Article I. General Rules · Last amended 1992 · Last verified July 20, 2026
In one sentenceRule 100.12 tells a judge how to act on a hearing officer's recommended order, whether to accept it, send it back, or hold a full judicial hearing, and how to set the order's effective date.
(a)Recommended Orders Agreed Upon by the Parties. The judge shall review the
recommended orders of administrative hearing officers in a timely fashion. The judge (1) may enter an order consistent with the recommended order, (2) may reject all or part of the recommended order and refer the matter to the administrative hearing officer for further proceedings, or (3) may conduct judicial hearings as are necessary. The judge shall provide the administrative hearing officer with a copy of the entered order and may inform the administrative hearing officer if a recommended order was not accepted by the judge and the reasons for the changes or rejection. If the judge enters an order consistent with a recommended order, the effective date of the order shall be (1) the date on which the recommended order was signed by both parties, or (2) if the respondent party failed to appear and failed to file a timely objection to the recommended order pursuant to Rule 100.8(c), the date the recommended order was signed by the petitioning party. The order may specify the date payments of support are to begin, which may be different from the effective date of the order.
(b)Recommended Orders Rejected by the Parties. Upon receipt of a statement from the administrative hearing officer that the parties do not agree to all or part of a recommended order, the judge shall promptly conduct a judicial hearing to resolve any contested matters and shall enter an appropriate order.
(c)Presentation of Order to the Parties. The clerk of the circuit court shall mail a copy of all orders to the parties within five days of entry. If the parties are present in court at the time the order is entered, a copy shall be given to both parties in open court. If an order sets forth an amount for support, an immediate withholding order shall be specially certified and mailed to the obligee or his or her attorney for service.
Plain-English Summary
Once a recommendation reaches a judge, three paths are open: enter an order consistent with it, reject all or part of it and send the case back to the hearing officer, or hold a judicial hearing. Whatever the judge decides, the hearing officer gets a copy of the entered order and, if the judge changed or rejected the recommendation, an explanation of why.
Timing matters for support obligations. If the judge's order matches the recommendation, the order takes effect either on the date both parties signed the recommended order, or, if a respondent never appeared and never timely objected under Rule 100.8(c), on the date the petitioning party signed it. The judge can still set a different date for when actual support payments start. If the parties disagreed on part of the recommendation, the judge holds a hearing promptly and enters an appropriate order. Once an order is entered, the clerk mails copies within five days, or hands them out in open court if the parties are there, and any order setting a support amount triggers an immediate withholding order sent to the obligee for service.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can a judge do with a hearing officer's recommended order?
Enter an order consistent with it, reject all or part and send it back for more proceedings, or hold a judicial hearing.
When does a support order take effect if both parties agreed to it?
On the date the recommended order was signed by both parties, or by the petitioning party alone if the respondent never appeared or objected in time.
Can the effective date of an order differ from when support payments start?
Yes, the order can specify a different start date for actual support payments.
How quickly do I get a copy of the entered order?
Within five days by mail, or immediately in open court if you're present when it's entered.
What happens automatically once a support order is entered?
An immediate withholding order is certified and mailed to the obligee or their attorney for service on the employer.
Amendment History
Adopted April 1, 1992, effective immediately.
Source & verification. Rule text, official Committee Comments, and
amendment history are reproduced verbatim from the Illinois Supreme Court Rules,
promulgated by the Supreme Court of Illinois. Last verified July 20, 2026.
· Official source
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