Illinois Small Claims Court
Owed money in Illinois? Here's the dollar limit, the court that hears it, what filing costs — and a free demand letter to send first, which resolves many disputes without a case. Free, no signup.
Maintained by Rapi Stack · Every state-specific figure on this page is cited to its statute or official agency page · Dataset last verified 2026 · Not legal advice.
Illinois small claims · as of 2026
- Maximum claim
- $10,000
- Court
- Small claims in the Circuit Court (simplified procedure under Supreme Court Rules 281-289)
- Filing fee
- Varies by county — set by county ordinance within Supreme Court fee schedules under 705 ILCS 105/27.1b; commonly ~$89 for the smallest claims up to ~$250-$330 for claims near $10,000 depending on county (Cook County runs higher). Check the circuit clerk's fee schedule for your county.
- Lawyers at the hearing
- Allowed. Corporations appearing as plaintiff generally need counsel except as permitted by Rule 282(b).
Source: Ill. Sup. Ct. Rules 281-289; 705 ILCS 105/27.1b (fees) · verify ↗. Limits and fees change — confirm with the Small claims in the Circuit Court (simplified procedure under Supreme Court Rules 281-289) clerk before filing.
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How to file in Illinois — the short version
- Demand first. Send the letter above by a trackable method and keep proof — judges expect it, and it often gets you paid without a case.
- File with the Small claims in the Circuit Court (simplified procedure under Supreme Court Rules 281-289) where the defendant lives or the dispute happened. Fee: Varies by county — set by county ordinance within Supreme Court fee schedules under 705 ILCS 105/27.1b; commonly ~$89 for the smallest claims up to ~$250-$330 for claims near $10,000 depending on county (Cook County runs higher). Check the circuit clerk's fee schedule for your county..
- Serve the defendant the way Illinois rules require (clerk, sheriff, certified mail, or process server — ask the clerk). Bad service is the #1 way cases get thrown out.
- Bring evidence: contracts, invoices, photos, messages, this demand letter and its delivery proof, and any witnesses.
- Collect. If you win and they don't pay, ask the clerk about garnishment, levy, and liens.
Check the current Illinois small claims rules before filing.
Frequently asked questions
How much can I sue for in Illinois small claims court?
The limit is $10,000 (as of 2026). $10,000 exclusive of interest and costs (Ill. Sup. Ct. R. 281). Money claims only; no separate small claims court — it is a simplified procedure inside the Circuit Court. Source: Ill. Sup. Ct. Rules 281-289; 705 ILCS 105/27.1b (fees). If you're owed more, you can sue in the regular civil court instead — or waive the excess and stay in small claims, which is usually faster and cheaper.
Where do I file?
In Illinois, small claims cases are heard by the Small claims in the Circuit Court (simplified procedure under Supreme Court Rules 281-289), generally in the county (or district) where the defendant lives or where the dispute happened. Filing fee: Varies by county — set by county ordinance within Supreme Court fee schedules under 705 ILCS 105/27.1b; commonly ~$89 for the smallest claims up to ~$250-$330 for claims near $10,000 depending on county (Cook County runs higher). Check the circuit clerk's fee schedule for your county.. Check the exact venue rule when you file — filing in the wrong place gets cases dismissed.
Can I bring a lawyer?
In Illinois: Allowed. Corporations appearing as plaintiff generally need counsel except as permitted by Rule 282(b).. Either way, small claims procedure is deliberately informal — you present your story, your documents, and your witnesses directly to the judge.
What happens if I win but they don't pay?
A judgment isn't a check — if the defendant doesn't pay voluntarily, you enforce it: wage garnishment, bank levy, or property liens, depending on Illinois law. The court clerk can point you to the forms. Judgments also accrue interest and stay enforceable for years, so a stubborn debtor doesn't run out the clock quickly.
How does Illinois compare? See the small claims limits in all 50 states, every figure cited to statute.
How Illinois compares
Computed from our 51-jurisdiction dataset (as of 2026). Source for Illinois: Ill. Sup. Ct. Rules 281-289; 705 ILCS 105/27.1b (fees) ↗.
- Small claims limit
Small claims limit: $10,000, exactly the national median.
This is the most common figure nationally — shared by 15 other states.
Small claims limit in neighboring states — Indiana ($10,000), Iowa ($6,500), Kentucky ($2,500), Missouri ($5,000), Wisconsin ($10,000).
The rest of what Illinois requires
The figures below are Illinois's, not national averages — each one is the value we verified for this state, with the statute it comes from. Follow a row to the full Illinois page for that document.
- Security deposit cap · as of 2026
- No statutory limit 765 ILCS 710 (Security Deposit Return Act) ↗
- Deposit return deadline · as of 2026
- 45 days after move-out 765 ILCS 710 (Security Deposit Return Act) ↗
- Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy · as of 2026
- 30 days 765 ILCS 710 (Security Deposit Return Act) ↗
- Notice for unpaid rent · as of 2026
- 5 days to pay or quit 735 ILCS 5/9-209; 5/9-210; 5/9-207 ↗
- Notice to cure a lease violation · as of 2026
- 10 days 735 ILCS 5/9-209; 5/9-210; 5/9-207 ↗
- Rental application fee · as of July 2026
- Limited to the actual cost of screening Illinois General Assembly ↗
- Bill of sale notarization · as of 2026
- Not required Illinois SoS / DMV.ORG ↗
- Power of attorney signing · as of 2026
- Notarization required · 1 witness 755 ILCS 45/3-3 ↗
- LLC operating agreement · as of 2026
- Not required by statute, but it controls over the default rules 805 ILCS 180/1-5 (definition); 805 ILCS 180/15-5 (operating agreement, scope) ↗
- Recording a deed · as of 2026
- County Recorder of Deeds (in Cook County the Recorder of Deeds office was merged into the County Clerk in Dec. 2020) · no witnesses 765 ILCS 5/10; 765 ILCS 5/20 ↗
Small claims guide in other states
More Illinois legal forms
Different state? See small claims rules by state →