When is an Illinois Rule 306(c) answer due?

Establish the paragraph (c) petition rather than the custody procedure.

Obtain actual petition filing, including an early filing.

Check actual extension and reply orders separately.

1. Establish the paragraph (c) petition rather than the custody procedure.
2. Exclude the independently established triggering day and count intermediate calendar days under 5 ILCS 70/1.11. A filing, entry, effective service or previously established due date must come from its actual record. Do not substitute one event for another.
3. Check statutory holidays and the proper court’s actual calendar.
4. Complete the particular act in the proper court.

Section 1.11 excludes a final Saturday, Sunday or statutory holiday and consecutive excluded days. Section 17(a) of the Promissory Note and Bank Holiday Act includes Pulaski Day, Good Friday and the general election for members of the House of Representatives. Check proclamations, the proper court’s actual calendar and clerk access separately. The bundled Illinois calendar covers 2026 and 2027.

Fictitious example

Fictitious facts. An ordinary Rule 306(c) petition is actually filed with no extension order. The established event occurs on August 2, 2027. No additional closure or different order applies.

Fictitious facts. The appeal classification and triggering event are independently established. No additional closure, court order or unmodeled restart is assumed.

Minor-related interlocutory orders have a separate procedure

Rule 306(a)(5) covers the stated care, custody, parental-responsibility and relocation orders for unemancipated minors when appeal is not otherwise specifically provided. Paragraph (b) supplies its accelerated petition and response. Other Rule 306 classes use paragraph (c).

The operative provision differs from a historical comment

Current paragraph (c)(2) uses filing of the petition. The historical 1979 comment discusses the petition due date. This guide follows the actual current operative provision.

A supplemental record can accompany the answer

Paragraph (c)(2) permits additional portions the answering party desires considered, in a supplementary record conforming to Rule 328.

A reply requires actual permission

No reply is received except by leave of the court or a judge under paragraph (c)(2).

Ordinary extensions require a timely supported motion

Rule 306(c)(4) permits the reviewing court or a judge to extend the stated periods on notice and motion, with an affidavit showing good cause, filed before original or extended expiry. Obtain the actual extension order.

• The calculator does not decide appealability, disputed facts, sufficiency of a filing or whether the court grants relief.
• Check the governing edition and actual orders. A current rule does not establish every historical appeal’s timetable.

• Establish the paragraph (c) petition rather than the custody procedure.
• Obtain actual petition filing, including an early filing.
• Check actual extension and reply orders separately.
• Rule 306(a)(5) covers the stated care, custody, parental-responsibility and relocation orders for unemancipated minors when appeal is not otherwise specifically provided. Paragraph (b) supplies its accelerated petition and response. Other Rule 306 classes use paragraph (c).
• Current paragraph (c)(2) uses filing of the petition. The historical 1979 comment discusses the petition due date. This guide follows the actual current operative provision.
• Paragraph (c)(2) permits additional portions the answering party desires considered, in a supplementary record conforming to Rule 328.
• No reply is received except by leave of the court or a judge under paragraph (c)(2).
• Rule 306(c)(4) permits the reviewing court or a judge to extend the stated periods on notice and motion, with an affidavit showing good cause, filed before original or extended expiry. Obtain the actual extension order.
• File the optional answer and any supplementary Rule 328 record in the Appellate Court. Complete applicable service and proof. A reply requires leave of the court or a judge. Use the proper clerk and required filing format. Rule 9 ordinarily requires electronic filing in civil cases, subject to its exceptions and exemptions. Rule 9(f) ordinarily uses submission before midnight in the court time zone, unless a statute, rule or order sets a particular time. A submission when the clerk is closed is ordinarily stamped on the next open day. Current Rule 9(f) provides separate five-court-day motions for a rejected filing or qualifying technical failure; establish the actual notice, failure, corrected document and required proof. Rule 373 ordinarily uses actual receipt, with its mail or carrier exception limited to filings excepted or exempt from electronic filing. Its carrier branch requires delivery for receipt within three business days and Rule 12(b) proof. Filing and service remain separate acts. Use Rule 11’s applicable service method and file Rule 12 proof. Rule 12(c) makes electronic or personal delivery service effective on its stated day, mail service complete four days after mailing, and third-party carrier service complete on the third court day after delivery to the carrier. Establish effective service before using a service-triggered calculator. A rule requiring personal or email service cannot be replaced with ordinary mail.