When must the Illinois circuit clerk transmit a notice of appeal?

Obtain the actual circuit filing record for the notice or covered amendment.

Identify the correct reviewing court stated in the notice.

Confirm the reviewing clerk’s actual receipt and docketing separately.

1. Obtain the actual circuit filing record for the notice or covered amendment.
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. These five days are calendar days; the rule does not say five court or business days.
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 original notice is actually filed and the circuit clerk identifies the proper reviewing court. 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.

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.

A covered amendment is transmitted too

Rule 303(a)(4) expressly includes an amendment filed in the circuit court pursuant to Rule 303(b)(5). Preserve its actual filing and transmission record.

Reviewing-court docketing is another event

Rule 303(e) provides docket entry upon the stated receipt of the transmitted notice or a Rule 303(d) motion. Docketing does not establish that the original party filing was timely.

• 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.

• Obtain the actual circuit filing record for the notice or covered amendment.
• Identify the correct reviewing court stated in the notice.
• Confirm the reviewing clerk’s actual receipt and docketing separately.
• 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.
• Rule 303(a)(4) expressly includes an amendment filed in the circuit court pursuant to Rule 303(b)(5). Preserve its actual filing and transmission record.
• Rule 303(e) provides docket entry upon the stated receipt of the transmitted notice or a Rule 303(d) motion. Docketing does not establish that the original party filing was timely.
• The circuit clerk files the notice or covered amendment with the reviewing clerk under Rule 303(a)(4). Record actual transmission and receipt. Rule 303(e) separately provides reviewing-court docketing on the specified receipt. The filing party must still perform Rule 303(c).