The laws of the other states and territories, when certified by the Secretary of State of that state or territory, shall be admissible as evidence in any court of this State.
8-1105.Foreign statutes.
Article VIII. Evidence · Part 11. Statutes and Reports · Not amended since adoption on record · Last verified July 20, 2026
In one sentenceThe laws of another state or territory become admissible as evidence in an Illinois court once certified by that state or territory's own Secretary of State.
Full Text of 735 ILCS 5/8-1105
Plain-English Summary
This section provides an alternate route for proving another state's or territory's laws: certification by an official of that jurisdiction, its own Secretary of State.
It stands apart from Sections 8-1101 and 8-1104, which look to a printed statute book's own indicia of authority or its recognition in the issuing jurisdiction's courts. Here the proof instead comes from an official certificate.
The section gives litigants a direct option when they can obtain that certification, and applies to laws of other states and territories rather than foreign-country law.
Frequently Asked Questions
Whose certification makes another state's laws admissible under this section?
The Secretary of State of that state or territory.
Does this section apply to the laws of a foreign country?
No. It addresses the laws of other states and territories, not foreign nations.
How does this method differ from relying on a printed statute book under Section 8-1104?
Here the proof comes from an official certificate rather than from the printed book's own authority or recognition in the issuing jurisdiction's courts.
Must a party use this certification method, or are other proof methods still available?
Other methods remain available under Sections 8-1101 and 8-1104; this section adds a further option.
What Public Act most recently amended this section?
The Source line for this section shows P.A. 83-520.
Amendment History
(Source: P.A. 83-520.)
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: certified foreign state statutes illinoissecretary of state certification statute evidenceproving out of state law by certificationforeign statutes admissible in illinois