If any officer, clerk, secretary, cashier, or other person authorized to certify copies of any papers, entries, records or ordinances, knowingly makes a false certificate, he or she is punishable in the same manner as if he or she were guilty of perjury.
8-1207.Penalty.
Article VIII. Evidence · Part 12. Records and Patents · Not amended since adoption on record · Last verified July 20, 2026
In one sentenceAny officer or keeper authorized to certify copies of papers, entries, records, or ordinances who knowingly makes a false certificate is punishable the same as if guilty of perjury.
Full Text of 735 ILCS 5/8-1207
Plain-English Summary
This section backstops the certification scheme built through Sections 8-1202 through 8-1206 with a penalty for dishonesty.
It reaches any officer, clerk, secretary, cashier, or other person authorized to certify copies of papers, entries, records, or ordinances who knowingly makes a false certificate.
The consequence is severe: the person is punishable in the same manner as if guilty of perjury, reflecting how much courts and litigants rely on these certificates as evidence without independent proof of their accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can be punished under this section?
Any officer, clerk, secretary, cashier, or other person authorized to certify copies of papers, entries, records, or ordinances.
What triggers the penalty?
Knowingly making a false certificate.
How severe is the punishment?
The person is punishable in the same manner as if guilty of perjury.
Does an honest mistake in a certificate trigger this penalty?
No. The section requires knowingly making a false certificate.
Why attach a perjury-level penalty to false certification?
Because courts and litigants rely on these certificates as evidence without independent proof, so their accuracy carries real weight.
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: false certificate penalty illinoisperjury certified copy illinoisknowingly false record certificate illinoisclerk perjury penalty for records