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Small claims forms · Illinois

Illinois small claims court forms, filled in for you

Answer a few questions once. Vera fills in the Illinois court's own forms from your answers, walks you through anything left, and gives you one packet to file, with how to file it.

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Sign online where the court accepts it. E-filing: eFileIL; the filer's login is the signature (S. Ct. R. 9(g)). Forms sworn before a notary or the clerk are still signed by hand.

To sue (you're the plaintiff)

  • Small Claims Complaint (CS-C 702.4)Sign online

    The court's own form (ilcourtsaudio.blob.core.windows.net)

    What to know
    • Small claims is for money only, $10,000 or less, not counting interest and court costs. The judge cannot order anyone to do or stop doing something, or to return property. A landlord who refuses to return your security deposit is one of the court's examples of a small claim (Ill. S. Ct. R. 281; How to File & Serve a Small Claims Complaint & Small Claims Summons, SC-I 1802.4).
    • Any person 18 or older may file with or without a lawyer; people under 18 must have a lawyer. A corporation must be represented by a lawyer (How to File & Serve a Small Claims Complaint & Small Claims Summons, SC-I 1802.4; Ill. S. Ct. R. 282(b)).
    • Generally, file in the county where the defendant lives or where the events of the case happened. A business may be sued in any county where it does business or has an office. Filing in the wrong county may get the case dismissed or transferred (How to File & Serve a Small Claims Complaint & Small Claims Summons, SC-I 1802.4).
    • This form is approved by the Illinois Supreme Court and is required to be accepted in all Illinois Circuit Courts (the form).
    • Check the county at the top. Vera chooses it only when your court's name gives an Illinois county.
    • Vera filled the county when your court's name gives one, you as plaintiff, the other side as the first defendant, and, if you named a second defendant in Court forms, them on the second line. Add every other person or business you are suing. The Circuit Clerk adds the case number: leave it blank if you do not have one yet (the form).
    • Vera filled your name in item 1, the defendant's name in item 2, and your printed name. Sue a person by full name; an incorporated business by its full legal name from the Illinois Secretary of State's business search; an unincorporated business by its owner's name with "d/b/a" and the business name (How to File & Serve a Small Claims Complaint & Small Claims Summons, SC-I 1802.4).
    • From your answers in Court forms, Vera filled the defendant's address (item 2), a second defendant's name and address if you named one (item 2, "Defendant #2's name and address"), the amount owed (item 3), the item 4 box if you said you asked the defendant to pay ("I have demanded payment of the amount listed in Section 3"), and why the defendant owes it (item 5). When your reason runs past item 5's lines, Vera continues it on the Additional Reasons form and marks the box saying it is attached. Check each one: the amount must be $10,000 or less without court costs (the form; Ill. S. Ct. R. 282(a)).
    • Still yours: one of boxes a, b or c in item 3 (whether you have a written agreement with the defendant), and the dates in item 5 if your reason does not give them. If you did not ask the defendant to pay, leave item 4 blank. Vera marks no box your answers did not decide (the form).
    • If you have a written agreement, attach a copy; if you do not have it, explain why in item 3c (the form; Ill. S. Ct. R. 282(a)). For more than 2 defendants, attach the Additional Defendants form; for more room in item 5, the Additional Reasons form, and check its box (the form).
    • If you want a jury instead of a judge, you must file a separate Jury Request form, and an additional fee may be required (the form).
    • File it with a Small Claims Summons for each defendant (How to File & Serve a Small Claims Complaint & Small Claims Summons, SC-I 1802.4).
    • There is a fee to file a Small Claims Complaint, and costs to serve the Small Claims Summons. If you cannot pay, file the Application for Waiver of Court Fees (How to File & Serve a Small Claims Complaint & Small Claims Summons, SC-I 1802.4).
    • Vera filled your address, phone and email at the end from your answers. Court papers will be sent there, so use an email you check every day (the form).
    • Vera never signs or dates a form. The form lets you sign by typing your name after /s/ when you file online, or by hand.
    • Most people file by e-filing (Odyssey eFileIL at ilcourts.info/efile); the instructions list who may file on paper instead.

  • Small Claims Summons (CS-S 705.4)

    The court's own form (ilcourtsaudio.blob.core.windows.net)

