Illinois Federal Court Filing Formatting Rules: Northern, Central, and Southern Districts

Illinois federal filing format is district-specific. There is no single statewide "Illinois federal court format" rule for civil pleadings, motions, briefs, exhibits, captions, electronic filing, sealing, redactions, or motion-page limits.

On This Page

• Quick Answer
• Scope and Date Reviewed
• Illinois Federal Filing Formatting Rules at a Glance
• Federal Baseline Rules
• Northern District of Illinois Filing Formatting Rules
• Central District of Illinois Filing Formatting Rules
• Southern District of Illinois Filing Formatting Rules
• What Is Actually Different About Illinois Federal Filing Format
• FAQ
• Primary Source Index

For ordinary civil filings in Illinois federal court, start with the local rules for the district where the case is pending: the Northern District of Illinois Local Rules, the Central District of Illinois Local Rules, or the Southern District of Illinois Local Rules.

The federal rules still matter. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 10 supplies the baseline rules for pleading captions, numbered paragraphs, and exhibits attached to pleadings. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 5.2 supplies the federal privacy-redaction rule. But the document-formatting details that determine font size, spacing, margins, electronic filing, exhibits, sealing, redactions, and brief limits come from the Illinois district's local rules.

Quick Answer

For ordinary civil filings in the Northern District of Illinois, the main formatting rule is Local Rule 5.2, "Electronic and Paper Documents Filed." Local Rule 5.2(e) requires 8.5-by-11-inch white paper, at least double-spaced typed lines, 12-point body text, footnotes no smaller than 11-point, and 1-inch margins. Electronically filed documents must conform to those requirements.

For ordinary civil filings in the Central District of Illinois, the main formatting rule is Civil Local Rule 5.1, "Format of Filings." It requires 8.5-by-11-inch paper, approximately 1-inch margins, numbered pages, double-spaced typed lines, 12-point or 14-point body text, footnotes no smaller than 10-point, and plain roman style.

For the Southern District of Illinois, the main local formatting rule is Local Rule 5.1, "Serving and Filing Pleadings and Other Papers." The detailed paper-original format rule applies to filings by pro se parties who have not been authorized to use CM/ECF. Represented parties must file electronically under the court's electronic-filing procedures unless exempted for good cause.

Scope and Date Reviewed

This guide summarizes primary-source rules for ordinary civil filings in the United States District Courts for the Northern, Central, and Southern Districts of Illinois. It was reviewed against the sources linked in this article as of June 12, 2026.

The local-rule corpora reviewed here identify the Northern District of Illinois Local Rules as amended through May 4, 2026, the Central District of Illinois Local Rules as effective March 4, 2025, and the Southern District of Illinois Local Rules as effective September 22, 2025.

This article does not cover judge-specific standing orders, individual practices, criminal rules, bankruptcy rules, appellate rules, patent rules, admiralty rules, case-type-specific procedures, emergency procedures, or every CM/ECF administrative procedure. Always check the assigned judge's standing orders, any case-specific order, and the court's current CM/ECF procedures.

Illinois Federal Filing Formatting Rules at a Glance

Federal Baseline Rules

FRCP 10(a) requires every pleading to have a caption with the court's name, a title, a file number, and a Rule 7(a) designation. The complaint must name all parties in the title. Later pleadings may name the first party on each side and refer generally to the other parties.

FRCP 10(b) requires claims or defenses to be stated in numbered paragraphs, each limited as far as practicable to a single set of circumstances. Separate claims based on separate transactions or occurrences, and separate defenses other than denials, should be stated in separate counts or defenses if doing so would promote clarity.

FRCP 10(c) says a statement in a pleading may be adopted by reference elsewhere in the same pleading or in another pleading or motion. It also says a written instrument attached as an exhibit to a pleading is part of the pleading for all purposes.

FRCP 5.2 supplies the federal privacy-redaction rule. Unless the court orders otherwise, a filing containing a Social Security number, taxpayer identification number, birth date, minor's name, or financial account number may include only the last four digits of the Social Security or taxpayer identification number, the year of birth, the minor's initials, and the last four digits of the financial account number.

