Article II. Civil Practice · Part 10. Pre-trial Steps · Not amended since adoption on record · Last verified July 20, 2026
In one sentenceSection 2-1007 lets a court extend deadlines or grant continuances for good cause on just terms, defers the details to court rules, tightens the standard for continuances in building code violation cases to a written motion, and names three situations — legislative service, a religious holiday conflict, and Constitutional Convention service — that count as sufficient cause.
Full Text of 735 ILCS 5/2-1007
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On good cause shown, in the discretion of the court and on just terms, additional time may be granted for the doing of any act or the taking of any step or proceeding prior to judgment.
The circumstances, terms and conditions under which continuances may be granted, the time and manner in which application therefor shall be made, and the effect thereof, shall be according to rules. However, in actions involving building code violations or violations of municipal ordinances caused by the failure of a building or structure to conform to the minimum standards of health and safety, the court shall grant a continuance only upon a written motion by the party seeking the continuance specifying the reason why such continuance should be granted.
It is sufficient cause for the continuance of any action that any party applying therefor or his or her attorney is a member of either house of the General Assembly during the time the General Assembly is in session, or if any party's attorney is a bona fide member of a religious faith that dictates that the individual refrain from normal business activity or attend religious services as a part of the observance of a religious holiday and requests a continuance to observe such religious holiday when the date of a scheduled court proceeding conflicts with the date of such holiday, or if any party applying therefor or his or her attorney is a delegate to a State Constitutional Convention during the time the Constitutional Convention is in session, if the presence of such party is necessary for the full and fair trial of the action and, in the case of his or her attorney, if such attorney was retained by such party prior to the time the cause was set for trial.
Plain-English Summary
Section 2-1007 gives courts general authority to grant more time. On good cause shown, and on just terms, the court can extend the time for doing any act or taking any step in a case before judgment. The details — the circumstances under which continuances are granted, how a party applies for one, and what effect a continuance has — are left to the applicable rules rather than spelled out in the statute itself.
One category of case gets a stricter standard: actions involving building code violations or violations of municipal ordinances caused by a building's failure to meet minimum health and safety standards. There, a court can grant a continuance only on a written motion from the party seeking it that specifies the reason the continuance should be granted — a tighter procedural check reflecting the urgency of health and safety cases.
The statute also names three situations that automatically count as sufficient cause for a continuance, so long as the party's presence is necessary for a full and fair trial: a party or the party's attorney serving as a member of the General Assembly while it is in session, an attorney who is a bona fide member of a religious faith that requires refraining from business or attending services for a holiday that conflicts with a scheduled proceeding, and a party or attorney serving as a delegate to a State Constitutional Convention while it is in session. For an attorney's own conflict to qualify, the attorney also must have been retained before the case was set for trial.
Frequently Asked Questions
What must a party show to get an extension of time or a continuance under Section 2-1007?
Good cause, shown to the court's satisfaction, and the extension or continuance must be granted on just terms. The specific procedure for applying follows the applicable rules.
Are continuances handled differently in building code violation cases?
Yes. In actions involving building code violations or municipal ordinance violations caused by a building's failure to meet minimum health and safety standards, the court may grant a continuance only on a written motion specifying the reason for it.
Is serving in the Illinois General Assembly automatically a good reason for a continuance?
Yes, if the party's presence is necessary for a full and fair trial. Section 2-1007 treats a party's or attorney's service as a General Assembly member during a legislative session as sufficient cause for a continuance.
Does Section 2-1007 protect an attorney who needs to observe a religious holiday?
Yes. If an attorney is a bona fide member of a religious faith requiring abstention from business or attendance at services for a holiday that conflicts with a scheduled proceeding, that conflict counts as sufficient cause for a continuance, provided the attorney was retained before the case was set for trial.
Do the rules for continuances in Section 2-1007 apply to deadlines before or after judgment?
The general extension-of-time authority in Section 2-1007 covers acts, steps, or proceedings taken prior to judgment.
Amendment History
(Source: P.A. 84-931.)
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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