Rule 274.Multiple Final Orders and Postjudgment Motion
Article II. Rules on Civil Proceedings in the Trial Court · Part G. Entry of Orders and Judgments · Last amended 2019 · Last verified July 20, 2026
In one sentenceRule 274 limits each party to one postjudgment motion per final judgment, filed within 30 days or any extension, and explains how a superseding judgment resets that allowance while a pending Rule 137 claim leaves the filing deadline untouched.
Full Text of Ill. S. Ct. R. 274
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A party may make only one postjudgment motion directed at a judgment order that is otherwise
final and appealable. The motion must be filed either within 30 days of that judgment order or within the time allowed by any extensions. If a final judgment order is modified pursuant to a postjudgment motion, or if a different final judgment or order is subsequently entered, any party affected by the order may make one postjudgment motion directed at the superseding judgment or order. Until disposed, each timely postjudgment motion shall toll the finality and appealability of the judgment or order at which it is directed. The pendency of a Rule 137 claim does not affect the time in which postjudgment motions directed at final underlying judgments or orders must be filed, but may toll the appealability of the judgment under Rule 303(a)(1). A postjudgment motion directed at a final order on a Rule 137 claim is also subject to this rule.
Plain-English Summary
Rule 274 keeps postjudgment motion practice from spiraling. A party gets one postjudgment motion directed at a final, appealable judgment, filed within 30 days of that judgment or within whatever extension the court allows.
If the judgment later changes, through a modification on that first postjudgment motion or through an entirely new judgment, any party affected by the new ruling gets one more postjudgment motion aimed at that superseding judgment. Each timely postjudgment motion pauses the clock on finality and appealability until the court rules on it.
A pending claim for sanctions under Rule 137 does not change the filing deadline for postjudgment motions aimed at the underlying judgment, though it can affect when that judgment becomes appealable. A postjudgment motion aimed at a final order on a Rule 137 claim follows this same one-motion rule.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many postjudgment motions can a party file against one judgment?
Just one, directed at a judgment order that is otherwise final and appealable.
What is the deadline for filing a postjudgment motion?
Within 30 days of the judgment order, or within any extension of time the court allows.
What happens if the judgment is later modified?
Any party affected by the modified or superseding judgment gets one more postjudgment motion directed at that new ruling.
Does a pending Rule 137 sanctions claim delay the deadline to move against the underlying judgment?
No, it does not change that filing deadline, though it can affect when the underlying judgment becomes appealable.
Does the one-motion limit apply to orders on Rule 137 claims?
Yes, a postjudgment motion directed at a final order on a Rule 137 claim is subject to the same one-motion rule.
Committee Comments
(January 1, 2006)
New Rule 274 clarifies the status of successive (superseding) final judgments, and of postjudgment motions directed at each final judgment, allowing one such motion per party per final judgment. Rule 274 further clarifies that a timely postjudgment motion directed at any final judgment, including a later superseding judgment, tolls the appeal time. See Rule 303. Rule 274 codifies Gibson v. Belvidere National Bank & Trust Co., 326 Ill. App. 3d 45 (2002), appeal denied, 198 Ill.2d 614 (2002) (table). Rule 274 also clarifies that Rule 137 proceedings do not affect the postjudgment motion procedures on the underlying substantive judgments in the case.
Amendment History
Adopted October 14, 2005; amended Mar. 29, 2019, eff. July 1, 2019.
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:postjudgment motion limitmotion to reconsider deadlinesuperseding judgment appealone postjudgment motion ruleRule 137 sanctions appeal timing