Any party may also present to the trial court any admissible evidence of such laws, but, to enable a party to offer evidence of the law in another jurisdiction or to ask that judicial notice be taken thereof, reasonable notice shall be given to the adverse parties either in the pleadings or otherwise.
8-1006.Evidence as to laws of other jurisdictions.
Article VIII. Evidence · Part 10. Judicial Notice · Not amended since adoption on record · Last verified July 20, 2026
In one sentenceA party may present admissible evidence of another jurisdiction's law to the trial court, but must first give adverse parties reasonable notice, whether in the pleadings or otherwise, before offering that evidence or asking the court to take notice.
Full Text of 735 ILCS 5/8-1006
Plain-English Summary
This section lets a party supplement the mandatory judicial notice duty of Section 8-1003 by presenting its own evidence of the common law or statutes of another jurisdiction directly to the trial court.
That opportunity comes with a procedural condition. Before a party may offer evidence of the law of another jurisdiction, or ask the court to take judicial notice of it, the party must give the adverse parties reasonable notice, either in the pleadings or by some other means.
The notice requirement guards against surprise, giving the opposing side a chance to respond to a claim about what another state's or territory's law provides before the court rules on it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a party introduce its own evidence about another jurisdiction's law?
Yes. The section allows a party to present admissible evidence of such law to the trial court.
Must a party notify the other side before relying on out-of-state law?
Yes. Reasonable notice to the adverse parties is required before offering evidence of such law or asking that judicial notice be taken of it.
How can that notice be given?
Either in the pleadings or otherwise.
What is the consequence if a party skips giving notice?
The section conditions the offer of evidence, or the request for judicial notice, on giving the adverse parties reasonable notice first.
Does this section replace the mandatory notice duty in Section 8-1003?
No. It supplements that duty by letting a party present its own evidence and request that notice be taken.
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: evidence of out of state law illinoisnotice of foreign law illinois pleadingreasonable notice sister state law