The Illinois ARDC Annual Registration Form is the document every attorney admitted to practice law in Illinois must complete and submit each year to remain on the Master Roll of Attorneys, certify their status, and pay the registration fee required by Illinois Supreme Court Rule 756. The form is administered by the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission (ARDC), the agency the Illinois Supreme Court created to regulate the legal profession statewide.
If you miss the January 1 deadline, a $25 late fee kicks in on February 1, and a continued failure to register can result in your name being removed from the Master Roll, which means you cannot lawfully practice law in Illinois. Each year, the ARDC processes registration filings from more than 97,000 active and inactive Illinois attorneys, and the agency reports that the overwhelming majority now register through the online portal rather than by paper.
In this guide, you will learn:
- 📝 How to fill out every field on the ARDC Annual Registration Form, line by line
- 💳 The exact 2026 fees, deadlines, and late penalties tied to your registration status
- 🏦 How to disclose your IOLTA trust account, malpractice insurance, and pro bono hours
- 👩⚖️ Three full filled-out examples for an associate, a solo practitioner, and a retiring lawyer
- ⚠️ The most common ARDC registration mistakes and how to avoid removal from the Master Roll
What the Form Is and Who Must File It
The ARDC Annual Registration Form is the yearly certification each Illinois lawyer signs to confirm their contact information, professional status, trust account details, malpractice coverage, MCLE compliance, and pro bono service. The form exists because the Illinois Supreme Court requires every lawyer it has admitted to renew their authority to practice each calendar year, and the ARDC’s annual registration page is the single intake point for that renewal.
Every attorney admitted to the Illinois bar must file, regardless of where they live or whether they actively practice. That includes lawyers in Active status, Inactive status, Retirement status, Disability Inactive status, judges, House Counsel registrants under Rule 716, and out-of-state attorneys who hold an Illinois license but practice elsewhere. Even a lawyer who has not opened a file in 20 years must register each year or formally move to Retirement status.
The form’s purpose is broader than just collecting a fee. It allows the ARDC to maintain an accurate Master Roll, the official list of lawyers eligible to practice in Illinois, which judges, clients, and opposing counsel rely on through the public lawyer search. It also collects the IOLTA disclosure required by Illinois Rule of Professional Conduct 1.15, the malpractice insurance disclosure required by Rule 756(e), and the MCLE compliance attestation tied to the Illinois MCLE Board rules.
The current version of the form is the 2026 registration cycle, with a revision date printed in the lower-right corner of the paper version. The ARDC updates the form each fall, and you should always confirm you are using the current cycle’s version, which is dated for the calendar year you are registering for.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Before you log in to the ARDC attorney portal or open the paper form, gather everything you will need. Trying to hunt down an account number or a malpractice policy number after you have started the form is the single most common reason filers abandon a session and forget to come back before the deadline.
- Your ARDC ID number. This is the 7-digit number assigned to you at admission, printed on every ARDC notice you receive. Without it, you cannot log in to the portal or match a paper form to your record, and your filing will sit unprocessed.
- Your ARDC portal password or PIN. First-time filers receive a temporary PIN by mail in November. If you have lost it, use the password reset link before the deadline, because reset emails can take up to 24 hours.
- Your full legal name as admitted. The ARDC matches the name on file with the Illinois Supreme Court admission record. A mismatch causes a manual review hold.
- Your current business and residence addresses. Rule 756(b) requires you to keep both on file, and only the business address is published on the public Master Roll.
- IOLTA or trust account information. You must list the bank name, ABA routing number, and account number for any client trust account you maintain, even if it carried a zero balance all year.
- Malpractice insurance carrier and policy number. If you are in private practice, you must disclose whether you carry coverage, and if so, the carrier’s name and policy number. Lawyers without coverage must affirmatively say so.
- MCLE compliance status. Know whether you are in your reporting period, exempt, or newly admitted, because the form asks you to attest to compliance with the MCLE Rules 790 through 796.
- Pro bono service hours and dollar contributions. You must report the hours of qualifying pro bono service you provided in the prior year and any monetary contributions to legal aid organizations, as required by Rule 756(f).
- Payment method. The portal accepts Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, and electronic check (ACH). Paper filers must include a check or money order payable to the ARDC.
- Employer information. If you work for a firm, government agency, or corporation, have the employer’s full legal name and main office address ready.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
The fastest and most accurate way to access the form is through the ARDC attorney portal, which prefills your information from the Master Roll and walks you through each section in order. The portal opens for the new cycle in early November and stays open year-round for late filers, status changes, and address updates.
