Article III. Civil Appeals Rules · Part A. Appeals from the Circuit Court · Last amended 2017 · Last verified July 20, 2026
In one sentenceRule 312 requires everyone appealing a case to file a docketing statement with the reviewing court, on a schedule that depends on which kind of appeal they're taking, along with the filing fee.
(a)Appellant’s Docketing Statement. All appellants, including cross-appellants and separate
appellants, whether as a matter of right or as a matter of the court’s discretion, shall file a docketing statement with the clerk of the reviewing court. (1) In the case of an appeal as of right, the appellant shall file the statement within 14 days
after filing the notice of appeal or petition for review of an administrative order or the date upon which a motion to file late notice of appeal is allowed.
(2)In the case of a discretionary appeal pursuant to Rule 306 or Rule 308, the statement shall be due at the time that the appellant files his or her Rule 306 petition or Rule 308 application.
(3)In cases of appeal pursuant to Rule 307(a), the docketing statement shall be filed within 7 days from the filing of the notice of appeal.
(b)Filing Fee and Attachments. The docketing statement shall be accompanied by the required reviewing court filing fee if it has not been previously paid. The docketing statement shall be accompanied by any written requests to the circuit clerk or court reporting personnel as defined in Rule 46 for preparation of their respective portions of the record on appeal and be served on all parties to the case with proof of service attached. Within 7 days thereafter, appellee, if it is deemed necessary, may file a short responsive statement with the clerk of the reviewing court with proof of service on all parties. The docketing statement shall be prepared by utilizing or substantially adopting the appearance and content of the form provided in the Article III Forms Appendix.
Plain-English Summary
A docketing statement is the appellate court's first look at a new case — a short form telling the court and the other parties the basics of what's being appealed. Rule 312 requires every appellant, cross-appellant, and separate appellant to file one, whether their appeal is a matter of right or discretionary. The timing shifts with the type of appeal: 14 days after filing a notice of appeal for an ordinary appeal, at the same time as the petition or application for a discretionary appeal under Rule 306 or 308, or seven days after the notice of appeal for an interlocutory appeal of right under Rule 307(a).
The statement has to come with the reviewing court's filing fee, unless it's already been paid, and with any requests the appellant has made to the circuit clerk or court reporting personnel for parts of the record. An appellee who thinks it's needed can file a short response within seven days. The Article III Forms Appendix has a template the docketing statement is expected to follow.
Frequently Asked Questions
How soon after filing my notice of appeal do I need to file a docketing statement?
Within 14 days, for a standard appeal as of right. Discretionary appeals and Rule 307(a) interlocutory appeals run on different, shorter clocks tied to when the petition or notice of appeal is filed.
Does the docketing statement need to be accompanied by the filing fee?
Yes, unless the fee has already been paid.
Can the appellee respond to the docketing statement?
Yes, within seven days, if the appellee thinks a short responsive statement is necessary.
Is there a required form for the docketing statement?
The rule directs parties to use, or closely follow, the form in the Article III Forms Appendix.
What should the docketing statement include about the record?
Any written requests the appellant has already made to the circuit clerk or court reporting personnel for preparation of their parts of the record on appeal.
Committee Comments
(March 8, 2016)
Special Supreme Court Committee on Child Custody Issues The Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act, Pub. Act 99-90 (eff. Jan. 1, 2016) (amending 750 ILCS 5/101 et seq.), has changed the terms “Custody,” “Visitation” (as to parents) and “Removal” to “Allocation of Parental Responsibilities,” “Parenting Time” and “Relocation.” These rules are being amended to reflect those changes. The rules utilize both “custody” and “allocation of parental responsibilities" in recognition that some legislative enactments covered by the rules utilize the term “custody” while the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act and the Illinois Parentage Act of 2015 utilize the term “allocation of parental responsibilities.” The Special Committee has attempted to adhere to the usage found in the applicable legislative enactments.
Amendment History
Adopted December 17, 1993, effective February 1, 1994; amended December 13, 2005, effective immediately; corrected February 10, 2006, effective immediately; amended Dec. 12, 2012, eff. Jan. 1, 2013; amended Jan. 17, 2013, eff. immediately; amended Mar. 8, 2016, eff. immediately; amended June 22, 2017, eff. July 1, 2017.
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:docketing statement Illinois appealappellate filing feedocketing statement deadlineappeal docketing requirements