Rule 137.Signing of Pleadings, Motions and Other Documents—Sanctions
Article II. Rules on Civil Proceedings in the Trial Court · Part B. Pleadings and Other Papers · Last amended 2018 · Last verified July 20, 2026
In one sentenceRule 137 requires every pleading, motion, and filed document to be signed, certifying it was investigated in good faith, and lets a court sanction anyone who violates that certification.
(a)Signature requirement/certification. Every pleading, motion and other document of a
party represented by an attorney shall be signed by at least one attorney of record in his individual name, whose address shall be stated. A party who is not represented by an attorney shall sign his pleading, motion, or other document and state his address. Except when otherwise specifically provided by rule or statute, pleadings need not be verified or accompanied by affidavit. The signature of an attorney or party constitutes a certificate by him that he has read the pleading, motion or other document; that to the best of his knowledge, information, and belief formed after reasonable inquiry it is well grounded in fact and is warranted by existing law or a good-faith argument for the extension, modification, or reversal of existing law, and that it is not interposed for any improper purpose, such as to harass or to cause unnecessary delay or needless increase in the cost of litigation. If a pleading, motion, or other document is not signed, it shall be stricken unless it is signed promptly after the omission is called to the attention of the pleader or movant. If a pleading, motion, or other document is signed in violation of this rule, the court, upon motion or upon its own initiative, may impose upon the person who signed it, a represented party, or both, an appropriate sanction, which may include an order to pay to the other party or parties the amount of reasonable expenses incurred because of the filing of the pleading, motion or other document, including a reasonable attorney fee.
(b)Procedure for Alleging Violations of This Rule. All proceedings under this rule shall be brought within the civil action in which the pleading, motion or other document referred to has been filed, and no violation or alleged violation of this rule shall give rise to a separate civil suit, but shall be considered a claim within the same civil action. Motions brought pursuant to this rule must be filed within 30 days of the entry of final judgment, or if a timely post-judgment motion is filed, within 30 days of the ruling on the post-judgment motion.
(c)Applicability to State Entities and Review of Administrative Determinations. This rule shall apply to the State of Illinois or any agency of the State in the same manner as any other party. Furthermore, where the litigation involves review of a determination of an administrative agency, the court may include in its award for expenses an amount to compensate a party for costs actually incurred by that party in contesting on the administrative level an allegation or denial made by the State without reasonable cause and found to be untrue.
(d)Required Written Explanation of Imposition of Sanctions. Where a sanction is imposed under this rule, the judge shall set forth with specificity the reasons and basis of any sanction so imposed either in the judgment order itself or in a separate written order.
(e)Attorney Assistance Not Requiring an Appearance or Signature. An attorney may assist a self-represented person in drafting or reviewing a pleading, motion, or other document without making a general or limited scope appearance. Such assistance does not constitute either a general or limited scope appearance by the attorney. The self-represented person shall sign the pleading, motion, or other paper. An attorney providing drafting or reviewing assistance may rely on the self-represented person’s representation of facts without further investigation by the attorney, unless the attorney knows that such representations are false.
Plain-English Summary
Rule 137 is Illinois’s answer to Federal Rule 11. Every pleading, motion, or other filed document from a represented party must be signed by an attorney of record, and a self-represented party must sign their own filings and list their address. That signature is not a formality: it certifies that the signer read the document, made a reasonable inquiry, and believes in good faith that it is grounded in fact and warranted by existing law or a fair argument for changing that law. It also certifies the filing was not made to harass anyone, cause delay, or run up litigation costs.
An unsigned document gets stricken unless the signer fixes the omission promptly after it is flagged. When a document is signed in violation of the rule, the court, on its own initiative or on a party’s motion, can impose sanctions, including an order to cover the other side’s reasonable expenses and attorney fees. Any sanctions motion has to be filed within the same case, generally within 30 days of final judgment or a ruling on a timely post-judgment motion, rather than as a separate lawsuit, and a judge who imposes a sanction has to explain the specific reasons in writing.
