Illinois Small Claims Court Guide
Everything you need to know about filing a small claims case in Illinois.
Maximum Claim
$10,000
Filing Fee
$75
Fee waiver available
Court Name
Small Claims Court (Circuit Court)
Hearing Timeline
30–60 days from filing
Find your courthouse in Illinois
Search by city, county, or ZIP code to get the courthouse address, phone number, hours, and filing options.
How Much Can You Sue For in Illinois?
In Illinois, individuals can file small claims cases for up to $10,000. This limit applies to both individuals and businesses.
Illinois Small Claims Court Filing Fees
| Claim Amount | Filing Fee |
|---|---|
| Standard filing fee (varies by county) | $75 |
If you cannot afford the filing fee, you may qualify for a fee waiver. Ask the court clerk for a fee waiver application when you file.
Statutes of Limitations in Illinois
You must file your claim within the time limits below, or the court will dismiss your case regardless of its merits.
10
years — written contract
5
years — oral contract
5
years — property damage
2
years — personal injury
Ready to take action in Illinois?
A demand letter often resolves disputes before court. Our free guide shows you how to write one in minutes.
Read the demand letter guideWhere to File in Illinois
Small claims cases in Illinois are handled by the Small Claims Court (Circuit Court). Illinois has 102 county Circuit Courts.
Where to file: File in the county where the defendant lives or where the transaction occurred
Not sure which court you need? Our step-by-step filing guide walks you through finding the right court for your case.
Find your specific courthouse: Search for your county courthouse below ↓ — get the address, phone number, hours, and see if e-filing is available.
How to Serve the Defendant in Illinois
After filing your claim, you must formally notify the defendant. This is called "service of process" and is required before your case can be heard.
Accepted methods: Personal service by sheriff, special process server, or certified mail
Deadline: Service must be completed at least 10 days before the hearing.
Illinois Small Claims Court Procedures
Can I bring a lawyer?
Yes, attorneys are allowed to represent parties in Illinois small claims court.
Can I appeal?
Either party may appeal within 30 days
Is e-filing available?
Yes, electronic filing is available in Illinois.
Are remote hearings available?
Remote hearings are available in some Illinois courts. Check with your specific court location for current policies.
Official Illinois Court Resources
Find Your Courthouse in Illinois
Select your county to get the courthouse address, phone number, hours, and filing options.
Adams County
Quincy area
(217) 277-2100
Alexander County
Cairo area
(618) 734-0107
Bond County
Greenville area
(618) 664-3208
Boone County
Belvidere area
(815) 544-0371
Brown County
Mount Sterling area
(217) 773-2713
Bureau County
Princeton area
(815) 872-2001
Calhoun County
Hardin area
(618) 576-2451
Carroll County
Mount Carroll area
(815) 244-0230
Cass County
Virginia area
(217) 452-7225
Champaign County
Urbana area
(217) 384-3725
Christian County
Taylorville area
(217) 824-4966
Clark County
Marshall area
(217) 826-2811
Clay County
Louisville area
(618) 665-3523
Clinton County
Carlyle area
(618) 594-6615
Coles County
Charleston area
(217) 348-0516
Cook County
Chicago area
Crawford County
Robinson area
(618) 544-3512
Cumberland County
Toledo area
(217) 849-3601
De Witt County
Clinton area
(217) 935-7750
DeKalb County
Sycamore area
(815) 895-7131
Douglas County
Tuscola area
(217) 253-2352
DuPage County
Naperville area
(630) 407-8700
Edgar County
Paris area
(217) 466-7447
