Article VI. Appeals in Criminal Cases, Post-Conviction Cases, and Juvenile Court Proceedings · Last amended 2026 · Last verified July 20, 2026
In one sentenceRule 606 explains how to perfect a criminal appeal by filing a notice of appeal in the trial court within 30 days, and what happens when a pending postjudgment motion or a missed deadline complicates that timeline.
(a)How Perfected. A notice of appeal must be filed with the trial court clerk to perfect the
appeal. This notice may be signed by either the appellant or his or her attorney. If the defendant does not have an attorney and, when advised of the right to appeal, the defendant requests in open court or later in writing that the defendant wishes to appeal, the clerk of the trial court must forthwith prepare, sign, and file a notice of appeal for the defendant, except as provided in Rule 604(h). Other than filing the notice of appeal, no other steps to finalize the appeal are required for jurisdiction.
(b)Time. Except as provided in Rule 604(d) and 604(h), the notice of appeal must be filed with the clerk of the circuit court within 30 days after the entry of the final judgment appealed from or if a motion directed against the judgment is timely filed, within 30 days after the entry of the order disposing of the motion. A notice of appeal filed after the court announces a decision, but before the entry of the judgment or order, is treated as filed on the date of and after the entry of the judgment order.
When a timely posttrial or postsentencing motion directed against the judgment has been filed by counsel or by defendant, if not represented by counsel, any notice of appeal filed before the entry of the order disposing of all pending postjudgment motions shall have no effect and shall be stricken by the trial court.
Upon striking the notice of appeal, the trial court shall forward to the appellate court within 5 days a copy of the order striking the notice of appeal, showing by whom it was filed and the date on which it was filed. This rule applies whether the timely postjudgment motion was filed before or after the date on which the notice of appeal was filed.
A new notice of appeal must be filed within 30 days following the entry of the order disposing of all timely postjudgment motions. Within 5 days of its being so filed a copy of the notice of appeal or an amendment of the notice of appeal shall be transmitted by the clerk of the circuit court to the clerk of the court to which the appeal is taken. Except as provided in paragraph (c) below, and in Rule 604(d), no appeal may be taken from a trial court to a reviewing court after the expiration of 30 days from the entry of the order or judgment from which the appeal is taken. The clerk of the appellate court shall notify any party whose appeal has been dismissed under this rule.
(c)Extension of Time in Certain Circumstances. Except as provided in Rule 604(h), on motion supported by a showing of reasonable excuse for failing to file a notice of appeal on time filed in the reviewing court within 30 days of the expiration of the time for filing the notice of appeal, or on motion supported by a showing by affidavit that there is merit to the appeal and that the failure to file a notice of appeal on time was not due to appellant’s culpable negligence, filed in the reviewing court within six months of the expiration of the time for filing the notice of appeal, in either case accompanied by the proposed notice of appeal, the reviewing court may grant leave to appeal and order the clerk to transmit the notice of appeal to the trial court for filing. However, when the appellant is filing the motion pro se from a correctional institution, the appellant may submit, in lieu of the affidavit referred to herein, a certification as provided in section 1-109 of the Code of Civil Procedure (735 ILCS 5/1-109).
(d)Forms of Notice of Appeal. A notice of appeal must be prepared by using, or closely following, the format and content of the appropriate form in the Article VI Forms Appendix. A notice of appeal may be amended as provided in Rule 303(b)(5), except as stated in Rule 604(h).
(1)When Defendant Is Appellant and Action Is Prosecuted by the State. When the defendant is the appellant and the action was prosecuted by the State, the clerk shall send the notice of appeal to the State’s Attorney of the county in which the judgment was entered.
(2)When Defendant Is Appellant and the Action Is Prosecuted by a Governmental Entity Other Than the State. If the defendant is the appellant and the action was prosecuted by a governmental entity other than the State for the violation of an ordinance, the notice of appeal shall be sent to the chief legal officer of the entity (e.g., corporation counsel, city attorney), or if his name and address do not appear of record, then to the chief administrative officer of the entity at his official address.
