Printed books or pamphlets purporting on their face to be the session or other statutes of any of the United States, or the territories thereof, or of any foreign jurisdiction, and to have been printed and published by the authority of any such state, territory or foreign jurisdiction or proved to be commonly recognized in its courts, shall be received in the courts of this State as prima facie evidence of such statutes.
8-1101.Publications covered by uniform Act.
Article VIII. Evidence · Part 11. Statutes and Reports · Not amended since adoption on record · Last verified July 20, 2026
In one sentencePrinted statute books or pamphlets that purport to be the session or other statutes of a state, territory, or foreign jurisdiction count as prima facie evidence of those statutes if published under that jurisdiction's authority or commonly recognized in its courts.
Full Text of 735 ILCS 5/8-1101
Plain-English Summary
This section sets the evidentiary standard for proving another jurisdiction's statutes at trial using printed statute books or pamphlets, rather than requiring live testimony or certified originals.
Two paths lead to admissibility. A printed book or pamphlet purporting to be the session or other statutes of a state, territory, or foreign jurisdiction qualifies if it was printed and published by that jurisdiction's own authority, or if it is proved to be commonly recognized as authoritative in that jurisdiction's courts.
A qualifying book is received as prima facie evidence of the statutes it contains, meaning it establishes their content unless a party rebuts it, not as conclusive proof.
The reach of this section is broader than the domestic-only judicial notice duty in Section 8-1003, since it extends to the statutes of any foreign jurisdiction as well as other states and territories of the United States.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of publications does this section cover?
Printed books or pamphlets purporting to be the session or other statutes of a state, territory, or foreign jurisdiction.
How can a party show a statute book qualifies under this section?
By showing it was printed and published by the jurisdiction's own authority, or that it is commonly recognized in that jurisdiction's courts.
What weight does a qualifying statute book carry as evidence?
It is received as prima facie evidence of the statutes it contains.
Does this section cover foreign-country statutes, unlike the judicial notice provisions in Part 10?
Yes. It extends to statutes of any foreign jurisdiction, not just other states and territories of the United States.
Is a certified copy required, or does an ordinary printed volume work?
An ordinary printed book or pamphlet works if it meets the section's authority or recognition standard; no separate certification is specified.
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: proof of out of state statutes illinoisuniform proof of statutes act illinoisprinted statute books evidence illinois