What does Illinois call proof of service?
Endorsed return or affidavit
Document Guides
Illinois private process-server return
Section 1-109 is the reason a private Illinois return is not automatically a notary session. Who may serve still depends on the county population and the server's license.
iRemoteNotary Editorial Team
Published and reviewed by iRemoteNotary
Last reviewed October 7, 2026
Quick Answer
What proof does Illinois use, and does it explicitly require a notary?
Endorsed return or affidavit. Section 1-109 is the reason a private Illinois return is not automatically a notary session. Who may serve still depends on the county population and the server's license.
Do not assume a notary is required from the document title. Send the unsigned page if the signature block is unclear.
Proof at a glance
| Question | This jurisdiction |
|---|---|
| Proof name | Endorsed return or affidavit |
| Private server | Affidavit with § 1-109 effect |
| Officer | Sheriff or coroner endorsement |
| Traditional notary explicit? | No further oath under § 1-109 |
| Perjury alternative? | Yes |
| Recipient acceptance of remote notarization | No express recipient-acceptance source was identified in the official materials reviewed. |
Current controlling rule
Illinois proof is controlled, for this guide, by 735 ILCS 5/2-202 and 735 ILCS 5/1-109. Section 1-109 is the reason a private Illinois return is not automatically a notary session. Who may serve still depends on the county population and the server's license.
No single effective date is stored beyond the source that was reviewed on October 7, 2026.
What this jurisdiction calls the proof
The opened materials call it: Endorsed return or affidavit. Classification used in the authority record: affidavit admin officer not specified.
Private process server
A private person files an affidavit. In counties under 2,000,000, a licensed or registered private detective or a certified agency employee may serve without a special appointment. Section 1-109 covers a return or proof of service and says there is no further requirement that it be sworn before an authorized person.
Sheriff, officer, or other listed server
A sheriff or coroner endorses a return.
Is an oath or notary explicitly required?
The controlling proof sentence reviewed here does not name a notary or other oath officer.
A penalty-of-perjury or unsworn-declaration alternative is part of the official path.
Fields the server has to complete
- Time, manner, and place for service outside Illinois
- Detective license or agency certification where 2-202 requires it
When a different kind of process uses different proof
out of state: Outside Illinois, any non-party adult over 18 files an affidavit of time, manner, and place.
Remote online notarization and court acceptance
No express recipient-acceptance source was identified in the official materials reviewed.
Remote online notarization is performed under the law of the online notary's commissioning state. When the commission is a Florida commission, Florida's remote online notarization statute governs the notarial act. The court or other recipient still decides whether to accept the return.
If the page is only a declaration, certificate, or signed return, do not add a notary certificate.
Send the unsigned proof
Not sure whether your exact proof or return requires a notarial act? Send the unsigned document for review before scheduling.
What to send iRemoteNotary
- The unsigned proof, return, or affidavit
- The court, and that the case is connected to Illinois
- The form number and revision if one is printed
- Whether the signature block is a jurat or a perjury declaration
Send the unsigned proof
Not sure whether your exact proof or return requires a notarial act? Send the unsigned document for review before scheduling.
Process-serving companies and law firms
A coordinator can submit the request. The signer is the person named on the certificate. There is no organization account, dashboard, volume price, or court-filing service.
One signer and one notarization is $25 domestically. Each additional notarization is $15. An additional signer is $10. A witness is $15. An international session coordination fee of $25 applies when a signer is outside the United States. An international session commonly starts at $50 for one signer and one notarization.
Send the unsigned proof
Not sure whether your exact proof or return requires a notarial act? Send the unsigned document for review before scheduling.
Frequently asked questions
Does a sheriff or officer use the same signature block?
A sheriff or coroner endorses a return.
Is a penalty-of-perjury declaration an alternative?
Yes, on the path described on this page.
Did the official materials expressly accept remote notarization of the proof?
No express recipient-acceptance source was identified in the official materials reviewed.
Related pages
Sources and Official References
The following primary sources support the legal and procedural information in this guide. Requirements can change, so confirm current rules with the receiving organization before relying on a notarized document.
735 ILCS 5/2-202(opens in a new tab)
Illinois
Accessed October 7, 2026
Send the unsigned page
Not sure whether your exact proof or return requires a notarial act? Send the unsigned document for review before scheduling.