When may an Illinois party seek a late record-filing extension?

Establish the actual applicable record deadline, including the special or extended-report branch.

Identify the last granted extension and actual expiry if applicable.

Prepare the reasonable-excuse showing for not filing the extension motion earlier.

1. Establish the actual applicable record deadline, including the special or extended-report branch.
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. The independently established original or granted extended record-filing period expires. The established event is July 26, 2027. No additional closure, special appeal 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.

The excuse concerns the failure to move earlier

Rule 326 expressly requires reasonable excuse for failure to file the motion earlier. Identify that showing rather than assuming a reason for late record delivery alone satisfies the provision.

The preparing clerk must receive service

The movant must serve any record-extension motion on the clerk preparing the record on appeal.

Earlier motions have a separate route

Rule 326 also permits a motion before original or extended time expires. The late safety valve does not require waiting until expiry.

Reporter extensions are governed separately

Rule 323(e) has its own necessity affidavit and additional reasonable-excuse showing after expiry for report filing or proposed-report service.

• 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 actual applicable record deadline, including the special or extended-report branch.
• Identify the last granted extension and actual expiry if applicable.
• Prepare the reasonable-excuse showing for not filing the extension motion earlier.
• Rule 326 expressly requires reasonable excuse for failure to file the motion earlier. Identify that showing rather than assuming a reason for late record delivery alone satisfies the provision.
• The movant must serve any record-extension motion on the clerk preparing the record on appeal.
• Rule 326 also permits a motion before original or extended time expires. The late safety valve does not require waiting until expiry.
• Rule 323(e) has its own necessity affidavit and additional reasonable-excuse showing after expiry for report filing or proposed-report service.
• File the supported motion with the reviewing court and serve the clerk preparing the record. Obtain the actual extension order and comply with its terms. Preserve expiry calculations, proof, service and the court’s decision. 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.