Resources for SRLs in Civil Appeals | State of Illinois Office of the Illinois Courts
These resources may help in answering questions about a civil appeal. This page includes links to rules, forms, guides, videos, and other materials that may help in understanding what is required to file and complete an appeal.
General Case Information
As of January 1, 2022, judicial redistricting will take effect in Illinois that will impact appellate districts per
Public Act 102-0011. You can read more about the Court’s Order
and press release. Please see this document for frequently asked questions about how the new appellate district boundaries might impact your appeal. If you need additional information, please contact
the appellate clerk’s office in your district for further details.
There are five appellate districts in Illinois. Use this
map to locate the district in which an appeal should be filed.
Questions concerning a pending appeal, deadlines for an appeal, issues or concerns about e-filing, and specific local appellate district rules can be directed to the Appellate Clerk’s office in which your appeal has or will be filed. Contact information is available here:
Appellate Court Clerk's Office.
Forms
The Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice publishes
statewide forms for use in an appeal. All forms necessary to complete a civil appeal with the Illinois Appellate Court are available on the website. The forms also come with a “Getting Started” overview and detailed “How To” instructions.
Illinois Legal Aid Online (ILAO) has
guided interview for the Notice of Appeal. This program helps a litigant to complete and e-file the form by asking a series of questions.
Legal Information
Information about Illinois laws and legal procedure can be found at the
Illinois Compiled Statutes and the Illinois Supreme Court Rules. Civil appeals are governed by Illinois Supreme Court Rules 301-384.
Each appellate district has local rules that must be followed. You can find rules for each appellate district under the
Local Rules section.
Legal Assistance
If you are representing yourself and have a question about your civil appeal, you can now submit your question to the Illinois
Free Legal Answers for Civil Appeals website and have it answered by a pro bono lawyer. You must meet income qualifications to use the program. More information about how to use the program can be found in this postcard or flyer. Here are some tips on using the program:
1. If available, please attach a copy of the order or judgment you are appealing along with the question you submit via the website. This will help in getting an answer more quickly.
2. Questions are answered as received and you can typically expect an answer within 5-7 days of submitting it. If you have an immediate deadline, you will have the option to enter that deadline along with your question, so that it is flagged for a quicker response.
3. You should regularly check the email address you provided to register for the program. All communication will be done via email (no in-person meetings or telephone calls) and if you do not respond to the pro bono lawyer within 10 days, your question will be marked as “closed” and no further communication can occur between you and the pro bono lawyer.
4.
DISCLAIMER: This program does not provide legal representation for litigants. A pro bono lawyer cannot represent you in court, make calls on your behalf, or conduct legal research for you. The program also cannot assist you in a federal or criminal appeal.
For help finding a lawyer who specializes in appeals and who can represent you for a fee, please contact the
Chicago Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service (in Chicago) or the Illinois State Bar Association LawyerFinder (outside Chicago). If you are looking for a lawyer outside of Illinois, please visit the American Bar Association's Find Legal Help.
If you are a self-represented litigant seeking help with a federal case, please see the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois'
Information for People without Lawyers (Pro Se) page. Appeals from the Northern District of Illinois are filed with the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. The Seventh Circuit Bar Association publishes videos that provide an overview of the steps involved in the federal appellate process.
Timeline of a Civil Appeal
The Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts (AOIC) provides a guide of frequently asked questions relating to civil appeals in the Illinois Appellate Court (it does not cover criminal appeals). It is intended to assist self-represented litigants with understanding the steps necessary to file a civil appeal by addressing commonly asked questions about the process. You may view individual sections below:
Section 1:
The Basics of an Appeal
Section 2:
Overview of Steps and Forms
Section 3:
Information for the Appellee
Section 4:
Notice of Appeal
Section 5:
Request for Preparation of Record on Appeal
Section 6:
Request for Report of Proceedings, Bystander's Report, or Agreed Statement of Facts
Section 7:
Docketing Statement
Section 8:
Appellate Briefs
Section 9:
Oral Argument
Section 10:
The Appellate Court's Decision
Section 11:
Other Resources
Guides and General Overviews
The Access to Justice Commission’s Guide for Appeals to the Illinois Appellate Court for Self-Represented Litigants provides detailed information about civil appeals. The guide provides a detailed overview of the civil appeals process, including rules, deadlines, frequently asked questions, and a checklist for filing in the appellate court.
