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.
Quick Reference
Updated 2025-01-15Applicable Rules & Citations
Primary Rule
Pretrial procedure governing exhibit disclosure. Exhibits must be disclosed in pretrial memorandum.
Cook County Rule
Rule 4.1
Exhibits due 30 days before pretrial conference. Attorney ID Number required on all filings.
E-Filing System
25 MB max per document. 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 25 MB 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.
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 25 MB limits.
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
Individual files under 25 MB for eFileIL. Combined PDF with bookmarks acceptable for motion practice and summary judgment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Supreme Court Rule 218 exhibit requirements?
SCR 218 governs pretrial procedure including exhibit disclosure. Parties must disclose trial exhibits in their pretrial memorandum. Exhibits must be clearly marked and made available for inspection. Undisclosed exhibits may be excluded.
What is the eFileIL size limit?
eFileIL limits files to 25 MB per document. For larger exhibits, split into multiple parts with clear labeling. Some approved EFSPs may have different limits.
What are Cook County exhibit requirements under Rule 4.1?
Cook County Rule 4.1 requires exhibits 30 days before pretrial conference. The Law Division and Chancery Division have specific case management orders. Attorney ID Numbers are required on all filings.
Can I use group exhibit numbering in Illinois?
Yes. Illinois allows group exhibits such as Exhibit 1A, 1B, 1C for related documents. This is useful for correspondence chains, medical records, or multiple related documents that should be referenced together.
Where should exhibit stickers be placed?
Illinois courts generally require exhibit stickers in the lower right corner of the first page. This allows clear identification without obscuring document content.
What are Lake County requirements for large exhibit sets?
Lake County Rule 2-4.04 addresses cases with 50+ documents. Parties must use binders with tabbed exhibits and provide a detailed exhibit index. Pre-trial conferences address organization for document-heavy cases.
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