This page provides general legal information and calculation tools, not legal advice. DocketMath is not a law firm and does not provide legal representation, and using this site does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws change and exceptions apply, so deadlines and amounts specific to your situation should be confirmed with a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction.

Public Records Fee in Illinois

Illinois law sets the fee for public records under the Freedom of Information Act at the amount codified in 5 ILCS 140/6. That statute establishes the charges a public body may impose for copying, certifying, and searching records, including any allowable hourly rate for document retrieval. The rule provides specific formulas and caps, which vary depending on the type of record and the requester’s purpose. For exact dollar figures and how each component is calculated, the official text at the Illinois General Assembly website contains the complete breakdown. The worked example below illustrates how the fee is applied in a typical scenario. Use the DocketMath calculator to estimate your own public records fee based on your specific request parameters.

Governing authority

In Illinois, the public records fee rule is set by 5 ILCS 140/6. The verified packet cites 5 ILCS 140/6 (https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs5.asp?ActID=85&ChapterID=2).

Illinois public records fee: governed by 5 ILCS 140/6. The verified packet cites 5 ILCS 140/6 (https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs5.asp?ActID=85&ChapterID=2).

Estimate your own result: every situation has exceptions that can change the outcome. Use the public records fee calculator to estimate your specific figure.

This page provides general legal information and calculation tools, not legal advice. DocketMath is not a law firm and does not provide legal representation, and using this site does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws change and exceptions apply, so deadlines and amounts specific to your situation should be confirmed with a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction.