(a) Docket Fees. Unless excused by law, in all cases docketed in the reviewing court all appellants or petitioners shall pay a filing fee of $50.00, and all other parties upon entry of appearance or filing any document shall pay a fee of $30.00. Any non-party in a case filing any paper, including a motion for leave to file a brief amicus curiae pursuant to Rule 345, shall pay a fee of $30.
Rule 313.Fees in the Reviewing Court
Article III. Civil Appeals Rules · Part A. Appeals from the Circuit Court · Last amended 2025 · Last verified July 20, 2026
In one sentenceRule 313 sets the filing and service fees charged in the Appellate Court and Supreme Court, along with fees for certificates, law licenses, and paper copies, and points to the fee-waiver process for anyone who can't pay.
Full Text of Ill. S. Ct. R. 313
(b) Paper Document Request Fees. The clerks of the reviewing courts shall charge a fee of 25 cents per page for providing a paper copy of documents filed in their respective offices, except that the clerks shall furnish opinions or orders to parties in interest or their attorneys of record without cost. In furtherance of the public interest, the clerk may furnish opinions or orders to other individuals or entities without cost. The fee shall apply to paper copies of documents.
The clerks may allow a requestor to use personal equipment, such as a portable scanner or camera, to obtain scans or images of filed documents and shall charge no fee for such access. When considering such requests, the clerk shall determine whether the equipment is likely to cause damage to the documents and whether the equipment and/or request will interfere with the clerk’s office operations. Automatic feed features or stack feeders are not permitted.
(c) Certificate and Seal. The fee for each official certificate and seal is $5.
(d) Law License. In the Supreme Court, the fee for preparing a law license, certifying it with the seal, administering the oath, and transcribing the name on the roll of attorneys is $50. The fee for a replacement law license shall be $25.
(e) Attorney Certificates of Good Standing. In the Supreme Court, the fee for an attorney certificate of good standing shall be $15. If multiple certificates for the same attorney are requested, each additional certificate shall be $5.
(f) Application for Waiver of Fees in the Reviewing Court. An applicant for a waiver of fees in the reviewing court shall use the “Application for Waiver of Court Fees (Appellate Court)” or the “Application for Waiver of Court Fees (Supreme Court)” adopted by the Illinois Supreme Court Access to Justice Commission, which can be found in Article III Forms Appendix. In all other respects, the provisions of Rule 298 shall apply in the reviewing court.
Plain-English Summary
Rule 313 is a fee schedule. Appellants and petitioners pay a $50 filing fee when a case is docketed; every other party pays $30 to appear or file, and non-parties filing something like an amicus brief pay the same $30. Paper copies of filed documents cost 25 cents a page, though opinions and orders go to parties and their attorneys free of charge, and clerks have discretion to let requesters use their own scanning equipment at no cost if it won't damage the file or disrupt the clerk's office.
The rule also lists fees tied to the Supreme Court's attorney-licensing role — preparing and sealing a law license, replacing a lost one, and issuing certificates of good standing — along with a flat $5 charge for any official certificate and seal.
For anyone who can't afford these costs, Rule 313(f) points to the standard fee-waiver applications adopted by the Illinois Supreme Court Access to Justice Commission, and applies Rule 298's waiver procedures in the reviewing court.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to file an appeal in Illinois?
Appellants and petitioners pay a $50 docketing fee; other parties pay $30 to appear or file a document.
Do I have to pay to get a copy of an opinion or order?
No. Clerks provide opinions and orders to parties and their attorneys of record without charge.
What does it cost to get a paper copy of a filed document?
25 cents per page, under Rule 313(b), though the clerk may let you scan or photograph documents yourself at no charge under certain conditions.
Can I ask to have my appellate filing fees waived?
Yes. Rule 313(f) directs you to the standard fee-waiver application forms and applies the Rule 298 waiver procedure in the reviewing court.
What does it cost to get a certificate of good standing from the Supreme Court?
$15 for the first certificate for an attorney, and $5 for each additional certificate requested at the same time.
Committee Comments and Commentary
(December 17, 1993)
Because the authority for collecting reviewing court fees is contained in statutory provisions (see 30 ILCS 220/12 (West 1992); 705 ILCS 25/3 (West 1992)), a fee rule is provided for informational purposes.
Amendment History
Adopted December 17, 1993, effective February 1, 1994; amended Jan. 23, 2014, eff. Jan. 1, 2015; amended Dec. 7, 2015, eff. July 1, 2016; amended June 22, 2017, eff. July 1, 2017; amended June 26, 2018, eff. July 1, 2018; amended Dec. 19, 2019, eff. Jan. 1, 2020; amended Mar. 27, 2025, eff. May 1, 2025.
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: appellate court filing feesappeal fee waiver Illinoiscertificate of good standing feelaw license fee Illinoisappeal costs