A reasonable opportunity to examine such proposed standards shall on motion duly made be accorded the opposite party, his or her attorney and witnesses, prior to the introduction in evidence of such standards and the court may, in its discretion, impound the same with the clerk of the court for that purpose.
8-1503.Opportunity to examine.
Article VIII. Evidence · Part 15. Proof of Handwriting · Not amended since adoption on record · Last verified July 20, 2026
In one sentenceGives the opposing party, on motion, a reasonable chance to examine a proposed handwriting standard before it's introduced, and lets the court impound the standard with the clerk for that purpose.
Full Text of 735 ILCS 5/8-1503
Plain-English Summary
This section completes the sequence built around handwriting comparison in this Part. On motion duly made, the opposing party, that party's attorney, and its witnesses get a reasonable opportunity to examine any proposed handwriting standard before it's introduced in evidence. To make that examination possible, the court may, in its discretion, impound the standard with the clerk of the court.
Together with Section 8-1501's comparison method and Section 8-1502's notice requirement, this section guards against a party being surprised by handwriting-comparison evidence it never had a chance to inspect.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is entitled to examine a proposed handwriting standard under this section?
The opposing party, that party's attorney, and its witnesses.
Does the opposing party have to request this examination?
Yes — the section requires the request to be made "on motion duly made."
What does it mean for the court to impound a standard?
The court may place the writing in the clerk's custody so it stays available for examination before it's used in evidence.
Is impounding mandatory?
No. The statute says the court "may, in its discretion" impound the standard.
How does this section relate to Sections 8-1501 and 8-1502?
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
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