Sections 12-650 through 12-657 of this Act may be cited as the Uniform Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Act.
12-650.Short Title.
Article XII. Judgments - Enforcement · Part 6. Foreign Judgments and Foreign-Money Claims · Not amended since adoption on record · Last verified July 20, 2026
In one sentenceNames Sections 12-650 through 12-657 the Uniform Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Act, Illinois's registration procedure for judgments of other U.S. courts entitled to full faith and credit.
Full Text of 735 ILCS 5/12-650
Plain-English Summary
This section is a short-title provision, but the title itself needs unpacking. “Foreign judgment” in this Act, as Section 12-651 defines it, means a judgment of a United States court, a sister state or a federal court, entitled to full faith and credit in Illinois. It has nothing to do with judgments from another country.
The Act gives a judgment creditor a streamlined alternative to filing a brand-new lawsuit on a sister-state or federal judgment: register the judgment with a circuit clerk, and it is treated as an Illinois judgment from that point forward. The next several sections spell out how that filing works, what notice the debtor gets, when enforcement can be stayed, and what it costs.
Keep this Act distinct from the Uniform Foreign-Money Claims Act earlier in this Part, which governs currency questions, and the Uniform Foreign-Country Money Judgments Recognition Act later in this Part, which governs judgments of actual foreign nations under a comity-based standard rather than full faith and credit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “foreign judgment” mean under this Act?
A judgment, decree, or order of a United States court, whether a sister state's court or a federal court, entitled to full faith and credit in Illinois. It does not mean a judgment from another country.
Is this the same thing as recognizing a judgment from another country?
No. Judgments from actual foreign nations are governed by a separate Act in this Part, the Uniform Foreign-Country Money Judgments Recognition Act, starting at Section 12-661.
Why does Illinois need a special procedure for enforcing sister-state judgments if full faith and credit already requires enforcement?
Full faith and credit obligates Illinois to enforce a qualifying sister-state or federal judgment, but this Act supplies a faster registration procedure than filing an entirely new lawsuit to enforce it.
Is using this Act's registration procedure mandatory?
No. Section 12-656 preserves a judgment creditor's right to sue on the judgment the traditional way instead.
Which sections make up this Act?
Sections 12-650 through 12-657, covering the definition of foreign judgment, filing and its effect, notice, stays, fees, the optional-procedure clause, and interpretation.
Amendment History
(Source: P.A. 87-358; 87-895.)
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
Also known as: Uniform Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Act Illinoisregistering a sister state judgment in Illinoisfull faith and credit judgment enforcement Illinoisenforcing an out of state judgment in Illinois