Article XII. Judgments - Enforcement · Part 6. Foreign Judgments and Foreign-Money Claims · Last amended 2012 · Last verified July 20, 2026
In one sentenceLimits the Act to final, conclusive, enforceable foreign money judgments, and excludes tax judgments, fines or penalties, and divorce, support, or other domestic-relations judgments, with the burden on the party seeking recognition.
Full Text of 735 ILCS 5/12-663
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(a)Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b), this Act applies to a foreign-country judgment to the extent that the judgment:
(1)grants or denies recovery of a sum of money; and (2) under the law of the foreign country where rendered, is final, conclusive, and enforceable. (b) This Act does not apply to a foreign-country judgment, even if the judgment grants or denies recovery of a sum of money, to the extent that the judgment is: (1) a judgment for taxes; (2) a fine or other penalty; or (3) a judgment for divorce, support, or maintenance, or other judgment rendered in connection with domestic relations. (c) A party seeking recognition of a foreign-country judgment has the burden of establishing that this Act applies to the foreign-country judgment.
Plain-English Summary
Subsection (a) sets the Act's affirmative scope: it applies to a foreign-country judgment that grants or denies recovery of a sum of money, and that is final, conclusive, and enforceable under the law of the country where it was rendered.
Subsection (b) then carves out three categories even when they involve a sum of money: a judgment for taxes, a fine or other penalty, and a judgment for divorce, support, or maintenance or otherwise rendered in connection with domestic relations. Those matters stay outside this Act regardless of whether they otherwise look like a qualifying money judgment.
Subsection (c) places the burden squarely on the party seeking recognition to establish that the Act applies at all, before the recognition standards in Section 12-664 ever come into play.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kinds of foreign judgments fall outside this Act?
Judgments for taxes, fines or other penalties, and judgments for divorce, support, maintenance, or other domestic-relations matters, even if they award a sum of money.
Must the foreign judgment be final under the foreign country's own law before this Act applies?
Yes. Subsection (a) requires the judgment to be final, conclusive, and enforceable under the law of the country where it was rendered.
Does this Act cover a foreign country's tax judgment?
No. Subsection (b) expressly excludes judgments for taxes.
Does this Act cover a foreign divorce decree?
No. Subsection (b) excludes judgments for divorce, support, maintenance, or other domestic-relations matters.
Who has the burden of proving this Act applies to a given foreign judgment?
The party seeking recognition of the foreign-country judgment, under subsection (c).
Amendment History
(Source: P.A. 97-140, eff. 1-1-12.)
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:judgments excluded from foreign country recognition act Illinoistax judgment from foreign country Illinoisforeign divorce decree recognition Illinoisburden of proof recognizing foreign judgment