Up to $10,000 · 5 years to file.
A contractor who took your money, did poor work, or never finished. In Illinois, small-claims cases for this kind of dispute are filed in the Circuit Court (small-claims docket), where you can sue for up to $10,000.
Your deadline: Illinois generally gives you 5 years from when the claim arose to file. Miss it and the court can dismiss the case no matter how clearly you're owed.
The filing fee is around $100 (Roughly $90–$220 depending on county and amount, plus service costs.). Before you file, send a written demand letter and keep proof of delivery.
Source: Ill. Sup. Ct. R. 281; deadlines: 735 ILCS 5/13-205, 13-206. Reviewed 2026-06-17.
Note on deadlines: Written contract 10 yrs; oral contract 5; property damage 5; personal injury 2.
Suing for something else in Illinois: Illinois unpaid loan · Illinois security deposit · Illinois property damage · Illinois unpaid rent.
Suing for contractor dispute in nearby states: Wisconsin ($10,000, 6 years) · Indiana ($10,000, 6 years) · Iowa ($6,500, 5 years) · Missouri ($5,000, 5 years).
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