Those federal rules are only the starting point. Illinois's federal districts add local formatting requirements, and those local requirements are not identical.

Northern District of Illinois Filing Formatting Rules

Northern District Rule Summary

• Main formatting rule: Local Rule 5.2, "Electronic and Paper Documents Filed."
• Paper, margins, spacing, and font: Local Rule 5.2(e) requires 8.5-by-11-inch opaque, unglazed, white paper, at least 2.0 line spacing for typed documents, 12-point body text, footnotes no smaller than 11-point, and 1-inch margins. Electronically filed documents must conform to the same requirements.
• Electronic filing: Local Rule 5.2(a) requires represented parties to file electronically unless nonelectronic filing is allowed for good cause.
• Official court record: Local Rule 5.2(c) identifies when the electronic version, paper version, or unredacted paper version is the official court record.
• Email and fax: Local Rule 5.2(d) says documents may not be filed by email or fax.
• Searchable text and hyperlinks: Local Rule 5.2(h) encourages text-searchable documents and hyperlinks to table-of-contents headings, section headings, case citations, exhibits, and other materials filed in the case.
• Sealing: Local Rule 5.7 governs cases filed under seal, and Local Rule 5.8 governs materials filed under seal.
• Digital media exhibits: Local Rule 79.1.1 governs electronic audio and video exhibits.
• Motion briefs: Local Rule 7.1 limits motions, supporting briefs, opposition briefs, and specified objections to 15 pages without prior court approval.

Northern District Font, Spacing, Margins, and ECF

The Northern District's main document-formatting rule is Local Rule 5.2. Under Local Rule 5.2(e), a paper filing must be flat and unfolded on opaque, unglazed, white 8.5-by-11-inch paper. If the document is typed, line spacing must be at least 2.0 lines. If the document is typed or printed, the body text must be 12-point, footnotes must be no smaller than 11-point, and the left, right, top, and bottom margins must each be at least 1 inch.

The same format requirements apply to electronic filings. Local Rule 5.2(e) states that documents filed electronically must conform to the paper-format requirements in the rule. Local Rule 5.2(g) also warns that a noncompliant document is filed subject to being stricken.

Local Rule 5.2(a) requires a person represented by an attorney to file documents electronically unless the court allows nonelectronic filing for good cause. An unrepresented party may file electronically only after completing the Clerk's Office class and only after the complaint has been filed in paper format. Under Local Rule 5.2(d), email and fax are not permitted methods for filing documents with the court.

Local Rule 5.2(h) is also worth building into a Northern District filing workflow. It encourages parties creating documents for e-filing to make them text searchable and to use hyperlinks for table-of-contents headings, section headings, textual citations, exhibits, and other materials filed in the case.

Northern District Motions, Sealing, and Exhibits

Local Rule 7.1 sets the basic Northern District page limit. Without prior court approval, neither a motion nor a brief in support of or in opposition to a motion may exceed 15 pages. The same 15-page limit applies to objections to a report and recommendation or order of a magistrate judge or special master. A brief exceeding the 15-page limit must include a table of contents with pages noted and a table of cases.

Local Rule 78.3 addresses briefing schedules and oral argument. The court may set a briefing schedule, and oral argument is allowed in the court's discretion. Failure to file a reply memorandum within the required time is deemed a waiver of the right to file.

Sealing is split across two main rules. Local Rule 5.7 governs filing a case under seal, including a seven-day restricted-treatment procedure absent an order extending or setting aside the sealing. Local Rule 5.8 governs documents filed under seal and requires sealed documents to be filed in compliance with Clerk-approved procedures. If a document purports to be sealed but is not filed in compliance with those procedures, the rule provides that it will be processed as unsealed and publicly available.