To log in, go to the portal, enter your 7-digit ARDC ID and your password. First-time users click the “New User” link and enter the temporary PIN that the ARDC mailed to your address of record in November. If your PIN never arrived, contact the ARDC registration team at (312) 565-2600 in Chicago or (217) 522-6838 in Springfield, and they will reissue one.
Paper forms are available by request only. The ARDC does not post a fillable PDF on its website because the agency wants to keep filers in the portal, where validation rules catch errors in real time. To request a paper form, call the registration team or write to the ARDC’s Chicago office at 130 East Randolph Drive, Suite 1500, Chicago, Illinois 60601. Expect a 5 to 7 business day mailing time.
If you are out of state, the portal is available 24/7 from any browser, and the ARDC accepts ACH payments drawn on out-of-state banks. Lawyers admitted under Rule 716 (House Counsel) or Rule 717 (Authorized House Counsel) use the same portal but answer an additional employer-certification page that does not appear for general filers.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out the ARDC Annual Registration Form Line by Line
The form is organized into eight major sections in the online portal, mirroring the paper form’s eight pages. Each section corresponds to a separate page in the portal, and you cannot advance until every required field on the current page is complete. Below is every field, in the order it appears.
Section 1, Box 1: ARDC Number
This box asks for the 7-digit identification number the ARDC assigned you when you were admitted. Type the number with no spaces, dashes, or letters, and the portal prefills it for you when you log in. Maria Chen, admitted in 2019, enters 6325491.
If you have two ARDC numbers because you were admitted, withdrew, and reinstated, use the active number printed on your most recent dues notice. A common mistake is typing your Illinois Supreme Court admission number instead of the ARDC number, which causes the system to reject the submission with an “ID not found” error. Many lawyers mistakenly believe the ARDC number changes when they move firms, but it stays with you for life.
Section 1, Box 2: Full Legal Name
Enter your full legal name exactly as it appears on your Illinois Supreme Court admission record. Use the format Last, First, Middle, with no titles, suffixes in the suffix field only, and no nicknames. David Robert Klein, Jr., enters Klein, David Robert in the name fields and Jr. in the suffix dropdown.
If you have legally changed your name since admission, you must first file a Name Change Notice with the ARDC under Rule 756(b), then update it during registration. The most common mistake is using a married name that has not been formally registered with the ARDC, which causes the public Master Roll to display the wrong name and can confuse opposing counsel and courts. A misconception here is that registering a new name on the form is enough; it is not, and you must file the separate name-change documentation.
Section 1, Box 3: Date of Birth
The portal prefills your date of birth from the Master Roll, but you must verify it. The format is MM/DD/YYYY. Aisha Williams, born March 14, 1985, sees 03/14/1985 prefilled and clicks “Verify”.
If the date is wrong, do not edit it inside the form. Instead, contact the ARDC registration team to correct it with documentation, because the date of birth is tied to your unique record and cannot be self-edited. A common mistake is assuming a typo is harmless; an incorrect date of birth can delay MCLE exemption processing for lawyers age 75 and older. Many filers think the ARDC publishes their date of birth, but it does not, and the field is internal only.
Section 2, Box 4: Registration Status
This box asks which of the seven status categories applies to you for the new year: Active, Inactive, Retirement, Disability Inactive, Judge, House Counsel, or Authorized House Counsel. Select one from the dropdown. Marcus Bell, a litigator at a Chicago firm, selects Active.
If you are changing status, the portal will prompt you with follow-up questions, such as the effective date of retirement or the start date of judicial service. The most common mistake is selecting Inactive when you mean Retirement, which is a one-way status change with very different fee and reinstatement rules under Rule 756(a)(5) and (a)(6). Many lawyers believe Retirement status means they can never practice again, but they may apply for reinstatement with the ARDC, subject to MCLE catch-up and a fee.
Section 2, Box 5: Effective Date of Status
If you selected anything other than Active, enter the date the new status takes effect. The format is MM/DD/YYYY, and the date cannot be earlier than your last registration anniversary. Janet Park, retiring after 40 years, enters 01/01/2026.
If you select Active, this box does not appear. A common mistake is back-dating the status to avoid a fee, which the ARDC flags as a misrepresentation under Rule 8.4(c) and can refer for discipline. A misconception is that you can retire mid-year for a partial fee refund; the ARDC does not prorate fees, and the refund policy is published on the registration page.
