2026 state court fee data · Illinois

Small Claims in Illinois

Recorded at $89–$264 - among the cheaper civil filings in Illinois, and one of 10 states where we price this filing.

Filing steps ↓ About this data

Fee rank is not wait rank

Signature reading for Small Claims in Illinois: $89–$264 on max-fee among states for this filing. On this filing's state cohort, Illinois sits in the upper third of recorded max fees ($89–$264). The published step list sits near the 6-step median for this filing (7 steps). Civil Lawsuit is largest of 3 at $500 among 12 civil filings in Illinois; that is not the longest wait: Guardianship records 60 days on a $400 ceiling.

Small Claims figures for Illinois are compiled schedule reference, not legal advice - verify with the clerk where you intend to file.

In-state wait inventory

Waiting periods among Illinois civil filings

Exclusive split of all 12 tracked filings in Illinois - orthogonal to in-state fee placement below.

Compare a state record

Compare small claims with another state

Start with Illinois, then inspect another published court-schedule record without leaving this page.

Focus the comparison by published maximum fee

This only narrows the same court-schedule records; it does not estimate a total filing cost.

In-state placement

Where small claims sits among Illinois filings

Of the 12 civil filings we track in Illinois, small claims ranks 9 by recorded maximum fee: among the cheaper civil filings in Illinois. Neighbours: Name Change at $325 and Tenant Rights at $264.

Same-state corpus only, not a national ranking. How we place filings

The Illinois row lists 7 procedural steps against a 6-step median for this filing: a reading of published detail, not difficulty.

Filing Fee Details

$89-$264 in Cook County depending on claim. Other counties: $50-$150 approximately.

Illinois's high-band fee among states

Illinois sits in the upper third of this filing's state cohort at $89–$264 (rank #2 of 10 by max fee).

Source: state court filing-fee schedules (upper-bound fee per state). Verify current amounts with the relevant court. How we calculate this ranking →

Key Requirements

  • Claim limit: $10,000
  • Filed in Circuit Court Small Claims Division
  • Service by sheriff or certified mail
  • Counterclaims allowed up to $10,000

Step-by-Step Process

  1. 1

    File complaint in Circuit Court (Small Claims Division)

  2. 2

    Pay filing fee

  3. 3

    Serve defendant via sheriff

  4. 4

    Defendant has 30 days to respond

  5. 5

    Hearing scheduled

  6. 6

    Present evidence and argument

  7. 7

    Judge issues order

Important Notes

Cook County has high filing fees. Consider District courts in suburban Cook County.

Grounds / Eligibility

Monetary disputes up to $10,000

Quick Reference

Fee stamp
STANDARD schedule band
Wait stamp
OPEN clock band
Filing Fee
$89–$264
Residency
File in county where defendant resides or cause of action arose
Typical Timeline
4-12 weeks to hearing

Official Resources

Illinois Court Website Official Forms

Nearest fee-schedule peers in Illinois

Ordered by ABS(filing_fee_max) to this row's STANDARD stamp - not an A-Z process catalog.

Tenant Rights
STANDARD
$89–$264
1-3 months
Name Change
STANDARD
$200–$325
2-4 months
Court Mediation
STANDARD
$0–$350
1-2 sessions
Divorce
STANDARD
$210–$350
Uncontested: 2-4 months. Contested: 1-3 years.
Eviction
STANDARD
$215–$400
Chicago: 2-4 months. Downstate: 3-6 weeks.
Guardianship
STANDARD
$250–$400
2-4 months

Take this with you

What to do with small claims in Illinois's numbers, next.

Filing fees and requirements change; verify current figures with your local court before filing.

According to published Illinois court materials compiled in the PlainCivil state-process database. See our methodology for source categories and vintage. Schedule row for Small Claims in Illinois: max fee $89–$264, wait Not published, vintage 2026-09-01.