Local Rule 79.1.1 governs digital media exhibits. Audio and video files such as .mp4, .mov, .mp3, and .wav files must be submitted through the court's website portal unless the court directs otherwise. Picture and text files such as .jpeg, .png, .docx, and .txt files are not treated as digital media exhibits under the rule and are submitted through the court's case-management system as PDFs.

Central District of Illinois Filing Formatting Rules

Central District Rule Summary

• Main formatting rule: Civil Local Rule 5.1, "Format of Filings."
• Paper, margins, spacing, and font: Civil Local Rule 5.1 requires 8.5-by-11-inch paper, approximately 1-inch margins, numbered pages, double-spaced typed lines, 12-point or 14-point body text, footnotes no smaller than 10-point, and plain roman style.
• Electronic and email filing: Civil Local Rule 5.4 requires registered users to file through CM/ECF unless otherwise provided and governs conventional or email filing by non-registered pro se parties.
• Attachments and exhibits: Civil Local Rule 5.8 governs electronic filing size limits, conventionally filed exhibits that cannot be uploaded to CM/ECF, and trial exhibits.
• Sealing: Civil Local Rule 5.10 governs sealed cases, sealed documents, in camera review, and ex parte documents.
• Privacy: Civil Local Rule 5.11 adds privacy-redaction rules for addresses, signatures, and driver's license numbers in addition to FRCP 5.2 identifiers.
• Pleading contact information: Civil Local Rule 11.1 requires every pleading to show a telephone number where the attorney or unrepresented party may be reached.
• Motion briefs: Civil Local Rule 7.1 governs motions, memoranda, responses, replies, summary-judgment filings, and length limits.

Central District Font, Margins, Page Numbers, and Filing Methods

Civil Local Rule 5.1 is the Central District's core formatting rule. The court may strike a paper that does not conform to the rule. Each document filed with the court must be on 8.5-by-11-inch paper, be legibly written, typed, or printed without materially defacing erasures or interlineations, have approximately 1-inch margins on each side, top, and bottom, and have numbered pages.

For typed documents, Civil Local Rule 5.1(B) requires double-spaced lines. Body text must be 12-point or 14-point, and footnote text must be no smaller than 10-point. All documents must use a plain, roman style, though italics may be used for emphasis.

Electronic filing is governed by Civil Local Rule 5.4. Registered users must file all documents electronically using CM/ECF unless the rules provide otherwise. Non-registered pro se parties must file conventionally or by email unless the rules provide otherwise. The email-filing provisions are specific: case-initiating documents must be submitted in PDF format to the proper divisional office address, and later documents must be submitted in PDF format to the pro se litigants' e-filing address. Incarcerated parties may not submit documents by email.

Civil Local Rule 11.1 adds a contact-information requirement for pleadings. In addition to the signature and address required by FRCP 11, every pleading must show a telephone number where the attorney or unrepresented party may be reached. For every pleading that is not electronically filed, the name of the filing party or attorney must be typed below the signature line.

Central District Motions, Exhibits, Sealing, and Privacy

Civil Local Rule 7.1(B) governs memoranda for most motions other than summary-judgment motions. Every motion raising a question of law must include a memorandum that identifies the specific legal points and supporting authorities and identifies the local or federal rule under which the motion is filed. Responses are due 14 days after service of the motion and memorandum. Replies are allowed only with leave of court, and the motion for leave must be filed within 7 days after service of the response with the proposed reply attached as an exhibit.

The Central District uses both page limits and type-volume alternatives. Under Civil Local Rule 7.1(B)(4), a memorandum in support of or in response to a motion must be double-spaced and must not exceed 15 pages unless it complies with the type-volume limitation. A memorandum exceeding 15 pages complies if it contains no more than 7,000 words or, for monospaced type, no more than 650 lines of text. A memorandum submitted under the type-volume limitation must include a compliance certificate stating the number of words or lines. Headings, footnotes, and quotations count toward the limit.