Section 3, Box 6: Business Address
Enter the full street address of your primary place of practice, including suite number, city, state, and ZIP+4. P.O. boxes are allowed only if you also list a physical street address. Carlos Rivera, a solo in Aurora, enters 100 South River Street, Suite 210, Aurora, IL 60506-4123.
If you split time between offices, list the one where you receive most client mail. The most common mistake is leaving off the suite number, which causes mail from the ARDC and from clients responding to the public Master Roll to be returned. Many lawyers wrongly believe a home address can substitute for a business address; if you practice from home, that is fine, but it will be displayed publicly on the Master Roll unless you request a confidentiality designation.
Section 3, Box 7: Residence Address
Enter your home address, including unit number, city, state, and ZIP+4. This information is not published publicly. Janet Park enters 5402 North Sheridan Road, Apt 1208, Chicago, IL 60640-1955.
If you live outside the United States, enter the foreign address using the country dropdown at the bottom of the field. The most common mistake is using the same address for business and residence without flagging it; if you do practice from home, check the “home is also my office” box, or the system will reject the duplicate. A misconception is that the ARDC publishes the residence address, but Rule 756(b) keeps it confidential.
Section 3, Box 8: Email Address
Enter the email address where you want to receive ARDC notices, including the next year’s registration reminder. The ARDC requires an email address from every active registrant under a 2017 amendment to Rule 756(b). Marcus Bell enters mbell@bellandassoc.com.
If you change firms mid-year, update this field within 60 days. The most common mistake is using a personal email that you rarely check, which causes you to miss the November registration reminder. Many lawyers believe the email is published on the Master Roll, but only the business email is, and only if you check the “display publicly” box.
Section 3, Box 9: Telephone Number
Enter your business telephone number with area code, in the format (XXX) XXX-XXXX. Aisha Williams enters (312) 555-0184.
If you do not have a separate business line, you may use a cell number. The most common mistake is leaving this blank because you prefer email; it is a required field, and the form will not advance. A misconception is that the number is sold to marketers, but the ARDC does not share contact information with third parties.
Section 4, Box 10: Employer Information
If you are employed by a firm, government agency, corporation, or nonprofit, enter the employer’s full legal name and main office address. Solos enter “Self-Employed” and their own firm name. Marcus Bell enters Bell & Associates, LLC, 222 West Adams Street, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60606.
If you have multiple employers, list the one where you spend the most hours. The most common mistake is listing a “doing business as” name instead of the legal entity name, which can break the link between you and your firm in the public Master Roll. A misconception is that government lawyers do not need to list an employer; they do, and they list the agency by its legal name.
Section 5, Box 11: Trust Account Disclosure (IOLTA)
This is the section every solo and small-firm lawyer should slow down on. You must answer “Yes” or “No” to whether you maintained a client trust account during the prior year, and if yes, list the bank name, branch address, ABA routing number, and account number for each IOLTA account. Carlos Rivera enters Yes, lists First Midwest Bank, 200 East New York Street, Aurora, IL 60505, ABA 071901604, Account 4420019887.
If you do not handle client funds, you must check the “I do not maintain a trust account” certification, which triggers a follow-up question about why. The most common mistake is omitting an IOLTA account because it had a zero balance; you must still list it as long as it was open. The direct consequence of misreporting is a referral to the Lawyer Trust Fund of Illinois for audit, and possible discipline under Rule 1.15. Many lawyers wrongly believe a non-IOLTA business operating account must be listed; only client trust accounts are reported here.
Section 5, Box 12: Trust Account Overdraft Authorization
You must authorize your bank to notify the ARDC of any overdraft on your IOLTA account, as required by Rule 1.15(h). The portal generates a pre-filled authorization you can email or print and mail to your bank. Carlos Rivera clicks “Generate Authorization” and emails the PDF to his banker at First Midwest.
If your bank is not on the approved financial institutions list, you must move your IOLTA to one that is, because only approved banks have agreed to send overdraft notices. The most common mistake is checking the box without actually sending the authorization to the bank, which leaves you out of compliance. A misconception is that the overdraft notice is automatic; it is not, and the lawyer must initiate it.
Section 6, Box 13: Malpractice Insurance Disclosure
Rule 756(e) requires every lawyer in private practice to disclose whether they carry malpractice insurance. Answer “Yes” or “No”, and if yes, enter the carrier’s name and policy number. Maria Chen enters Yes, ALPS Property & Casualty Insurance Company, Policy ALPS-2026-554120.