The rule applies to the State of Illinois and its agencies just like any other party. It also carves out a specific protection for limited-scope legal help: an attorney who drafts or reviews a document for a self-represented person, without filing an appearance, does not trigger Rule 137’s signing requirement and can rely on that person’s account of the facts unless the attorney knows it is false.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does signing a pleading or motion certify in Illinois?
It certifies that the signer read the document, made a reasonable inquiry, and believes in good faith that it is factually grounded and legally warranted, and that it was not filed to harass, delay, or drive up costs.
Is Rule 137 the same as the federal Rule 11 sanctions provision?
It serves a similar purpose within Illinois state court practice, letting a court sanction a party or attorney who signs a filing without the required good-faith basis.
How long do I have to file a motion for sanctions under Rule 137?
Generally within 30 days after entry of final judgment, or within 30 days after a ruling on a timely post-judgment motion, and always within the same civil case rather than a separate lawsuit.
Can an attorney help me write my court papers without officially representing me?
Yes. Rule 137(e) lets an attorney draft or review documents for a self-represented person without making a general or limited-scope appearance, and without triggering the rule’s signature and certification requirements.
What can happen to me if I file something in violation of Rule 137?
The court can order sanctions, which may include paying the other side’s reasonable expenses and attorney fees, and the judge must explain the specific reasons for the sanction in writing.
Committee Comments and Commentary
(June 14, 2013)
Under Illinois Rule of Professional Conduct 1.2(c), an attorney may limit the scope of a representation if the limitation is reasonable under the circumstances and the client gives informed consent. Such a limited scope representation may include providing advice to a party regarding the drafting of a pleading, motion or other paper, or reviewing a pleading, motion or other paper drafted by a party, without filing a general or limited scope appearance. In such circumstances, an attorney is not required to sign or otherwise note the attorney’s involvement and the certification requirements in Rule 137 are inapplicable. Moreover, even if an attorney is identified in connection with such a limited scope representation, the attorney will not be deemed to have made a general or limited scope appearance.
Consistent with the limited scope of services envisioned under this drafting and reviewing function, attorneys may rely on the representation of facts provided by the self-represented person. This rule applies, for example, to an attorney who advises a caller to a legal aid telephone hotline regarding the completion of a form pleading, motion or other paper or an attorney providing information at a pro bono clinic.
All obligations under Rule 137 with respect to signing pleadings and certifications apply fully in those limited scope representations where an attorney has filed a general or limited scope appearance. Drafting a pleading, motion or other paper, or reviewing a pleading, motion or paper drafted by a party does not establish any independent responsibility not already applicable under current law.
(December 17, 1993)
The rule is modified to clarify when motions for sanctions must be filed.
(August 1, 1989)
The Supreme Court has adopted Rule 137, effective August 1, 1989. Rule 137 will require all pleadings and papers to be signed by an attorney of record or by a party, if the party is not represented by an attorney, and (treating such signature as a certification that the paper has been read, that after reasonable inquiry it is well-grounded in fact and law, and that it is not interposed for any improper purpose, etc.) the rule authorizes the trial courts to impose certain sanctions for violations of the rule. Rule 137 preempts all matters sought to be covered by section 2-611 of the Code of Civil Procedure. Unlike section 2-611, Rule 137 allows but does not require the imposition of sanctions. Unlike section 2-611, Rule 137 requires a trial judge who imposes sanctions to set forth with specificity the reasons and basis of any sanction in a separate written order. Unlike section 2-611, Rule 137 does not make special provisions concerning the potential exposure to sanctions of insurance companies that might employ attorneys.
Amendment History
Adopted June 19, 1989, effective August 1, 1989; amended December 17, 1993, effective February 1, 1994; amended Jan. 4, 2013, eff. immediately; amended June 14, 2013, eff. July 1, 2013; amended Dec. 29, 2017, eff. Jan. 1, 2018.
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
Also known as:illinois rule 11 equivalentsanctions for frivolous pleadingsigning pleadings and motionsattorney certification requirementmotion for sanctions illinoislimited scope representation drafting assistance