(3)When the Prosecuting Entity Is the Appellant. When the State or other prosecuting entity is the appellant, the notice of appeal shall be sent to the defendant and to his counsel.
(f)Docketing. Upon receipt of the notice of appeal transmitted to the reviewing court pursuant to paragraph (a) of this rule, or the entry of an order granting a motion for leave to appeal under paragraph (c) of this rule, the clerk of the reviewing court shall enter the appeal upon the docket.
(g)Docketing Statement; Filing Fee. Within 14 days after the filing of the notice of appeal and pursuant to notice to the appellee’s attorney, except as provided in Rule 604(h), the party filing the notice of appeal shall file with the clerk of the reviewing court a docketing statement, together with proof of service thereof, and the filing fee as required by Rule 313. The docketing statement shall be prepared by utilizing, or substantially adopting the appearance and content of, the form provided in the Article VI Forms Appendix.
Plain-English Summary
A criminal appeal is perfected the moment a notice of appeal is filed with the trial court clerk — nothing else is required for jurisdiction. The notice can be signed by the defendant, by counsel, or, if the defendant has no lawyer and asks to appeal, prepared and filed by the clerk directly.
Timing gets tricky around postjudgment motions. The 30-day clock normally runs from the final judgment, but if a timely motion attacking the judgment is filed, it instead runs from the order disposing of that motion. A notice of appeal filed while such a motion is still pending has no effect and gets stricken; a new notice must follow within 30 days after the motion is resolved.
Missing the deadline entirely isn’t automatically fatal. A defendant can ask the reviewing court for leave to appeal late — within 30 days after the deadline by showing reasonable excuse, or within six months by showing the appeal has merit and the delay wasn’t the defendant’s fault.
Frequently Asked Questions
What single act perfects a criminal appeal?
Filing a notice of appeal with the trial court clerk within the time allowed — no further steps are needed for jurisdiction.
What happens if I file a notice of appeal before the court rules on my post-trial motion?
It has no effect and gets stricken; a new notice of appeal must be filed within 30 days after the motion is decided.
Can the clerk file a notice of appeal for me?
Yes, if the defendant has no attorney and asks, in open court or later in writing, to appeal.
What if I miss the 30-day deadline?
File a motion in the reviewing court within 30 days after the deadline showing reasonable excuse, or within six months showing merit and no fault on your part, along with the proposed notice of appeal.
What comes after the notice of appeal is filed?
A docketing statement and the filing fee, due within 14 days, unless the appeal falls under Rule 604(h).
Committee Comments
(Jan. 1, 2026)
When counsel represents a defendant, counsel is responsible for preparing and filing a notice of appeal, and there is no need for the clerk to do so.
Amendment History
Amended October 21, 1969, effective January 1, 1970; amended effective July 1, 1971, July 1, 1975, and February 17, 1977; amended July 15, 1979, effective October 15, 1979; amended April 27, 1984, effective July 1, 1984; amended August 27, 1999, effective immediately; amended October 22, 1999, effective December 1, 1999; amended December 13, 2005, effective immediately; amended July 27, 2006, effective September 1, 2006; amended March 20, 2009, effective immediately; amended Dec. 12, 2012, eff. Jan. 1, 2013; amended Feb. 6, 2013, eff. immediately; amended Dec. 11, 2014, eff. immediately; amended June 22, 2017, eff. July 1, 2017; amended Mar. 12, 2021, eff. immediately; amended Dec. 23, 2022, eff. Sept. 18, 2023; amended Oct. 19, 2023, eff. immediately; amended Dec. 7, 2023, eff. immediately; amended Mar. 15, 2024, eff. Apr. 15, 2024; amended Sept. 24, 2025, eff. Jan. 1, 2026.
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
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