The average cost of an eviction in Illinois for all filing, court, and service fees is $312. However, the cost varies heavily on the county and the amount of the eviction claim. Eviction lawsuits shall be filed in Circuit Court.[ttip number=’1′ icon=’popover-balance’]
| Fee | Circuit |
| Initial Court Filing | ~$104+ |
| Summons Service | ~$50+ |
| Eviction Order Service | ~$15 |
| Eviction Order Execution | ~$143+ |
| Notice of Appeal (Optional) | $50 |
These filing, court, and service fees do not include outside costs such as legal fees or post-eviction fees (i.e., locksmith fees, storage costs for a tenant’s abandoned property, cleaning service fees, repair costs, or advertising costs for a vacant dwelling unit).
1. Initial Court Filing Fee
In Illinois, if the eviction notice expires and the tenant remains on the property without correcting the issue, the landlord may file an eviction lawsuit (“Forcible Entry and Detainer”) with the court the following business day.
The filing fee for an initial Forcible Entry and Detainer varies by county and the claim amount. For example, in Washington County, if the landlord is filing for possession only the filing fee is $104, for eviction claims up to $15,000 the filing fee is $271 and for eviction claims over $15,000, the filing fee is $321.
2. Summons Service Fee
Once a Complaint is filed in Illinois, the court will issue a Summons.[ttip number=’2′ icon=’popover-balance’] The Summons is the tenant’s official notice of an eviction lawsuit and contains important information (i.e., when/where to appear in court). The landlord must arrange for a sheriff to deliver the Summons to the tenant.
The Summons service fee varies by county, for example, in Cook County, the sheriff’s Summons service fee is $60 per service and in McLean County, the service fee is $50 plus $0.50 per mile.
3. Eviction Order Service Fee
In Illinois, if the court rules in favor of the landlord, the court shall issue an Eviction Order. The writ is the tenant’s final notice to vacate the premises.
A sheriff must serve the order to the tenant. They shall charge a service fee and the fee varies by county. For example, a sheriff in Lake County can charge $15.
4. Eviction Order Execution Fee
In Illinois, a sheriff can charge a fee for enforcing the Eviction Order and the fee varies by county, for example in McLean County, the enforcement fee is $175.
The fee may also depend on the mileage traveled, municipality, the number of tenants, and the number of hours it took to execute the Eviction Order. For example, in Lake County the enforcement fee ranges from $143-$226 for the first hour, plus an additional $124 per hour.
5. Notice of Appeal Fee
If either party chooses to file an Appeal, they may do so as long as the Notice of Appeal is filed within 30 calendar days of the judgment.
The filing fee varies by county and the number of pages the transcripts. The filing fee for an Appeal in Washington County is $50 for 100 pages of transcripts or less or $100 for transcripts over 100 pages.
Sources
- 1 735 ILCS 5/9-106 (2021)
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On complaint by the party or parties entitled to the possession of such premises being filed in the circuit court for the county where such premises are situated, stating that such party is entitled to the possession of such premises
- 2 735 ILCS 5/9-106 (2021)
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(from Ch. 110, par. 9-106)
Sec. 9-106. Pleadings and evidence. On complaint by the party or parties entitled to the possession of such premises being filed in the circuit court for the county where such premises are situated, stating that such party is entitled to the possession of such premises (describing the same with reasonable certainty), and that the defendant (naming the defendant) unlawfully withholds the possession thereof from him, her or them, the clerk of the court shall issue a summons.