If you answer “No”, you must take a short online self-assessment course on the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism website within 60 days. The most common mistake is reporting “No” because the firm carries the policy in the firm’s name; if you are an employed associate, you should report the firm’s policy. A misconception is that government and in-house lawyers must report; they do not, because Rule 756(e) applies to private practitioners only.
Section 6, Box 14: Self-Assessment Acknowledgment
If you reported no malpractice coverage, this box appears with a link to the self-assessment. Check the box once you have completed the course and enter the completion date. Aisha Williams, a new solo without insurance, enters 12/14/2025.
If you skip the course, the ARDC forwards your name to the Commission on Professionalism for follow-up. The most common mistake is checking the box without finishing the course; the system later cross-checks the completion record. A misconception is that the self-assessment is a public record; it is not, and the result is shared only with the ARDC.
Section 7, Box 15: MCLE Compliance Attestation
This box asks you to attest under penalty of perjury that you are in compliance with the MCLE Rules 790 through 796 for your current reporting period, or that you are exempt or newly admitted. Marcus Bell, in the second year of his reporting period, attests “In compliance, reporting period ends 06/30/2027“.
If you are not in compliance, you must select “Not in compliance”, which puts you on the MCLE Board’s non-compliance list and can lead to removal from the Master Roll. The most common mistake is attesting to compliance when you are short on hours, hoping to catch up later; the Illinois MCLE Board audits up to 2% of attestations randomly. A misconception is that the ARDC tracks your hours; the MCLE Board does, and the ARDC only collects the attestation.
Section 7, Box 16: Pro Bono Service Reporting
Rule 756(f) requires you to report the number of qualifying pro bono hours and dollar contributions to legal aid organizations made during the prior calendar year. Enter the hours as a whole number and the dollars as a whole-dollar amount. Janet Park reports 45 hours and $500 to the Lawyers Trust Fund.
If you did no pro bono work, enter zeros; the report is mandatory but the service itself is voluntary. The most common mistake is counting reduced-fee work as pro bono; only free service to people of limited means qualifies. A misconception is that the report is anonymous; it is associated with your record but published only in aggregate by the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism.
Section 8, Box 17: Registration Fee and Payment
The portal calculates your fee based on your status and years admitted, and shows the total. Choose credit card or ACH and enter your payment information. Marcus Bell, admitted in 2018, sees $385 and pays by Visa.
If you file after February 1, the portal automatically adds a $25 late fee. The most common mistake is starting the form, leaving it open, and forgetting to submit payment; an unpaid registration is treated as not filed. A misconception is that filing alone counts; under Rule 756, registration is complete only when both the form and the fee are received.
Section 8, Box 18: Signature and Certification
The final box is the digital signature, where you type your full name and click “I certify under penalty of perjury”. The portal date-stamps it. Aisha Williams types Aisha M. Williams and clicks Submit on 12/15/2025.
If you are filing a paper form, sign in blue or black ink only. The most common mistake is typing initials instead of the full legal name, which the portal rejects. A misconception is that the signature is just a formality; it is a sworn certification, and a false statement can lead to discipline under Rule 8.4(c).
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
The three scenarios below show how very different lawyers complete the same form. Each one walks through the most important fields from start to finish.
Scenario 1: Marcus Bell, Active Solo Practitioner in Chicago
Marcus runs a 3-lawyer civil litigation firm and has practiced for 8 years. He maintains an IOLTA, carries malpractice coverage, and is mid-MCLE cycle.
| Form Section | What Marcus Enters |
|---|---|
| ARDC Number | 6298145 |
| Full Legal Name | Bell, Marcus James |
| Registration Status | Active |
| Business Address | 222 West Adams Street, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60606-5208 |
| Employer | Bell & Associates, LLC |
| IOLTA Disclosure | Yes — Chase Bank, ABA 071000013, Account 884420198 |
| Malpractice Insurance | Yes — ALPS Property & Casualty, Policy ALPS-2026-554120 |
| MCLE Attestation | In compliance, period ends 06/30/2027 |
| Pro Bono Hours | 32 hours, $250 to CARPLS |
| Fee Paid | $385 by Visa |
Scenario 2: Aisha Williams, Newly Admitted Associate
Aisha was sworn in last May and is registering for the first time. She works for a mid-sized firm, and her first-year registration fee is waived.