Edwards County
Albion area
(618) 445-2016
Effingham County
Effingham area
(217) 342-4065
Fayette County
Vandalia area
(618) 283-5009
Ford County
Paxton area
(217) 379-9420
Franklin County
Benton area
(618) 435-9800
Fulton County
Lewistown area
(309) 547-3041
Gallatin County
Shawneetown area
(618) 269-3140
Greene County
Carrollton area
(217) 942-3421
Grundy County
Morris area
(815) 941-3256
Hamilton County
McLeansboro area
(618) 643-3224
Hancock County
Carthage area
(217) 357-2616
Hardin County
Elizabethtown area
(618) 287-2735
Henderson County
Oquawka area
(309) 867-3121
Henry County
Cambridge area
(309) 937-3572
Iroquois County
Watseka area
(815) 432-6950
Jackson County
Murphysboro area
(618) 687-7300
Jasper County
Newton area
(618) 783-2524
Jefferson County
Mount Vernon area
(618) 244-8008
Jersey County
Jerseyville area
(618) 498-5571
Jo Daviess County
Galena area
(815) 777-0037
Johnson County
Vienna area
(618) 658-4751
Kane County
Geneva area
(630) 232-3413
Kankakee County
Kankakee area
(815) 936-5700
Kendall County
Yorkville area
(630) 553-4183
Knox County
Galesburg area
(309) 345-3847
Lake County
Waukegan area
847-377-3226
LaSalle County
Ottawa area
(815) 434-8671
Lawrence County
Lawrenceville area
(618) 943-2815
Lee County
Dixon area
(815) 284-5234
Livingston County
Pontiac area
(815) 844-2602
Logan County
Lincoln area
(217) 732-1163
Macon County
Decatur area
(217) 624-4442
Macoupin County
Carlinville area
(217) 854-3211
Madison County
Edwardsville area
(618) 296-4464
Marion County
Salem area
(618) 548-3400
Marshall County
Lacon area
(309) 246-6435
Mason County
Havana area
(309) 543-6619
Massac County
Metropolis area
(618) 524-4850
McDonough County
Macomb area
(309) 837-4889
McHenry County
Woodstock area
(815) 334-4190
McLean County
Bloomington area
(309) 888-5330
Menard County
Petersburg area
(217) 632-2615
Mercer County
Aledo area
(309) 582-7122
Monroe County
Waterloo area
(618) 939-8681
Montgomery County
Hillsboro area
(217) 532-9540
Morgan County
Jacksonville area
(217) 243-5419
Moultrie County
Sullivan area
(217) 728-4622
Ogle County
Oregon area
(815) 732-3201
Peoria County
Peoria area
(309) 672-6000
Perry County
Pinckneyville area
(618) 357-6726
Piatt County
Monticello area
(217) 762-4966
Pike County
Pittsfield area
(217) 285-6612
Pope County
Golconda area
(618) 683-3941
Pulaski County
Mound City area
(618) 748-9300
Putnam County
Hennepin area
(815) 925-7016
Randolph County
Chester area
(618) 826-5000
Richland County
Olney area
(618) 392-2151
Rock Island County
Rock Island area
(309) 558-3538
Saline County
Harrisburg area
(618) 253-5096
Sangamon County
Springfield area
(217) 753-6674
Schuyler County
Rushville area
(217) 322-4633
Scott County
Winchester area
(217) 742-5217
Shelby County
Shelbyville area
(217) 774-4212
St. Clair County
Belleville area
(618) 277-6600
Stark County
Toulon area
(309) 286-5941
Stephenson County
Freeport area
(815) 235-8266
Tazewell County
Pekin area
(309) 477-2214
Union County
area
(618) 833-8114
Vermilion County
Danville area
(217) 554-7700
Wabash County
Mount Carmel area
(618) 262-5362
Warren County
Monmouth area
(309) 734-5179
Washington County
Nashville area
(618) 327-4800
Wayne County
Fairfield area
(618) 842-7684
White County
Carmi area
(618) 382-2321
Whiteside County
Morrison area
(815) 772-5188
Will County
Joliet area
(815) 727-8592
Williamson County
Marion area
(618) 997-1301
Winnebago County
Rockford area
(815) 319-4500
Woodford County
Eureka area
(309) 467-3312
Don't see your county? Let us know here!
Ready to take action in Illinois?
A demand letter often resolves disputes before court — our free guide shows you how to write one.
Read the demand letter guide