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Rule 272.When Judgment is Entered

Article II. Rules on Civil Proceedings in the Trial Court · Part G. Entry of Orders and Judgments · Last amended 2018 · Last verified July 20, 2026

In one sentenceRule 272 fixes the exact moment a judgment becomes final, tying it to either the filing of a signed written judgment or the clerk’s notation in the record.

Full Text of Ill. S. Ct. R. 272

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If at the time of announcing final judgment the judge requires the submission of a form of written judgment to be signed by the judge or if a circuit court rule requires the prevailing party to submit a draft order, the clerk shall make a notation to that effect and the judgment becomes final only when the signed judgment is filed. If no such signed written judgment is to be filed, the judge or clerk shall forthwith make a notation of judgment and enter the judgment of record promptly, and the judgment is entered at the time it is entered of record. Orders and judgments may be prepared, presented, and signed electronically, if permitted by the Supreme Court.
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Plain-English Summary

Rule 272 pins down a date that can otherwise be surprisingly hard to nail. If the judge wants a written judgment signed before it counts, or a circuit court rule requires the winning party to submit a draft order, the clerk notes that requirement, and the judgment becomes final only once the signed version gets filed.

If no signed judgment is required, the judge or clerk notes the judgment right away and enters it in the record without delay. In that case, the judgment is entered the moment it goes into the record. As with Rule 271, orders and judgments under this rule can be prepared, presented, and signed electronically where the Supreme Court allows it.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does a judgment become final if the judge requires a signed written order?
Only when that signed judgment is filed, not when the judge announces the ruling from the bench.
What if no signed written judgment is required?
The judgment is entered the moment the judge or clerk notes it and puts it in the record.
Why does the exact entry date matter?
It starts the clock for appeal deadlines and postjudgment motions, so pinning it down avoids disputes over timing.
Does this rule treat law and equity cases differently?
No, it applies the same entry-of-judgment standard regardless of whether the case is legal or equitable.
Can a judgment be signed electronically under this rule?
Yes, if the Supreme Court permits electronic preparation, presentation, and signing of orders and judgments.

Committee Comments

The purpose of this rule is to remove any doubt as to the date a judgment is entered. It applies to both law and equity, and the distinction stated in Freeport Motor Casualty Co. v. Tharp, 406 Ill. 295, 94 N.E.2d 139 (1950), as to the effective dates of a judgment at law and a decree in equity is abolished. In 1990 the rule was amended to provide that in those cases in which, by circuit court rule, the prevailing party is required to submit a draft order, a judgment becomes final only after the signed judgment is filed. The 1990 amendment was intended to negate the ruling in Davis v.
Carbondale Elementary School District No. 95 (1988), 170 Ill. App. 3d 687, 525 N.E.2d 135.

Amendment History

Amended October 25, 1990, effective November 1, 1990; amended Dec. 29, 2017, eff. Jan. 1, 2018.

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: when is judgment finaljudgment entry datesigned written judgmentnotation of judgment