When is an Illinois Rule 306 custody or relocation petition due?

Identify the qualifying interlocutory order and whether another rule specifically provides its appeal.

Obtain actual entry or denial from the circuit court record.

Check any Appellate Court order changing the schedule, materials or form.

1. Identify the qualifying interlocutory order and whether another rule specifically provides its appeal.
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. A qualifying minor-related order is entered under the ordinary fourteen-day procedure. 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 petition requires an authenticated supporting record

Rule 306(b)(1) requires the appealed or proposed order and necessary supporting matters. Authenticate the record by the circuit clerk’s certificate or filing attorney’s or party’s affidavit. Petition, record and any petitioner memorandum share the fourteen-day filing period.

Personal or email service and trial-judge service matter

Rule 306(b)(1) requires proof of personal or email service and service of the petition on the trial judge. Paragraph (b)(2) separately starts the responding memorandum from service of the petition and petitioner memorandum.

Replies and extensions require an actual order

Rule 306(b)(3) allows neither replies nor extensions except by court order. Paragraph (b)(4) permits another schedule, omission of memoranda or other materials. A request alone does not establish relief.

Allowed appeals enter Rule 311(a)

Rule 306(b)(5) requires service of the grant order on the circuit court and opposing parties and applies the expedited Rule 311(a) procedure. Permitting the petition or answer to stand as a brief requires timely notice.

• 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.

• Identify the qualifying interlocutory order and whether another rule specifically provides its appeal.
• Obtain actual entry or denial from the circuit court record.
• Check any Appellate Court order changing the schedule, materials or form.
• 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).
• Rule 306(b)(1) requires the appealed or proposed order and necessary supporting matters. Authenticate the record by the circuit clerk’s certificate or filing attorney’s or party’s affidavit. Petition, record and any petitioner memorandum share the fourteen-day filing period.
• Rule 306(b)(1) requires proof of personal or email service and service of the petition on the trial judge. Paragraph (b)(2) separately starts the responding memorandum from service of the petition and petitioner memorandum.
• Rule 306(b)(3) allows neither replies nor extensions except by court order. Paragraph (b)(4) permits another schedule, omission of memoranda or other materials. A request alone does not establish relief.
• Rule 306(b)(5) requires service of the grant order on the circuit court and opposing parties and applies the expedited Rule 311(a) procedure. Permitting the petition or answer to stand as a brief requires timely notice.
• File the petition, authenticated supporting record and any petitioner memorandum with the Appellate Court clerk. State relief and grounds. Include proof of personal or email service and separately serve the trial 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.