When is an answer due after a written appearance under an Illinois specified-day money summons?

Confirm the money-action summons requires appearance on a specified day.

Establish a written appearance otherwise than by filing an answer or motion.

Read the specified appearance day and any court rule or order altering the later response.

1. Confirm the money-action summons requires appearance on a specified day.
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 defendant has filed a qualifying written appearance in a specified-day money action and the court has not directed otherwise. The established event is August 2, 2027. No additional local closure or different court order is assumed.

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

A court direction can change the period

Rule 181(b)(1) expressly makes the ten-day period subject to a different direction by court rule or order. Establish that direction before relying on the default count.

The appearance must fit the stated branch

The ten-day allowance addresses an appearance made in writing otherwise than by an answer or motion. Preserve the actual written appearance and summons.

Eviction and small claims differ

Rule 181(b)(2) says an appearing eviction defendant need not answer unless ordered. Rule 181(b)(3) sends small-claims appearances to Rule 286. This calculator does not establish those separate response procedures.

An extension requires court action

Rule 183 permits an extension for good cause on motion after notice to the opposite party, before or after expiration. The court’s actual ruling controls any extension. A request alone does not change this calculation.

• The calculator does not decide the applicable civil procedure, 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 case’s timetable.

• Confirm the money-action summons requires appearance on a specified day.
• Establish a written appearance otherwise than by filing an answer or motion.
• Read the specified appearance day and any court rule or order altering the later response.
• Rule 181(b)(1) expressly makes the ten-day period subject to a different direction by court rule or order. Establish that direction before relying on the default count.
• The ten-day allowance addresses an appearance made in writing otherwise than by an answer or motion. Preserve the actual written appearance and summons.
• Rule 181(b)(2) says an appearing eviction defendant need not answer unless ordered. Rule 181(b)(3) sends small-claims appearances to Rule 286. This calculator does not establish those separate response procedures.
• Rule 183 permits an extension for good cause on motion after notice to the opposite party, before or after expiration. The court’s actual ruling controls any extension. A request alone does not change this calculation.
• File the answer or appropriate motion by the applicable boundary. Preserve the issued summons, written appearance and any different court direction. Complete service and proof separately. File with the proper clerk in the required format. Rule 9 ordinarily requires civil electronic filing, subject to its exceptions and exemptions. Rule 9(f) ordinarily requires submission before midnight in the court time zone unless a statute, rule or actual order specifies a different time. A submission on a closed clerk day ordinarily receives the next open-day stamp. Preserve the actual electronic file mark, receipt and any filing-relief order. Filing and service are distinct acts.