What starts an Illinois appeal after a Rule 304(a) finding?

Establish that the partial disposition is a final judgment as to at least one party or claim.

Obtain the actual express written Rule 304(a) finding and its entry date.

Apply Rule 303 and establish any timely qualifying postjudgment motion separately.

1. Establish that the partial disposition is a final judgment as to at least one party or claim.
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. Treat the actual finding entry as judgment entry for this established branch.
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 actually final partial judgment receives the required written Rule 304(a) finding. No qualifying timely motion applies. The established input date is August 2, 2027. No additional closure, different order or unmodeled restart applies.

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

A finding does not make an otherwise nonfinal order final

Rule 304(a) applies to a final judgment as to fewer than all parties or claims. Its committee comments distinguish actual finality from appealability supplied by the finding. Establish both conditions.

A finding may be entered later

Rule 304(a) permits the finding at judgment entry or later on the court’s own motion or a party’s motion. Use its actual entry, not an assumed judgment signing date.

Only a timely qualifying motion changes the ordinary trigger

Rule 303(a)(1) requires a timely posttrial motion directed against the judgment. Use the order disposing of the last pending qualifying motion, not an earlier motion’s disposition or the filing date. Rule 303(a)(2) says a request to reconsider a ruling on a postjudgment motion does not toll the appeal time.

Without the required finding the partial judgment has another status

Absent the required finding, a judgment adjudicating fewer than all claims or parties is not enforceable or appealable under Rule 304(a) and may be revised before disposition of the whole action. Rule 304(b)’s independently qualifying exceptions require separate review.

Filing, service and clerk transmission are different obligations

Rule 303(c) requires the filing party’s notice of filing in the reviewing court and service on every other party and each person or officer entitled by law within seven days, with Rule 12 proof filed with the notice. Rule 303(a)(4) separately requires the circuit clerk to file the notice or covered amendment with the reviewing clerk within five days.

• 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 that the partial disposition is a final judgment as to at least one party or claim.
• Obtain the actual express written Rule 304(a) finding and its entry date.
• Apply Rule 303 and establish any timely qualifying postjudgment motion separately.
• Rule 304(a) applies to a final judgment as to fewer than all parties or claims. Its committee comments distinguish actual finality from appealability supplied by the finding. Establish both conditions.
• Rule 304(a) permits the finding at judgment entry or later on the court’s own motion or a party’s motion. Use its actual entry, not an assumed judgment signing date.
• Rule 303(a)(1) requires a timely posttrial motion directed against the judgment. Use the order disposing of the last pending qualifying motion, not an earlier motion’s disposition or the filing date. Rule 303(a)(2) says a request to reconsider a ruling on a postjudgment motion does not toll the appeal time.
• Absent the required finding, a judgment adjudicating fewer than all claims or parties is not enforceable or appealable under Rule 304(a) and may be revised before disposition of the whole action. Rule 304(b)’s independently qualifying exceptions require separate review.
• Rule 303(c) requires the filing party’s notice of filing in the reviewing court and service on every other party and each person or officer entitled by law within seven days, with Rule 12 proof filed with the notice. Rule 303(a)(4) separately requires the circuit clerk to file the notice or covered amendment with the reviewing clerk within five days.
• File the required notice with the circuit court clerk under Rule 303(a). Complete its required contents under Rule 303(b). Separately file the reviewing-court notice of filing and serve the required recipients with Rule 12 proof under Rule 303(c). Preserve the actual filing, entry and service records. 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.