The court may inform itself of such laws in such manner as it may deem proper, and the court may call upon counsel to aid it in obtaining such information.
8-1004.Information of the court.
Article VIII. Evidence · Part 10. Judicial Notice · Not amended since adoption on record · Last verified July 20, 2026
In one sentenceA court may inform itself of the sister-state laws it must judicially notice in whatever manner it considers proper, and it may ask counsel to help it gather that information.
Full Text of 735 ILCS 5/8-1004
Plain-English Summary
This section gives a court discretion in how it carries out the mandatory notice duty set by Section 8-1003. Rather than fixing one required method, it lets the court inform itself of the relevant laws in whatever manner it deems proper.
It also authorizes the court to call on counsel to aid it in obtaining that information, recognizing that the lawyers in a case are often best positioned to gather citations and materials about another jurisdiction's law.
This flexible approach stands apart from ordinary rules of evidence, which typically require a party to introduce proof; here the court itself may take the lead in researching the law it must notice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Must the court rely only on evidence the parties submit about another state's law?
No. The court may inform itself of such laws in whatever manner it deems proper.
Can a judge ask the lawyers in a case to help research another state's law?
Yes. The section allows the court to call upon counsel to aid it in obtaining that information.
Does this section require a particular method of legal research?
No. It leaves the method to the court's discretion.
Which laws does this section address?
The laws of other states and jurisdictions that a court must judicially notice under Section 8-1003.
Does this section shift the entire burden of proving foreign law onto the court?
Not entirely. The court has discretion in how it informs itself, but it may also enlist counsel rather than doing all the work alone.
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
Also known as: illinois court research of sister state lawjudicial notice discretion illinoiscourt calls on counsel foreign law illinois