eFileIL is Illinois’ centralized electronic filing manager, routing court documents among filers, clerks, court personnel, and judges. Users submit filings through a certified Electronic Filing Service Provider (EFSP), which sends them through eFileIL to a court and its case management system. Attorneys and people representing themselves can file through an EFSP, but must register before using the service. Electronic filing is mandatory for civil cases in the Illinois Supreme, Appellate, and Circuit Courts. Coverage includes the Illinois Supreme Court, all appellate court districts, and 94 trial courts. The web service offers filing status tracking and eService, which can send case documents to other parties and track when they receive and open them. The site also allows document exchanges between parties without filing them with the court. It is described as available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, though maintenance can cause temporary outages. eFileIL is free, but court filing fees depend on the local court and some EFSPs charge provider- and transaction-dependent fees. Filing support and training come from each EFSP. The system supports most case types, with specified criminal, quasi-criminal, and juvenile limits.
Who it is for
eFileIL suits Illinois attorneys and people representing themselves who need to submit court documents electronically through an EFSP. It also supports electronic service and document exchange between parties.
What is good
- Free electronic filing option is listed
- Covers Illinois Supreme, appellate, and 94 trial courts
- Provides filing status tracking and eService
- Web access requires no unique software or hardware
What to know first
- Users must register before filing
- Some case types have filing limits
- Court fees and some provider fees may apply
- Document size and content restrictions apply
Verdict
eFileIL routes electronic filings across a broad range of Illinois courts and provides status tracking and eService. Filers should check case eligibility, court fees, EFSP terms, and document standards before submitting.
Get started with eFileIL
- Open the eFileIL website in a browser with internet access.
- Register before using the service.
- Choose a certified EFSP that offers the filing services you need.
- Use the EFSP website to submit documents to a participating court.
Limits to know first
Trial-court documents are limited to 25 MB each and 50 MB per envelope; reviewing-court envelopes are limited to 150 MB. Criminal, quasi-criminal, and juvenile filings are limited to subsequent filings, and documents cannot include security or encryption or embedded audio or video.
Questions about eFileIL
Is eFileIL free?
eFileIL is free, and a free e-filing option is available through a provider. Local court filing fees may apply, and some EFSPs charge provider or transaction fees.
Which courts and case types does it cover?
Coverage includes the Illinois Supreme Court, all appellate court districts, and 94 trial courts. Criminal, quasi-criminal, and juvenile filings are available only for subsequent filings; case initiation is not available for those types.
Which platforms does eFileIL support?
It is a web service accessed with an internet connection and browser. No unique software, middleware, or hardware is required.
Can I send documents to other parties?
Yes. eService can email case documents to other parties and track when recipients receive and open them. Documents can also be exchanged without filing them with the court.
Who provides help and training?
Each EFSP provides support and training for its own website.
Compared on legal e-filing software
- Free plan
- Yes
- Court coverage
- Illinois Supreme Court, all appellate court districts, and 94 trial courts
- Filing status tracking
- Yes
- Electronic service
- Yes
- Supported platforms
- web
