eFiling with File & ServeXpress

Illinois

File & Serve Illinois (FSIL) is an eFiling application for the statewide eFiling manager, Odyssey eFileIL.

FSIL is provided by File & ServeXpress, the same company that has provided eFiling and eService throughout Illinois since 2005. FSIL can be used for eFiling and eService in all Illinois courts that have gone live on the Odyssey eFileIL system.

The FSIL Advantage

FSIL offers one flat rate for all features, so there’s no confusion around multiple pricing plans or subscriptions. Filers also have access to extensive customer support and training.

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Create an account through FSIL. Fill out the intake form and have your login credentials sent to your inbox.

eFile

You can log in with an existing FSIL Odyssey account to access your FSX account dashboard.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED, BUILT IN

Features & Benefits

Multi-File Drag & Drop Uploads

Automatic File Naming

Service Reports Per Envelope

Anytime Service List Updates

Performance Improvements

Bundled
Value

Monthly
Billing

PDF
Conversion

24/7 Live Support

Permanent Document Storage

Azure
Security

Trusted by courts like yours

See What Filers are saying about our time-saving features

Love the ease with which to upload multiple documents at one time. It is much more efficient.

The user friendly attributes made quick work of filing and serving all case documents.

The best feature is dragging all the documents that need to be filed at one time, it saves so much time.

SUPPORTING YOUR SUCCESS

Training

File & ServeXpress provides you with exceptional training to help improve your firm’s eFiling process. Our team of seasoned training professionals are experienced working with law firms to increase productivity and maximize time constraints.

If you have any additional questions, you can contact File & ServeXpress Client Support at (888)529-7587, or email them at support@fileandserve.com. If you would like to request a training, please contact fileandservetraining@fileandserve.com.

FSIL Registering a New Account FSIL Firm Administrator Guide FSIL Dashboard Overview FSIL Case Initiation Guide FSIL Subsequent Filing Guide

FSIL Filing & Document Review FSIL Cook County Functionality FSIL New Case Filing FSIL Subsequent User Guide Filing

eFiling is required for civil cases in the Illinois Supreme Court, Appellate Court, and Circuit Courts, subject to specific exemptions.

eFiling is also available for other case types, depending on the court and case type. Criminal, quasi-criminal, and juvenile matters may have different filing requirements.

For current requirements and exemptions, refer to the Illinois Courts eFiling information.
Most documents filed in civil cases must be submitted electronically. Certain documents and circumstances may be exempt from eFiling, including documents filed by incarcerated self-represented litigants, wills, certain juvenile documents, and documents for which the court has granted an exemption for good cause.

Refer to Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9 for current requirements and exemptions.
FSIL charges a transaction fee for eFiling and eService. Applicable court filing fees and eFileIL convenience fees are additional.

For current FSIL pricing, please refer to the applicable pricing information.
Payment for court filing fees through eFileIL is made by credit card or other payment methods supported by the system. Firm Administrators can manage payment information through the Payment Accounts section.

Monthly billing may also be available. Contact File & ServeXpress for information about eligibility and setup.

If a filing is rejected by the Clerk, applicable court filing fees and processing fees are not charged for the rejected filing.
Yes, all users need a login.

You can obtain a login and password online directly by visiting the File & Serve Illinois website: www.fileandserveillinois.com – and select Register with E-mail.

NOTE FOR NEW REGISTRANTS: the FIRM ADMIN should create an account and register all filers at the firm, which will link all filers to the firm’s account. If a firm member registers individually, it will require eFileIL to merge the accounts.
A computer (either PC or Mac) with internet access.

A scanner: this is not required but recommended if you need to scan paper documents.

An internet connection and a browser. Currently, only Internet Explorer (Version 6 or greater) is supported.

To view case documents, you need to download and install Adobe Reader. This free reader can be downloaded from Adobe’s website.

To post documents to the website, they must be in PDF format. We offer FREE PDF conversion of documents.

If you need free PDF conversion, you can attach a document(s) in an editable version in “Step 3 – Documents.” The File & Serve Illinois system will automatically convert the document to PDF and will attach both the native format and the PDF format to the transaction. Both formats of the document(s) will be provided for viewing in the “Documents” section of “Step 5 – Review & Submit” prior to submitting the transaction.
If you have filed into any Court on the eFileIL system, then you have a user name and password; you can use that user name and password to login to File & Serve Illinois. (This will NOT be the same login as your File & ServeXpress user name.)

If you do not have an eFileIL user name and password, please go to www.fileandserveillinois.com and select Register with E-Mail.

If you are not sure if you have already registered your email, click the “Forgot Password” link and enter it in the Email ID field. If you have not already registered your email, you will receive the following message: No user is registered with that email address.

NOTE FOR NEW REGISTRANTS: the FIRM ADMIN should create an account and register all filers at the firm, which will link all filers to the firm’s account. If a firm member registers individually, it will require eFileIL to merge the accounts.

Consult our File & Serve Illinois Training & Resources page to register for live webinars, view on-demand Training Videos and download step-by-step User Guides.

With each filing, you provide the necessary case information and upload your documents. You may file several documents in a filing and each document can have multiple exhibits.

The filing fees will be automatically attached to the filing, and you will pay by credit card. If you choose to register for monthly billing with File & Serve Illinois, you will be billed within thirty (30) days. Please contact Customer Support for details on how to register for monthly billing: 888-529-7587.