Summary-judgment filings have additional structure under Civil Local Rule 7.1(D). The motion must include sections for an introduction, undisputed material facts, and argument. A response must include an introduction, response to undisputed material facts, and argument. The movant may file a reply within 14 days after service of the response, and the reply must address additional material facts and new matters raised in the response. Under Civil Local Rule 7.1(D)(5), the argument section of a summary-judgment reply must not exceed five double-spaced pages.

Attachments and exhibits are governed by Civil Local Rule 5.8. Electronically filed attachments and exhibits must conform to the size limitations on the Central District's CM/ECF login page. Exhibits that cannot be uploaded to CM/ECF, such as audio and video files, must be conventionally filed by mailing them to the Clerk's office with an index identifying each exhibit and the motion or pleading to which it relates. Trial exhibits are not scanned into the electronic record unless the presiding judge specifically orders otherwise.

Civil Local Rule 5.10 states that the court does not approve of sealed filings as a general matter. A party with a legal basis to file under seal without a prior court order must electronically file a motion for leave to file under seal explaining how the document satisfies the legal standards for sealed documents. The sealed document itself is filed contemporaneously using a separate sealed-document docket event, not as an attachment to the motion.

Civil Local Rule 5.11 adds local privacy rules. In addition to FRCP 5.2 identifiers, litigants must modify or partially redact addresses, signatures, and driver's license numbers. The rule suggests using only city and state for addresses, "s/name" for signatures, and only the last four numbers for driver's license numbers.

Southern District of Illinois Filing Formatting Rules

Southern District Rule Summary

• Main filing and format rule: Local Rule 5.1, "Serving and Filing Pleadings and Other Papers."
• Paper-original format: Local Rule 5.1(a) requires paper originals by unauthorized pro se filers to be on 8.5-by-11-inch white paper, flat and unfolded, plainly typewritten, printed, or otherwise legible, double-spaced except quoted material, and consecutively numbered.
• Electronic filing: Local Rule 5.1(b) requires represented parties to file electronically unless specifically exempted for good cause and describes pro se CM/ECF authorization.
• Privacy: Local Rule 5.1(c) requires parties to avoid or redact personal identifiers under FRCP 5.2 or Criminal Rule 49.1 and places redaction responsibility on counsel and parties.
• Highly sensitive documents: Local Rule 5.2 governs procedures for requesting, filing, and managing highly sensitive documents.
• Motion briefs: Local Rule 7.1 governs motion content, brief length, reply briefs, deadlines, and oral argument requests.
• Documents requiring leave: Local Rule 15.1 governs proposed documents that require leave of court and amended pleadings.
• Summary judgment: Local Rule 56.1 governs statements of material facts, responses, additional facts, replies, and summary-judgment page limits.
• Exhibits: Local Rule 79.1 governs custody and disposition of exhibits.

Southern District Paper Format, ECF, and Privacy

Local Rule 5.1 is the Southern District's main filing rule. Its detailed paper-original format subsection applies to pleadings, motions, documents, and other paper originals presented for filing by pro se parties who have not been authorized to use CM/ECF.

Under Local Rule 5.1(a), those paper originals must be on 8.5-by-11-inch white paper of good quality, flat and unfolded, plainly typewritten, printed, or prepared by a clearly legible duplication process, and double-spaced except for quoted material. Each page must be numbered consecutively. The rule does not apply to exhibits submitted for filing or documents filed in removed actions before removal from state court.

For represented parties, the practical starting point is electronic filing. Local Rule 5.1(b)(1) requires all parties represented by counsel to file documents electronically in compliance with court procedures unless specifically exempted for good cause. Local Rule 5.1(b)(2) allows pro se parties to register as CM/ECF filing users only after filing a motion and receiving court authorization, and that authorization is case-specific. Filing must be completed before midnight Central Time to be considered timely filed that day unless the court sets a specific time.

Local Rule 5.1(c) governs privacy. Parties must refrain from including personal identifiers, or must redact them when inclusion is necessary, in accordance with FRCP 5.2 or Criminal Rule 49.1. The responsibility for redaction rests solely with counsel and the parties, and the Clerk of Court does not review each pleading for compliance. The rule also permits, but does not require, filing a reference list under seal or an unredacted version under seal when a party must file personal data identifiers.

