The certificate of any such clerk of a court, city, village, town, county, or secretary, clerk, cashier, or other keeper of any such papers, entries, records or ordinances, shall contain a statement that such person is the keeper of the same, and if there is no seal, shall so state.
8-1205.Form of certificate.
Article VIII. Evidence · Part 12. Records and Patents · Not amended since adoption on record · Last verified July 20, 2026
In one sentenceEvery certificate used to prove court, municipal, or corporate records under the preceding sections must state that the signer is the keeper of the records and, if there is no seal, must say so.
Full Text of 735 ILCS 5/8-1205
Plain-English Summary
This section sets the baseline content that every certificate must contain when it is used to prove records under Sections 8-1202 through 8-1204, whether the certifying officer is a court clerk, a municipal clerk or keeper, or a corporate secretary, clerk, cashier, or keeper.
Two elements are required. The certificate must state that the certifying person is the keeper of the papers, entries, records, or ordinances, and if there is no seal available, it must expressly say so.
These requirements let the certificate stand on its own as proof of the certifier's authority and of whether a seal was available, without a party having to offer separate evidence on those points.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which certificates does this section govern?
Those of court clerks, municipal clerks or keepers, and corporate secretaries, clerks, cashiers, or keepers used under Sections 8-1202 through 8-1204.
What must every qualifying certificate state about the signer?
That the person is the keeper of the papers, entries, records, or ordinances.
What must the certificate say if there is no seal available?
It must state that there is no seal.
Why require a statement about the keeper role?
It makes the certificate self-proving on that point, instead of requiring separate evidence of the certifier's authority.
Does this section create a new method of proof, or regulate existing ones?
It regulates the required form of the certificates already authorized in Sections 8-1202 through 8-1204.
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: form of certification illinois recordscertificate keeper statement illinois evidencerequired contents of a records certificateillinois certificate no seal statement