The AOIC publishes a
one-page overview of a civil appeal from a final order or judgment.
The AOIC publishes an
overview explaining how to file common Motions to request more time for your civil appeal.
The Illinois Fourth District Appellate Court publishes a
Guide to Bringing an Appeal, which highlights the steps necessary to file an appeal.
The Appellate Lawyers Association publishes
A Guide to Illinois Civil Appellate Procedure, which provides a comprehensive overview of civil appeals. The guide includes timelines, tips on conducting research to write briefs, and sample forms, which includes a sample appellant’s brief, appellee’s brief, and appellant’s reply brief (all with citations) for your review.
The Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Civil Appeals Division's
website has an FAQ section and forms available for use (for appeals within the First Appellate District only).
ILAO publishes an
article on the civil appellate process
How-To Videos on Civil Appeals
The AOIC maintains a video series on civil appeals for self-represented litigants. These how-to videos are aimed at explaining each step involved in a civil appeal. More videos in this series will be published in the near future.
Video 1:
Civil Appeals Overview
Video 2:
Forms and E-filing
Video 3:
Notice of Appeal
Video 4:
Motions
The Illinois Judges Association publishes a video on
Appeals and Reversals, which explains aspects of the justice system in simple, easy to understand language.
Resources for Conducting Legal Research to Write an Appellate Brief
- The Illinois Supreme Court Library publishes research guides that provide a starting point for conducting research in certain areas of law for civil appeals. The guides provide general definitions of terms you may encounter and references specific books and websites that a self-represented litigant may wish to consult when writing an appellate brief.
- The University of Illinois Law Library publishes a Self-Representation Guide intended to assist self-represented litigants with conducting basic legal research. It provides an overview of available legal resources and materials for conducting legal research in federal and state courts.
- The Chicago Association of Law Libraries publishes Finding Illinois Law: A Librarian’s Guide for Non-Lawyers, which is a guide aimed at assisting non-lawyers with understanding the legal system, conducting legal research, and locating resources.
Resources for Appeals to the Illinois Supreme Court
- The Appellate Lawyers Association publishes A Guide to Illinois Civil Appellate Procedure, which provides a comprehensive overview of civil appeals. The guide also includes a timeline and sample Petition for Leave to Appeal (“PLA”) for your review.
- The AOIC publishes a one-page overview of the processes and procedures for filing a Petition for Leave to Appeal with the Illinois Supreme Court
E-filing Information
If you have questions about e-filing, please contact your local Appellate Clerk’s Office for further assistance. The AOIC also offers some guides on how to e-file. Please note, all appeals must be e-filed. There are a few exceptions per below:
You must electronically file (e-file) all court documents in civil cases in Illinois unless:
(1) you are an inmate in a prison or jail and you do not have a lawyer;
(2) you are filing a will;
(3) you are filing into a juvenile court case;
(4) you have a disability that prevents you from e-filing; or
(5) for good cause. The first four exemptions are automatic and you do not need to submit additional paperwork.
The fifth exemption (good cause) requires you to fill out and file a Certification for Exemption from E-Filing (found here:
Approved Forms), and to check off one of the following reasons to be exempt from e-filing:
(a) I am representing myself and do not have the Internet or a computer in my home. My only access is through a public terminal at a courthouse, library, or other location. This poses a financial or other hardship.
(b) I am representing myself and have trouble reading, writing, or speaking in English.
(c) I am filing a document in a sensitive case, such as a petition for an order of protection or a civil no contact/stalking order.
For a general overview of e-filing, please review this
flyer. For information about how to successfully e-file in Odyssey eFileIL, please see the following step-by-step guides.
The Second Appellate District also publishes guides to assist litigants with e-filing -
Guide for Filers Filing Documents on EFileIL and How to Receive Records via Odyssey EfileIL.
If you are filing an appeal with the Illinois Supreme Court, the Court publishes an
Electronic Filing Procedures and User Manual for the Supreme Court of Illinois.
Need more information?
Disclaimer: Information and resources presented on this website do not constitute legal advice and are not a substitute for legal counsel. If you are in need of legal advice, you must speak with a lawyer. The resources provided herein are provided for informational purposes only and are neither legal authority nor a substitute for the requirements found in the Illinois Supreme Court Rules