Southern District Motions, Summary Judgment, Leave Documents, and Exhibits

Local Rule 7.1(a) sets core motion-format rules. A motion must state its grounds with particularity and set forth the relief sought. Briefs must contain a short, concise statement of the party's position, with citations to relevant legal authority and the record. Allegations of fact not supported by citation may be disregarded in the court's discretion.

Unless the court authorizes otherwise, Local Rule 7.1(a)(3) prohibits briefs longer than 20 double-spaced typewritten pages in 12-point font, except for briefs responding to habeas petitions. The stated page limits exclude cover pages, tables of content, tables of authority, signature pages, certificates of service, exhibits, and summary-judgment fact statements and responses under Local Rule 56.1(e). Local Rule 7.1(a)(4) says reply briefs are not favored, must not exceed five pages, and should be filed only in exceptional circumstances. Sur-replies are not accepted under any circumstances.

Motion deadlines differ by motion type. Under Local Rule 7.1(b)(1), civil motions to remand, dismiss, for judgment on the pleadings, for summary judgment, to exclude expert testimony, and post-trial motions must be supported by a brief. Responses to those motions are due 30 days after service, and any reply is due 14 days after service of the response. For other civil motions, a supporting brief is not required; responses are due 14 days after service, and any reply is due 7 days after service of the response.

Local Rule 56.1 adds summary-judgment-specific formatting requirements. Supporting briefs must contain a statement of material facts in separately numbered paragraphs with record citations. Opposition briefs must contain a response to the statement of material facts, and the nonmovant may include a statement of additional material facts. The moving party may file a reply to the statement of additional material facts. The rule provides that summary-judgment briefs in support of or opposition to a motion must not exceed 20 pages, excluding the materials listed in Local Rule 7.1(a)(3) and specified summary-judgment fact statements.

Local Rule 15.1 governs documents requiring leave of court. A proposed document that requires leave must be filed as an exhibit to the motion requesting leave. If leave is granted, the requesting party must file the document as a separate docket entry for it to become part of the record. For amended pleadings, amendment by interlineation is not permitted; the amended pleading must include all claims against all parties as if starting anew, and new or amended material must be underlined or submitted in redlined form unless the rule's exception applies. If leave is granted, a clean version of the operative pleading must be filed on the docket.

Exhibits are governed by Local Rule 79.1. Unless the presiding judge orders otherwise, exhibits received into evidence or offered and refused at trial or hearing are retained by the Clerk or designee for the duration of the proceeding. After trial, unless otherwise ordered, exhibits are not retained by the Clerk at the conclusion of the proceeding but are retained by the attorneys who produced them in court. Exhibits not removed are subject to disposal after the rule's 90-day periods.

What Is Actually Different About Illinois Federal Filing Format

The most important point is that "Illinois federal format" is not one template. The Northern, Central, and Southern Districts each use their own local rules.

Illinois is also different from California-style federal pleading paper. The Illinois local rules reviewed here do not impose a statewide line-numbered pleading-paper convention for ordinary civil filings. Instead, the practical formatting issues are font size, spacing, margins, page numbering, electronic-filing mechanics, motion limits, exhibits, sealing, redactions, and judge-specific practices.

Font and spacing rules are not uniform. The Northern District requires 12-point body text, footnotes no smaller than 11-point, at least 2.0 line spacing for typed documents, and 1-inch margins under Local Rule 5.2(e). The Central District requires 12-point or 14-point body text, footnotes no smaller than 10-point, double spacing, approximately 1-inch margins, and plain roman style under Civil Local Rule 5.1. The Southern District's detailed paper-original formatting rule in Local Rule 5.1(a) applies to unauthorized pro se paper filers, while represented parties file electronically under court procedures.