File & Serve Illinois is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Consult your local court rules for the court review timelines and schedules. Note: The system may be temporarily offline from time to time for maintenance purposes.

After you file documents, you can also serve the documents electronically onto the registered parties.
According to Section 7 of the Supreme Court of Illinois Electronic Filing Procedures and User Manual regarding “Timing of e-filing; mechanics:”

The EFSP and the EFM are agents of the Court for the purpose of eFiling and receipt of electronic documents. Upon submission of an eFiled document, the EFSP will email to the registered user a transaction confirmation which shall serve as proof of submission.

A document will be considered timely submitted if eFiled before midnight on or before the date on which the document is due.

A document submitted electronically after midnight or on a day when the Clerk’s office is not open for business will, unless rejected, be file stamped as filed on the next day the Clerk’s office is open for business.

An eFiled document submitted to the Clerk for filing shall be deemed filed upon review and acceptance by the Clerk. The filed document shall be endorsed with the clerk’s electronic file mark setting forth, at a minimum, the identification of the Court, the Clerk, the date and the time of filing.

After the Clerk reviews an eFiled document, the registered user will receive an e-mail notification of the review results.

In the event the Clerk rejects a submitted document, the document will not be filed and the registered user will receive an electronic notification of the reason(s) for the rejection.

A document requiring a motion and a Court order allowing its filing that is properly eFiled pursuant to subparagraph d of paragraph 5 of this manual, will be deemed filed on the date the motion is granted.

If an eFiled document is untimely due to a technical failure or a system outage, the registered user may seek appropriate relief from the Court, upon good cause shown.
When you file, you are asked to select the type of document you are filing. The Court has hundreds of document types and selecting the correct one can be difficult.

The state is working towards creating a standard configuration which will be adopted by each county in the state. If a filing code that you are looking for is not available, please Contact eFileIL to let them know.
Yes. The eFileIL system adheres to state and federal security regulations and meets Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS) to protect filer and transaction information.
FSIL does not transfer properties in a word.doc file. FSIL does not keep the changes in a “track changes” markup. If a document includes comments that are visible in the document, these visible comments/notes will be included in the PDF conversion – but this is not “metadata.”

The filer is responsible for completing and uploading the summons with the initial filing. Upload the summons as the lead document using the appropriate filing code.

Once the filing is accepted, the summons will be returned with the accepted filing and will be available in the Transaction Summary.

For information about summons delivery, contact the Cook County Sheriff or an authorized process server.
Processing times vary based on the Clerk's workload. You can monitor the status of your filing through the Transaction Summary in FSIL.
If the Clerk accepts your filing, the filing date is generally the date the document was submitted through the eFiling system, subject to the applicable court rules and filing deadlines.
Self-represented parties may qualify for an exemption from eFiling and may be permitted to file documents in paper form. Eligibility and exemption requirements are determined by the applicable court rules and procedures.

For current Cook County exemption information, refer to the Circuit Court of Cook County.
Filers may use an approved Electronic Filing Service Provider, such as FSIL, to submit documents electronically.
Yes. An email address is required to register for an eFiling account and receive filing and service notifications.
Access to case documents is governed by Illinois court rules and applicable privacy and confidentiality requirements. Public case documents may be available through the Illinois Courts' online case information systems, while restricted documents are available only to authorized users.
Bulk filing availability depends on the filing type and court requirements. Follow the filing options available in FSIL for your specific case.
The Cross-Reference Number field provides the court with additional information required for certain case types. In Cook County, an Attorney Code may also be required for certain filings.
Review your documents, filing codes, case information, and filing requirements before submitting. If a filing is rejected, the reason will be provided in the filing rejection notification and Transaction Summary.

Review the applicable Illinois court rules and local filing requirements before resubmitting a rejected filing.
Contact the appropriate court Clerk's Office to determine how the filing should be corrected. Procedures may vary depending on the case and filing.
You will receive a filing notification explaining the reason for the rejection or return. Review the reason provided by the Clerk, make the necessary corrections, and resubmit the filing when appropriate.
Your filing confirmation email and transaction or envelope ID provide confirmation that your filing was submitted. You can also access the Transaction Summary in File & Serve Illinois for additional filing details.
Yes. For eligible cases, you can select File Only, File & Serve, or Serve Only when submitting a transaction.
In Cook County, search for an existing case using the case number and follow the case number format displayed in File & Serve Illinois.
Follow the filing workflow in File & Serve Illinois to select the appropriate court, division, case type, and filing code. For additional guidance, visit our resources.

courts, case types, rules, and practices currently available through FSIL

Available Courts

Cook County Circuit Court Asbestos Cases:

The Case Management Order for Cook County asbestos cases does not change and users will continue to electronically serve in these cases via File & ServeXpress.

Case Types:

Chancery, Child Support, Civil, Criminal, Domestic Relations, Domestic Violence, Elder Law and Miscellaneous Remedies, Probate County Division
- adoption
- marriage of minors
- annexation and deannexation of land to a tax body
- elections
- inheritance taxes
- mental health proceedings
- real estate taxes
- municipal organizations
- orders of protection (filed in conjunction with a mental health proceeding)

Please refer to the following documents for rules and practices specific to Illinois:

Asbestos Docket

Filing into the Illinois Asbestos Docket?

Access resources specific to Asbestos cases in Cook and Madison Counties.

Cook County Resources

Madison County Resources

eFiling with File & ServeXpress

Illinois