Certified copies of judgments which are delivered to an appropriate officer for enforcement shall be returnable within 90 days after the issuance of the certified copy by the clerk of court.
12-110.Certified copy returnable.
Article XII. Judgments - Enforcement · Part 1. In General · Not amended since adoption on record · Last verified July 20, 2026
In one sentenceOnce a certified copy of a judgment is delivered to an officer for enforcement, it must be returned within 90 days of when the clerk issued it.
Full Text of 735 ILCS 5/12-110
Plain-English Summary
This section sets a housekeeping deadline for the enforcement process. A certified copy of a judgment handed over to an officer for enforcement has to come back within 90 days of the clerk's issuance date.
The section addresses only the return of the certified copy, not when the underlying judgment itself expires, which is governed separately by Section 12-108, or when the officer's delivery of that copy binds the debtor's goods, which is fixed by Section 12-111.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does an officer have to return a certified copy of an Illinois judgment?
90 days from the date the clerk issued the certified copy.
What starts the 90-day clock under this section?
The clerk's issuance of the certified copy, not the date it's delivered to the officer.
Does this deadline apply to any certified copy delivered for enforcement?
The section applies to certified copies of judgments delivered to an appropriate officer for enforcement.
Does missing the 90-day deadline mean the judgment itself expires?
No, this section addresses the return of the certified copy; the judgment's own enforcement deadline is set separately in Section 12-108.
Why does Illinois set a return deadline for certified copies?
It keeps the enforcement process accountable by preventing an officer from holding process indefinitely without acting or reporting back.
Amendment History
(Source: P.A. 82-280.)
Source & verification. Section text and amendment history are
reproduced verbatim from the Illinois Compiled Statutes, published by the
Illinois Compiled Statutes, Illinois General Assembly / Legislative Reference Bureau. Last verified July 20, 2026.
· Official source
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