Ill. R. Cir. Ct. McHenry Cnty. 21.10

As amended through September 23, 2024

Rule 21.10 - FORMAT OF DOCUMENTS

A. All electronically filed pleadings shall, to the extent practicable, be formatted in accordance with the applicable rules governing the formatting of document pleadings. Additionally, each electronically filed pleading and document shall include the case title, case number and the nature of the filing.

B. Each electronically filed document shall also include the typed name, e-mail address, address and telephone number of the attorney or Self-Represented Litigant party filing such document.

C. Documents shall be formatted as follows:

1. The size of the type in the body of the text must be no less than 12-point font, and footnotes no less than 10-point font;

2. The size of the pages must be 8.5" by 11" inches;

3. The margins on each side of the page must each be a minimum of 1 inch;

4. The top right 2-inches by 2-inch corner of the first page of each pleading shall be left blank for the clerk's stamp.

D. Documents must be submitted in PDF format. When possible, documents must be converted to PDF directly from the program creating the document, rather than from the scanned image of a paper document. Documents only available in paper format may be scanned and converted to PDF for electronic filing.

E. If a document exceeds the maximum size allowed, the filer will file multiple documents, each under the maximum file size. In such a case, the user will be responsible for dividing the document into appropriately sized parts. Maximum file sizes and number of documents allowed in a single transaction are available in the electronic filing vendor's user manual. Maximum file size and number of documents per transaction allowances may increase as technology advances allow.

F. Any electronically filed document must be unalterable (sealed PDF format) and be able to be printed with the same contents and formats as if printed from its authoring program. The e-filing vendor is required to make each electronically filed document that is not infected by a virus available for transmission to the clerk immediately after successful receipt and virus checking of the document.

G. Bulk filings of multiple cases or multiple documents combined into one PDF document shall not be accepted. Documents with different case numbers must be filed individually in separate transactions. Filing of individual documents within a case shall be accepted in a single electronic filing transaction. Multiple electronically filed citations may be transmitted to the Circuit Clerk as a single transaction directly from the law enforcement agency.

H. Documents filed by attorneys that do not comply with the format specified by the applicable statute or rule may be rejected. Documents filed by SelfRepresented Litigant parties that do not comply with the format specified by the applicable statute or rule shall be reviewed for acceptance by the court prior to rejection. The court shall establish a business practice for this review process.

I. Electronic documents containing links to material either within the filed document or external to the filed document are for convenience purposes only. The external material behind the link is not considered.

Ill. R. Cir. Ct. McHenry Cnty. 21.10