Illinois probate, civil and family deadlines
16 deadlines · Last checked 24 October 2026
Each entry gives the period, what starts it, the citation and the words the rule uses. The short label cannot carry every condition, so read the quotation and the rule itself.
This is reference information, not legal advice. Check the current rule and any local rule or court order before relying on it.
Probate
Claims barred two years after death
24 months after the date of death
Unless sooner barred under subsection (a) of this Section, all claims which could have been barred under this Section are, in any event, barred 2 years after decedent's death, whether or not letters of office are issued upon the estate of the decedent.
755 ILCS 5/18-12(b) · Checked 4 October 2026 · Read the rule
Verified inventory
60 days after the date letters were issued
Within 60 days after the issuance of his letters the representative of the estate of a decedent or ward shall file in the court a verified inventory
755 ILCS 5/14-1(a) · Checked 4 October 2026 · Read the rule
Account (supervised administration)
12 months and 60 days after the date letters were issued
within 60 days after the expiration of 12 months after the issuance of letters or within such further time as the court allows and thereafter whenever required by the court until the administration is completed.
755 ILCS 5/24-1(a), (b) · Checked 4 October 2026 · Read the rule
Mail petition and order to heirs and legatees
14 days after the order admitting the will
Not more than 14 days after entry of an order admitting or denying admission of a will to probate or appointing a representative, the representative or, if none, the petitioner must mail a copy of the petition to admit the will or for letters and a copy of the order showing the date of entry to each of the testator's heirs and legatees
755 ILCS 5/6-10(a), (b) · Checked 4 October 2026 · Read the rule
Earliest claim date the notice may name (6 months after first publication)
6 months after the first publication of notice to creditors
claims may be filed on or before the date stated in the notice, which date shall be not less than 6 months from the date of the first publication or 3 months from the date of mailing or delivery, whichever is later, and that any claim not filed on or before that date is barred.
755 ILCS 5/18-3(a), 5/18-12(a) · Checked 4 October 2026 · Read the rule
Civil
Last day to serve 30-day summons (else alias summons)
30 days after the complaint was filed
No summons in the form provided in paragraph (d) of Rule 101 may be served later than 30 days after its date.
Ill. S. Ct. R. 102(b) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule
Answer or motion due (30-day summons)
30 days after the summons and complaint were served
to file his answer or otherwise file his appearance within 30 days after service, exclusive of the day of service
Ill. S. Ct. R. 101(d); R. 181(a) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule
Answers or objections to interrogatories due
28 days after the discovery requests were served
Within 28 days after service of the interrogatories upon the party to whom they are directed, the party ... shall serve a sworn answer or an objection to each interrogatory
Ill. S. Ct. R. 213(d) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule
Response to request for production due (not less than 28 days)
28 days after the discovery requests were served
The request shall specify a reasonable time, which shall not be less than 28 days after service of the request ... except by agreement or by order of court,
Ill. S. Ct. R. 214(a) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule
Response to requests for admission due (else deemed admitted)
28 days after the discovery requests were served
Each of the matters of fact and the genuineness of each document of which admission is requested is admitted ... unless, within 28 days after service thereof, the party to whom the request is directed serves upon the party requesting
Ill. S. Ct. R. 216(c) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule
Discovery and witness disclosures to be completed (default)
60 days before trial
to ensure that discovery will be completed not later than 60 days before the date on which the trial ... court reasonably anticipates that trial will commence, unless otherwise agreed by the parties.
Ill. S. Ct. R. 218(c) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule
Post-trial motion due (jury case)
30 days after judgment was entered
(c) Post-trial motions must be filed within 30 days after the entry of judgment ... or the discharge of the jury, if no verdict is reached, ... or within any further time the court may allow within the 30 days or any extensions thereof.
735 ILCS 5/2-1202(c) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule
Motion for rehearing, retrial, modification or vacatur due (non-jury case)
30 days after judgment was entered
In all cases tried without a jury, any party may, within 30 days after the entry of the judgment
735 ILCS 5/2-1203(a) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule
Notice of appeal due
30 days after judgment was entered
The notice of appeal must be filed with the clerk of the circuit court within 30 days ... after the entry of the final judgment appealed from,
Ill. S. Ct. R. 303(a)(1) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule
Outer limit for section 2-1401 petition for relief from judgment
24 months after judgment was entered
the petition must be filed not later than 2 years after the entry of the order or judgment.
735 ILCS 5/2-1401(c), (f) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule
Civil notes
No day is worked out for these. Read the rule.
No fixed deadline to serve; reasonable diligence required
If the plaintiff fails to exercise reasonable diligence to obtain service on a defendant prior to the expiration ... of the applicable statute of limitations, the action as to that defendant may be dismissed without prejudice.
Ill. S. Ct. R. 103(b) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule
Initial case management conference (court's duty)
the court shall hold a case management conference within 35 days after the parties are at issue and in ... no event more than 182 days following the filing of the complaint.
