Article II. Rules on Civil Proceedings in the Trial Court · Part C. Appearances and Times for Answers, Replies, and Motions · Last amended 1982 · Last verified July 20, 2026
In one sentenceRule 184 says a filing deadline for a motion does not control when that motion must be heard.
Full Text of Ill. S. Ct. R. 184
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No provision in these rules or in the Civil Practice Law prescribing a period for filing a motion
requires that the motion be heard within that period. Either party may call up the motion for disposition before or after the expiration of the filing period.
Plain-English Summary
Rule 184 draws a distinction between when a motion has to be filed and when it has to be argued. No rule or provision of the Civil Practice Law that sets a filing period for a motion also requires the motion to be heard within that same period.
Either party can bring the motion up for a ruling before or after that filing period ends, so a court’s crowded calendar or a party’s own scheduling choices will not cost anyone the right to be heard on a timely-filed motion.
Frequently Asked Questions
If a motion has a 21-day filing deadline, does it also need to be heard within 21 days?
No, Rule 184 clarifies that a filing deadline does not set a deadline for when the motion must be heard.
Who can schedule a motion for hearing under this rule?
Either party can call the motion up for disposition, whether before or after the filing period has expired.
Why does Illinois separate the filing deadline from the hearing date for motions?
Filing deadlines keep the pleading process on schedule, while hearing dates depend on court availability and scheduling needs, which do not always line up with the filing clock.
Does this rule apply to every kind of motion?
It applies broadly to motions with a filing period set by the rules or the Civil Practice Law.
Can I still get a hearing on a motion long after its filing deadline passed?
Yes, the expiration of the filing period does not bar either party from calling the motion up for a hearing afterward.
Committee Comments
This is a revision of paragraph (6) of former Rule 8 without change except for the specific reference to the Civil Practice Act.
Amendment History
Amended May 28, 1982, effective July 1, 1982.
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:hearing date versus filing deadlinecalling up a motion for hearingmotion filing period illinoisscheduling a motion hearingwhen must a motion be heard