Up to $10,000 · 10 years to file.
Rent or lease money a tenant owes you and won't pay. 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 10 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 contractor dispute.
Suing for unpaid rent in nearby states: Wisconsin ($10,000, 6 years) · Indiana ($10,000, 10 years) · Iowa ($6,500, 10 years) · Missouri ($5,000, 10 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