In applying and construing this uniform Act, consideration must be given to the need to promote uniformity of the law with respect to its subject matter among states that enact it.
12-670.Uniformity of interpretation.
Article XII. Judgments - Enforcement · Part 6. Foreign Judgments and Foreign-Money Claims · Last amended 2012 · Last verified July 20, 2026
In one sentenceDirects Illinois courts to interpret this Act with an eye toward promoting uniformity among the other states that adopted the same Uniform Foreign-Country Money Judgments Recognition Act, rather than reading it in isolation.
Full Text of 735 ILCS 5/12-670
Plain-English Summary
Like its counterparts elsewhere in this Part, this section instructs courts applying and construing the Act to give consideration to the need for uniformity among the states that have enacted the same uniform law.
For a recognition statute meant to give foreign litigants and judgment creditors predictable treatment across state lines, that consistency is part of the point: a rule interpreted one way in Illinois and another way in a neighboring state undercuts the uniform law's purpose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does this Act direct courts to consider how other states interpret the same law?
Because it is a uniform act, and consistent interpretation across adopting states supports the predictability the Act is meant to provide.
Is this section a binding command, or an interpretive guide?
It is an interpretive directive that shapes how ambiguous provisions get read; it doesn't dictate a specific outcome on its own.
Does this affect how Illinois courts apply the recognition standards in Section 12-664?
It can, when those standards' meaning is unsettled and other states' treatment of the same uniform text offers guidance.
Does this override existing Illinois case law interpreting the Act?
No. It supplements the interpretive approach; it doesn't discard prior Illinois precedent on the Act.
Which sections does this uniformity directive cover?
The whole Uniform Foreign-Country Money Judgments Recognition Act, Sections 12-661 through 12-672.
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: Uniform Foreign-Country Money Judgments Recognition Act interpretation Illinoisuniformity clause foreign country judgment acthow courts construe the recognition actconsistency among states foreign judgment recognition