)
- Group exhibits: 1A, 1B, 1C...
- Lower right corner sticker placement
Defendant Exhibits
- Letters: A, B, C... (traditional)
- Group exhibits: AA, AB, AC...
- Or: numbers starting at 100+
Group Exhibits Allowed in Illinois
Illinois allows group exhibit numbering (e.g., Exhibit 1A, 1B, 1C) for related documents. 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. Domestic Relations exhibits collected within 30 days after final order. 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 ID Number (Cook County)
Solution: Cook County requires Attorney ID Numbers on all filings. Ensure your ARDC number appears on pleadings and exhibit submissions.
Unredacted Personal Identifiers
Solution: Redact SSN (except last 4 digits), financial accounts, birth dates (year only), and minor names per Supreme Court Rules before stamping.
Password-Protected PDFs
Solution: Remove password protection before e-filing. Courts cannot accept secured PDFs. 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
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Every year, Illinois courts reject exhibits for:
- Wrong marking convention
- Missing electronic bookmarks
- Non-compliant file formats
This guide prevents those mistakes.
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
SCR 218 compliant formatting. 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
Use "Plaintiff's Exhibit [number]" or "Defendant's Exhibit [letter]". Group exhibits supported (e.g., "Exhibit 1A", "Exhibit 1B").
Stamp Position
Lower right corner is standard in Illinois. 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 acceptable for motion practice and summary judgment.
Court rules and e-filing requirements change frequently. Verify current requirements with your local court clerk or official court website before filing. This content is for general reference only and does not constitute legal advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Illinois Supreme Court Rule 218 exhibit requirements?
Supreme Court Rule 218 governs pretrial procedure in Illinois civil cases. Parties must disclose trial exhibits in their pretrial memorandum. Exhibits must be clearly marked and made available for inspection. Failure to disclose exhibits may result in exclusion at trial.
What is the eFileIL size limit for exhibits?
Illinois publishes no confirmed statewide per-document limit: Not confirmed — check the filing portal. Approved Electronic Filing Service Providers set their own caps, so read the limit shown in the portal 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 sets the deadline for serving the pretrial memorandum — 30 days before the pretrial conference — which is not the same as the exhibit exchange itself: in Cook County Law Division practice, exhibit and witness lists are exchanged at least 14 days before trial. The Law Division and Chancery Division have their own case management orders, and Cook County requires an ARDC Attorney ID Number on all filings.
What are Lake County requirements for large exhibit sets?
Lake County Rule 2-4.04 addresses cases with 50 or more documents for trial. Parties must use binders with tabbed exhibits and provide a detailed exhibit index. Pre-trial conferences address exhibit organization for document-heavy cases.
Where should exhibit stickers be placed in Illinois courts?
Illinois courts generally require exhibit stickers in the lower right corner of the first page. 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. Exhibits must be retained for 30 days after sentencing or appeal disposition. This ensures proper preservation of trial exhibits in criminal matters.
Prepare Illinois Court Exhibits in Minutes
ExhibitPrep makes it easy to create professional, SCR 218-compliant exhibits for Illinois court filings. 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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