| Form Section | What Aisha Enters |
|---|---|
| ARDC Number | 6342789 |
| Full Legal Name | Williams, Aisha Marie |
| Registration Status | Active |
| Business Address | 155 North Wacker Drive, Suite 4000, Chicago, IL 60606-1759 |
| Employer | Greene Espel Whitaker LLP |
| IOLTA Disclosure | No — I do not maintain a trust account |
| Malpractice Insurance | Yes — covered under firm policy with CNA, Policy CNA-IL-2026-7741 |
| MCLE Attestation | Newly admitted, exempt this period |
| Pro Bono Hours | 12 hours, $0 |
| Fee Paid | $0, first-year waiver |
Scenario 3: Janet Park, Moving to Retirement Status
Janet has practiced for 41 years and is retiring on January 1. She has closed her IOLTA and dropped her malpractice policy.
| Form Section | What Janet Enters |
|---|---|
| ARDC Number | 3098441 |
| Full Legal Name | Park, Janet Soo |
| Registration Status | Retirement |
| Effective Date | 01/01/2026 |
| Business Address | N/A — Retired |
| Residence Address | 5402 North Sheridan Road, Apt 1208, Chicago, IL 60640-1955 |
| IOLTA Disclosure | No — closed 12/15/2025 |
| Malpractice Insurance | Not required, retired |
| MCLE Attestation | Exempt, retirement status |
| Fee Paid | $0 retirement |
How to File the Completed Form
Most Illinois lawyers file through the ARDC attorney portal. Once you click Submit, the system displays a confirmation number and emails a receipt to the address on file. Save the confirmation number and the PDF receipt for your records, because that is your proof of filing if a question arises later.
Filing by mail is allowed but discouraged. Mail the completed paper form and a check or money order payable to ARDC to the agency’s Chicago office at 130 East Randolph Drive, Suite 1500, Chicago, Illinois 60601. The agency also accepts paper filings at its Springfield office at 3161 West White Oaks Drive, Suite 301, Springfield, Illinois 62704. Mailed filings are considered timely if postmarked by January 31, and processing takes 10 to 15 business days, after which the ARDC mails a receipt.
Filing in person is available at either office during business hours, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Bring the completed form and payment, and ask the front desk for a date-stamped copy as your receipt. The ARDC does not accept fax filings for annual registration.
For payment, the portal accepts Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, and ACH (electronic check). Paper filers may pay only by check or money order; cash is not accepted. Out-of-state lawyers may use any U.S.-drawn check or international wire arranged through the registration team at (312) 565-2600.
What Happens After You File
Once your registration and fee are received, the ARDC posts your status to the public Master Roll within 5 business days for online filings and 10 to 15 business days for mailed filings. Your name, ARDC number, business address, status, and admission date appear at iardc.org/Lawyer-Search, and judges, clerks, and clients can verify you instantly.
If you owe money, made a math error on the paper form, or skipped a required field, the ARDC sends a deficiency notice by email and gives you 30 days to cure. A continued failure to cure puts you on the non-compliance list and triggers a removal proceeding under Rule 756(d). Lawyers removed from the Master Roll for non-registration cannot lawfully practice in Illinois until they cure and pay a reinstatement fee.
If you filed a status change, such as moving to Inactive or Retirement, your malpractice insurer, the Illinois MCLE Board, and the Lawyers Trust Fund of Illinois all receive automatic notifications. You should expect a follow-up email from the MCLE Board confirming your exemption, and from your malpractice carrier confirming any policy change.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
- Missing the January 31 deadline. A late fee of $25 applies on February 1, and continued delay leads to removal from the Master Roll.
- Using the wrong ARDC ID. Typing your Supreme Court admission number instead of the 7-digit ARDC number rejects the submission.
- Selecting Inactive instead of Retirement. Inactive status carries a higher fee and different reinstatement rules.
- Omitting an IOLTA account. Failing to list a zero-balance trust account violates Rule 1.15 and can trigger an audit.
- Skipping the overdraft authorization. Checking the box but not sending the authorization to your bank leaves you out of compliance.
- Lying about malpractice coverage. A false answer is a Rule 8.4(c) violation and can lead to discipline.
- Attesting to MCLE compliance when short on hours. A random audit can lead to non-compliance status and removal.
- Reporting reduced-fee work as pro bono. Only free service to people of limited means qualifies under Rule 756(f).
- Leaving the registration unpaid. A submitted form without payment is treated as not filed.
- Using a personal email you never check. You will miss the November reminder and the deficiency notice.
- Back-dating a status change. The ARDC flags this as misrepresentation and can refer for discipline.
- Typing initials in the signature field. The portal requires your full legal name typed in full.
Do’s and Don’ts
- Do log in to the portal in early November, because that is when the new cycle opens and the system is least crowded.
