When may a party file an Illinois postjudgment motion under Rule 274?

Identify the precise judgment order and independently establish that it is otherwise final and appealable.

Determine whether this party has already used its motion directed at this judgment.

Obtain the actual entry date, any extension and any later superseding final order.

1. Identify the precise judgment order and independently establish that it is otherwise final and appealable.
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. File the permitted motion directed at the identified judgment order and complete applicable service and proof. Preserve actual extensions and the order disposing of a timely motion. Preserve the actual filed document, clerk receipt, service and proof. 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.

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 otherwise final and appealable judgment was entered and this party’s ordinary motion remains available without an extension. The established event is August 2, 2027. No additional local closure or different court direction 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 superseding judgment needs its own examination

When a final order is modified pursuant to a postjudgment motion, or a different final order follows, an affected party may make one motion directed at the superseding judgment or order. A routine later filing does not itself establish that branch.

Timely qualifying motions affect appealability

Until disposed, each timely postjudgment motion tolls finality and appealability of the judgment at which it is directed. Establish timeliness and the particular judgment separately.

Pending sanctions do not extend the underlying motion period

A pending Rule 137 claim does not affect the time to file motions against final underlying judgments, although it may affect appealability under Rule 303(a)(1). A motion against a final Rule 137 order is also subject to Rule 274.

• 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.

• Identify the precise judgment order and independently establish that it is otherwise final and appealable.
• Determine whether this party has already used its motion directed at this judgment.
• Obtain the actual entry date, any extension and any later superseding final order.
• When a final order is modified pursuant to a postjudgment motion, or a different final order follows, an affected party may make one motion directed at the superseding judgment or order. A routine later filing does not itself establish that branch.
• Until disposed, each timely postjudgment motion tolls finality and appealability of the judgment at which it is directed. Establish timeliness and the particular judgment separately.
• A pending Rule 137 claim does not affect the time to file motions against final underlying judgments, although it may affect appealability under Rule 303(a)(1). A motion against a final Rule 137 order is also subject to Rule 274.
• File the permitted motion directed at the identified judgment order and complete applicable service and proof. Preserve actual extensions and the order disposing of a timely motion. Preserve the actual filed document, clerk receipt, service and proof. 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.