Every final judgment of a circuit court in a civil case is appealable as of right. The appeal is
initiated by filing a notice of appeal. No other step is jurisdictional. An appeal is a continuation of the proceeding.
Rule 301.Method of Review
Article III. Civil Appeals Rules · Part A. Appeals from the Circuit Court · Last amended 1994 · Last verified July 20, 2026
In one sentenceRule 301 makes every final judgment in a civil case appealable as of right and says filing a notice of appeal is the only step needed to start that appeal.
Full Text of Ill. S. Ct. R. 301
Plain-English Summary
Rule 301 sets the baseline rule for civil appeals in Illinois: if a circuit court enters a final judgment, the losing party can appeal it, and no special permission is required. The rule keeps the process simple by tying the whole appeal to one act — filing a notice of appeal — rather than a list of preliminary filings.
The rule also describes what an appeal is, legally: a continuation of the same case, not a new lawsuit. That framing matters because the appellate court reviews the trial court record instead of starting over, and it explains why many procedural rules for appeals borrow language and structure from trial-level practice.
Rule 301 doesn't set the deadline for filing the notice of appeal or spell out what the notice must contain — those details live in Rule 303. Instead, Rule 301 answers a more basic question: is this judgment eligible for appeal, and what step gets the appeal moving.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as a final judgment under Rule 301?
A judgment is final when it resolves all the claims and rights of all the parties, leaving nothing but enforcement for the trial court to do. If some claims remain open, Rule 304 explains when appeal is still possible.
Do I need the trial court's permission to appeal a final judgment?
No. Rule 301 makes appeal from a final judgment a right, not something a judge or the appellate court has to approve first.
What is the one jurisdictional step the rule refers to?
Filing the notice of appeal. Missing other paperwork can create problems later, but only a late or missing notice of appeal can cost you the right to appeal altogether.
Why does it matter that an appeal is a continuation of the case?
It means the appellate court works from the trial court record rather than hearing the case fresh, and it's why the same case caption and parties carry through to the appeal.
Where do I find the deadline and required contents for the notice of appeal?
Rule 303 covers both, including the 30-day filing deadline and what the notice must say.
Committee Comments and Commentary
(Revised July 1, 1971)
This rule, adopted pursuant to the authority given the Supreme Court by the judicial article effective January 1, 1964, former article VI, section 7, present article VI, section 16, prescribes the method of review of final judgments. The rule was primarily based upon and replaced former sections 74, 76(2), and 80 of the Civil Practice Act. The next to last sentence of the rule was intended to incorporate and restate the provisions of the last two sentences of former section 74(1). Supersedure of statutory provisions relating to appeals is covered by Rule 1.
(December 17, 1993)
The last two sentences concerning a writ of error have been deleted because they are outdated. The notice of appeal preserves for review all judgments and orders specified therein.
Amendment History
Amended December 17, 1993, effective February 1, 1994.
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: final judgment appealright to appealnotice of appealappeal as of rightappeal jurisdiction Illinoiscivil appeal basics