- Do save your confirmation number in a folder labeled with the year, because it is your proof of filing.
- Do update your address within 60 days of any move, because Rule 756(b) requires it independent of registration.
- Do contact the ARDC for a paper form only if you cannot file online, because the portal catches errors that paper does not.
- Do verify your IOLTA bank is on the approved list, because non-approved banks force you to move accounts.
- Do print the trust account overdraft authorization and send it to your bank the same day you file.
- Don’t wait until January 31, because portal traffic spikes and password resets can take 24 hours.
- Don’t check Inactive to save money if you plan to keep practicing, because practicing while Inactive is unauthorized practice.
- Don’t ignore a deficiency notice, because the 30-day cure window passes quickly.
- Don’t share your ARDC PIN with a paralegal or assistant, because the certification is yours under penalty of perjury.
- Don’t list a P.O. Box alone as your business address, because Rule 756(b) requires a physical address.
- Don’t forget to update your malpractice carrier on the form when you switch insurers mid-year.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
- Pro — It is simple for most lawyers. The portal prefills most fields, so a typical Active filer finishes in 10 minutes.
- Pro — It saves money. No outside help is needed, and the fee itself is the only cost.
- Pro — You learn the form. Filing yourself teaches you the trust account, MCLE, and pro bono rules.
- Pro — Faster confirmation. Online filing posts to the Master Roll within 5 business days.
- Pro — Direct control. You see every entry before you certify, reducing the chance of someone else’s error.
- Con — Status changes are easy to misclassify. Mixing up Inactive and Retirement has long-term consequences.
- Con — IOLTA disclosure can be tricky. Solos with multiple accounts often need help getting it right.
- Con — Malpractice rules are nuanced. Associates covered under a firm policy sometimes report incorrectly.
- Con — A missed deadline is hard to undo. Reinstatement after removal is expensive and slow.
- Con — MCLE attestation under penalty of perjury can carry discipline risk if filed without checking your hours.
Active vs. Inactive vs. Retirement Status at a Glance
| Feature | Status Options |
|---|---|
| Active | Full practice rights, full fee, IOLTA and malpractice disclosure required |
| Inactive | No practice, lower fee ($121), no IOLTA disclosure, must reinstate to practice |
| Retirement | No practice, $0 fee, exempt from MCLE, formal reinstatement required to return |
FAQs
Do I have to register every year if I do not practice in Illinois?
Yes. Every Illinois-admitted lawyer must register annually, regardless of where they live or whether they practice, until they move to Retirement status under Rule 756(a)(6).
Is there a fee for first-year lawyers?
No. Lawyers admitted in the prior calendar year pay $0 for their first registration cycle, but they must still complete every other section of the form.
Do I list my law firm’s operating account as a trust account?
No. Only client trust accounts (IOLTA or non-IOLTA) belong in Box 11; firm operating accounts and personal accounts are never reported.
Do I write my maiden name or married name in Box 2?
Yes to whichever is on file with the Illinois Supreme Court; a name change must be filed separately with the ARDC before the new name can appear on the form.
Is the residence address in Box 7 published on the public Master Roll?
No. Rule 756(b) keeps the residence address confidential, and only the business address from Box 6 is shown in the public lawyer search.
Do I report malpractice insurance if I am an in-house lawyer?
No. Rule 756(e) applies to lawyers in private practice; in-house, government, and judicial lawyers skip Box 13.
Can I file the form by fax?
No. The ARDC accepts only online portal, mail, and in-person filings; faxed registrations are not processed.
Is the $25 late fee waived for hardship?
No. The late fee under Rule 756(d) is automatic on February 1, and the ARDC does not waive it for personal hardship.
Do I need to attach my MCLE certificate to the registration?
No. The MCLE Board tracks your hours separately, and you only attest to compliance in Box 15.
Can my paralegal submit the form for me?
No. Only the lawyer can submit the form, because Box 18 is a personal certification under penalty of perjury.
Is my registration complete the moment I click Submit?
No. Registration is complete only when both the form and the payment are received; an unpaid submission is treated as not filed.
Do I have to disclose pro bono hours if I did none?
Yes. The Box 16 report is mandatory, and you enter zero hours and zero dollars if you did no qualifying service.
Do judges have to file the form?
Yes. Sitting Illinois judges file under the Judge status category, pay no fee, and are exempt from malpractice and IOLTA disclosure.
Can I change my status mid-year?
Yes. You may move from Active to Inactive or Retirement at any time through the portal, but the ARDC does not refund or prorate the original fee.
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