    What to know
    • Fill out one Small Claims Summons for each defendant, with the top filled out the same way as your Small Claims Complaint (the form; How to File & Serve a Small Claims Complaint & Small Claims Summons, SC-I 1802.4).
    • This form is approved by the Illinois Supreme Court and is required to be accepted in all Illinois Circuit Courts (the form).
    • Check the county at the top. Vera chooses it only when your court's name gives an Illinois county.
    • Vera filled the county when your court's name gives one, you as plaintiff, the other side as the first defendant, and, if you named a second defendant in Court forms, them on the second line. Add every other person or business you are suing. The Circuit Clerk adds the case number: leave it blank if you do not have one yet (the form).
    • Vera filled the defendant's name for service (item 1a) and your name (item 2). From your answers it filled the amount owed, as in item 3 of your complaint; the defendant's address, phone and email (item 1a); for a business with a registered agent, the agent's name and address in 1a ("If you are serving a Registered Agent, include the Registered Agent's name and address here") and the business's own address in 1b; and your address, phone and email (item 2) (the form; How to File & Serve a Small Claims Complaint & Small Claims Summons, SC-I 1802.4).
    • Still yours: the defendant's email if you did not give it, any other address in 1b, and how the defendant will be served (item 1c). If you named a registered agent but gave no address for them, add the agent's address in 1a (the form).
    • Item 3 is the court date: ask the Circuit Clerk for the date, time and place (40 to 61 days from filing), the courthouse address, any phone or video details, and the clerk's phone number and website (the form; Ill. S. Ct. R. 283; How to File & Serve a Small Claims Complaint & Small Claims Summons, SC-I 1802.4).
    • The clerk fills in the Witness date and seal. Whoever serves the summons fills in the date of service and the Proof of Service pages (the form).
    • Service, one of three ways: the Circuit Clerk mails the summons and complaint by certified mail (only the clerk may mail them; the least expensive way); the sheriff hand-delivers them (for a defendant in another county or state, use that county's or state's sheriff and include the Letter to Sheriff); or a special process server (How to File & Serve a Small Claims Complaint & Small Claims Summons, SC-I 1802.4).
    • Mailed service is proof of service only if the return receipt shows delivery at least 21 days before the court date. For mail service the clerk charges $2 plus the cost of mailing for each defendant, unless a circuit court rule provides otherwise (Ill. S. Ct. R. 284).
    • If the defendant is not served, fill out another Small Claims Summons, check "Alias Summons", and have service tried again (How to File & Serve a Small Claims Complaint & Small Claims Summons, SC-I 1802.4).
    • Vera fills this summons for the first defendant. If you named a second defendant, they are on its caption; fill out a second Small Claims Summons with their name, address and service information in 1a (the form: "If you are suing more than 1 Defendant, fill out a Small Claims Summons form for each Defendant").
    • Most people file by e-filing (Odyssey eFileIL at ilcourts.info/efile); the instructions list who may file on paper instead.

  • Additional Defendants (Small Claims Complaint) (CS-AD 703.1)

    Only if you are suing more than 2 defendants.

    The court's own form (ilcourtsaudio.blob.core.windows.net)

    What to know
    • Fill out this form only if you have more than 2 defendants, attach it to your Small Claims Complaint, and check the box under item 2 of the complaint (the form).
    • This form is approved by the Illinois Supreme Court and is required to be accepted in all Illinois Circuit Courts (the form).
    • Check the county at the top. Vera chooses it only when your court's name gives an Illinois county.
    • Vera filled the county when your court's name gives one, you as plaintiff, the other side as the first defendant, and, if you named a second defendant in Court forms, them on the second line. Add every other person or business you are suing. The Circuit Clerk adds the case number: leave it blank if you do not have one yet (the form).
    • Enter the name and address of each defendant after the first two (Defendant #3 to #9). Vera fills none of them (the form).
    • Each defendant needs its own Small Claims Summons (How to File & Serve a Small Claims Complaint & Small Claims Summons, SC-I 1802.4).

  • Additional Reasons (Small Claims Complaint) (CS-AR 704.1)

    Only if your reasons do not fit in item 5 of the complaint.

    The court's own form (ilcourtsaudio.blob.core.windows.net)

    What to know
    • Fill out this form only if you do not have enough room on the Small Claims Complaint for your reasons, attach it to the complaint, and check the box under item 5 of the complaint (the form).
    • This form is approved by the Illinois Supreme Court and is required to be accepted in all Illinois Circuit Courts (the form).
    • Check the county at the top. Vera chooses it only when your court's name gives an Illinois county.
    • Vera filled the county when your court's name gives one, you as plaintiff, the other side as the first defendant, and, if you named a second defendant in Court forms, them on the second line. Add every other person or business you are suing. The Circuit Clerk adds the case number: leave it blank if you do not have one yet (the form).
    • Item 5 continues here: why the defendant owes you the money. When your reason from Court forms runs past the complaint's lines, Vera writes the rest here and marks the box on the complaint saying this form is attached. If your reason fit on the complaint, this form stays blank and you do not need it (the form).

If you were sued (you're the defendant)

  • You do not have to file an Answer/Response in a small claims case unless the judge orders you to. If you appear and no answer is ordered, the complaint is treated as denied and you may prove any defense at trial (the Small Claims Summons; Ill. S. Ct. R. 286(a)).
  • You MUST attend court on the date in the Small Claims Summons; the judge may want to have a trial that day. If you do not, the judge may decide the case without hearing from you ("default") (the Small Claims Summons).
  • If you are not ready for trial on your court date, you may ask the judge for more time. The judge does not have to give you more time (the Small Claims Summons).
  • You may have to file an Appearance. You may be charged filing fees; if you cannot pay them, file an Application for Waiver of Court Fees (the Small Claims Summons). Ask the court clerk for these forms.
  • A corporation may defend through an officer, director, manager, department manager or supervisor (Ill. S. Ct. R. 282(b)).

Checked against the court's own forms and rules. Courts change forms; check with the clerk before you file. This page is general information, not legal advice.