Motion limits also vary. The Northern District uses a 15-page limit for motions and motion briefs under Local Rule 7.1. The Central District uses 15 double-spaced pages for motion memoranda unless the memorandum satisfies a 7,000-word or 650-line type-volume alternative under Civil Local Rule 7.1(B)(4). The Southern District generally uses a 20-page, double-spaced, 12-point-font brief limit and a 5-page reply limit under Local Rule 7.1(a)(3)-(4).

Electronic filing also differs. The Northern District prohibits email and fax filing under Local Rule 5.2(d). The Central District permits specified email filing by non-registered, non-incarcerated pro se parties under Civil Local Rule 5.4. The Southern District requires represented parties to file electronically and makes pro se CM/ECF authorization case-specific under Local Rule 5.1(b).

The result is that Illinois federal filing format is district-specific. The federal rules supply the pleading baseline, but the local rules decide what the document must look like and how it must be filed in each district.

That is the gap DocketDrafter's AI pleading formatter is built around. Drafting text is only part of the job. The filed document still has to satisfy the court's mechanical requirements: caption structure, font size, spacing, margins, page numbering, signature details, exhibits, redactions, sealing mechanics, and brief limits.

FAQ

What are the local formatting rules for pleadings in the Northern District of Illinois?

For Northern District of Illinois civil filings, start with Local Rule 5.2. It requires 8.5-by-11-inch opaque, unglazed, white paper, at least 2.0 line spacing for typed documents, 12-point body text, footnotes no smaller than 11-point, and 1-inch margins. Electronically filed documents must conform to those requirements.

What font size is required in the Central District of Illinois?

Central District of Illinois Civil Local Rule 5.1 requires typed body text to be 12-point or 14-point, with footnote text no smaller than 10-point. The rule also requires double-spaced typed lines, approximately 1-inch margins, numbered pages, and plain roman style.

What formatting rule applies in the Southern District of Illinois?

Southern District of Illinois Local Rule 5.1 governs serving and filing pleadings and other papers. Its paper-original format subsection applies to pro se parties who have not been authorized to use CM/ECF. Represented parties must file electronically unless specifically exempted for good cause.

Does Illinois federal court require line-numbered pleading paper?

The Northern, Central, and Southern District of Illinois local formatting rules reviewed here do not impose a California-style line-numbered pleading-paper requirement for ordinary civil filings. Illinois federal formatting focuses on district-specific font size, spacing, margins, page numbering, electronic filing, motion limits, exhibits, sealing, and redactions.

What are the motion brief page limits in the Northern District of Illinois?

Under Northern District of Illinois Local Rule 7.1, absent prior court approval, a motion, a brief in support of or in opposition to a motion, or specified objections may not exceed 15 pages. Briefs that exceed the limit must include a table of contents and a table of cases.

What are the motion brief limits in the Central District of Illinois?

Central District of Illinois Civil Local Rule 7.1(B)(4) limits memoranda in support of and in response to most motions to 15 double-spaced pages unless the memorandum satisfies a type-volume limitation of no more than 7,000 words or, for monospaced type, no more than 650 lines. Replies require leave of court.

What are the motion brief limits in the Southern District of Illinois?

Southern District of Illinois Local Rule 7.1(a)(3) generally limits briefs to 20 double-spaced typewritten pages in 12-point font unless the court authorizes otherwise. Local Rule 7.1(a)(4) says reply briefs are disfavored, capped at five pages, and should be filed only in exceptional circumstances.

Can pro se parties file by email in Illinois federal court?

It depends on the district. The Northern District says documents may not be filed by email or fax under Local Rule 5.2(d). The Central District allows specified email filing by non-registered, non-incarcerated pro se parties under Civil Local Rule 5.4. The Southern District rule reviewed here does not authorize pro se email filing; instead, Local Rule 5.1(b)(2) allows pro se parties to seek case-specific authorization to file through CM/ECF.

Are judge standing orders part of Illinois federal formatting rules?

Judge standing orders are not covered by this guide, but they can change or add formatting requirements. Always check the assigned judge's standing orders, individual practices, CM/ECF procedures, and any case-specific orders before filing.

Primary Source Index