How to file small claims in Illinois
Sue for up to $10,000 in the Circuit Court (small-claims docket); filing fee around $100.
Illinois Circuit Courts hear small claims up to $10,000 under simplified Supreme Court Rules; individuals can self-represent, but corporations generally need a lawyer.
- Dollar limit: $10,000 — $10,000 in the small-claims docket of the Circuit Court.
- Filing fee: $100 — Roughly $90–$220 depending on county and amount, plus service costs.
- Where to file: Circuit Court (small-claims docket)
- Lawyers at the hearing: allowed
- Confirm your claim is at or under the dollar limit and within the statute of limitations for your claim type.
- Send a written demand letter first — most courts expect it, and it often gets you paid without filing.
- Get the correct filing form (often a "Statement of Claim" or "Plaintiff's Claim") from the Circuit Court clerk or the court's website.
- File the form with the Circuit Court for the county where the defendant lives or where the dispute happened, and pay the filing fee.
- Arrange service of process so the defendant is officially notified (by the sheriff, certified mail, or a process server, per local rules).
- Gather your evidence — contract, texts, photos, receipts, the demand letter — and bring organized copies to your hearing.
- Show up on your court date and present your case; if you win, ask the judge how to collect the judgment.
- Illinois small claims follow Supreme Court Rules 281–289; a corporation usually must be represented by an attorney, but individuals need not be.
What are you suing for?
Source: Ill. Sup. Ct. R. 281. Reviewed 2026-06-17.
Nearby states: Wisconsin ($10,000) · Indiana ($10,000) · Iowa ($6,500) · Missouri ($5,000).
General legal information, not legal advice. Rules change and vary by county and court; consult a licensed attorney or your court clerk.
Updated July 2026