Ill. S. Ct. R. 218(a) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule
Fixed-appearance-day summonses (money claims up to $50,000; arbitration cases with a local appearance date)
When an appearance is made in writing otherwise than by filing an answer or motion, the defendant ... shall be allowed 10 days after the day for appearance within which to file an answer or motion,
Ill. S. Ct. R. 101(b); R. 181(b)(1) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule
Answer after a pre-answer motion is decided: set by the court
in which instance an answer or another appropriate motion shall be filed within the time the court directs ... in the order disposing of the motion.
Ill. S. Ct. R. 181(a) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule
Response to amended pleading: set by the court
Any subsequent pleadings allowed or ordered shall be filed at such time as the court may order.
Ill. S. Ct. R. 182(a) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule
Motion responses and hearing notice: set by local rule or court order
No provision in these rules or in the Civil Practice Law prescribing a period for filing a motion ... requires that the motion be heard within that period.
Ill. S. Ct. R. 184 · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule
Summary judgment: no statewide notice/response/reply periods
must be filed before the last date, if any, set by the trial court for the filing of dispositive motions.
Ill. S. Ct. R. 191(a) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule
Rule 222 initial disclosures (cases up to $50,000)
in accordance with the time lines set by local rule, provided however that if no local rule ... has been established pursuant to Rule 89 then within 120 days after the filing of a responsive pleading
Ill. S. Ct. R. 222(c) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule
Late notice of appeal: motion within 30 days after the deadline
within 30 days after expiration of the time for filing a notice of appeal,
Ill. S. Ct. R. 303(d) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule
Joining or cross-appeal after another party's notice of appeal
If a timely notice of appeal is filed and served by a party, any other party, within 10 ... days after service upon him or her,
Ill. S. Ct. R. 303(a)(3) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule
Fixed-appearance summons: the day printed on the summons
on a day specified in the summons not less than 40 or more than 61 days after the issuance of the summons.
Ill. S. Ct. R. 101(b) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule
Family
Response or motion due on a dissolution petition (30-day summons)
30 days after the petition was served
(a) The provisions of the Civil Practice Law shall apply to all proceedings under this Act, ... except as otherwise provided in this Act.
750 ILCS 5/105(a), (c); Ill. S. Ct. R. 101(d), 181(a) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule
Answers or objections to interrogatories due
28 days after the discovery requests were served
Within 28 days after service of the interrogatories upon the party to whom they are directed, the party ... shall serve a sworn answer or an objection to each interrogatory
Ill. S. Ct. R. 213(d) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule
Response to request for production due (not less than 28 days)
28 days after the discovery requests were served
The request shall specify a reasonable time, which shall not be less than 28 days after service of the request ... except by agreement or by order of court,
Ill. S. Ct. R. 214(a) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule
Response to requests for admission due (else deemed admitted)
28 days after the discovery requests were served
Each of the matters of fact and the genuineness of each document of which admission is requested is admitted ... unless, within 28 days after service thereof, the party to whom the request is directed serves upon the party requesting
Ill. S. Ct. R. 216(c) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule
Motion for rehearing, retrial, modification or vacatur due (non-jury case)
30 days after the judgment was entered
In all cases tried without a jury, any party may, within 30 days after the entry of the judgment
735 ILCS 5/2-1203(a) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule
Notice of appeal due
30 days after the judgment was entered
The notice of appeal must be filed with the clerk of the circuit court within 30 days ... after the entry of the final judgment appealed from,
Ill. S. Ct. R. 303(a)(1) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule
Outer limit for section 2-1401 petition for relief from judgment
24 months after the judgment was entered
the petition must be filed not later than 2 years after the entry of the order or judgment.
735 ILCS 5/2-1401(c), (f) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule
Family notes
No day is worked out for these. Read the rule.
Late notice of appeal: motion within 30 days after the deadline
within 30 days after expiration of the time for filing a notice of appeal,
Ill. S. Ct. R. 303(d) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule
Joining or cross-appeal after another party's notice of appeal
If a timely notice of appeal is filed and served by a party, any other party, within 10 ... days after service upon him or her,
Ill. S. Ct. R. 303(a)(3) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule
No waiting period running from filing; 6-month separation presumption
(a-5) If the parties live separate and apart for a continuous period of not less than 6 months immediately preceding the
750 ILCS 5/401(a-5) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule
Financial affidavit: statewide form, deadlines set locally
All Illinois Courts must accept these forms.
Illinois Courts approved statewide forms: Financial Affidavit (Family & Divorce Cases), approved 06/2025 · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule
Family judgments: general civil post-judgment and appeal rules apply; custody appeals expedited
The expedited procedures in this subpart shall apply to appeals from final orders in child custody ... or allocation of parental responsibilities cases or decisions allowing or denying relocation
750 ILCS 5/105(a); Ill. S. Ct. R. 301, 303(a)(1), 311(a) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule
Counting days under the court rules
computed by excluding the first day and including the last ... unless the last day is Saturday or Sunday or is a holiday as defined or fixed in any statute ... and then it shall also be excluded.
5 ILCS 70/1.11 · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule
Counting one of these from a real date? Try the date calculator, or look around a sample workspace.
This is reference information, not legal advice. Check the current rule and any local rule or court order before relying on it.