Small Claims Plainly

State guide

Illinois

This is general information, not legal advice. Illinois defines a small claim in Supreme Court Rule 281, which the Supreme Court publishes for the circuit courts. The rule says a small claim is a civil action based on either tort or contract for money not in excess of $10,000, exclusive of interest and costs. Rules 281 through 288 are the small-claims procedure. The court's committee comments say the 2005 amendment raised the limit from $5,000 to $10,000 effective January 1, 2006, for cases filed after that date. A later amendment, effective January 1, 2022, took tax-collection cases out of the small-claims definition. Circuit court clerks in each county provide the local forms.

Checked against official sources on October 11, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.

Try a ZIP like 30303, “Travis County” or “Columbus, OH”
Which court hears it
Small claims docket in the circuit court
Dollar limit we could verify
Illinois Supreme Court Rule 281 says a small claim is a civil action based on tort or contract for money not in excess of $10,000, exclusive of interest and costs.
Statute or court page
Official page →
Filing or self-help page
Official page →

Rule 281 is a definition, and the definition does two kinds of work. It caps the money at $10,000 before interest and costs, and it limits the subject to tort or contract. A case that is not based on tort or contract does not become a small claim merely because the dollars are low. Tax collection, which older versions swept in, is called out in the 2022 comment as removed. Read the current rule text, not a summary from the mid-2000s, if someone tells you a tax case can be filed as a small claim. The published rule file includes the amendment history under the text.

Small claims are still circuit-court cases. They are heard by circuit judges or associate judges under the local assignment order. You may have a lawyer. The simplified rules change deadlines and some of the formality. They do not change the need to prove a tort or a contract. Bring the writing, the photos of damage, and a number that is not over $10,000 before interest and costs. If you need interest, ask for it as interest so it is not mistaken for extra damages. Costs are requested under the rules that apply after a decision.

Because the rule is statewide and the clerks are local, filing locations differ. Cook County and a rural circuit do not share a counter. Use the circuit clerk's site in the county where venue is proper, and use the Supreme Court's rule text as the definition of what you are filing. This directory does not state a filing fee. Fees are set locally and by statute and should be read from the clerk's current schedule. If the claim exceeds $10,000, file it as an ordinary civil action under the Civil Procedure Act and the rest of the Supreme Court rules.

Official resources in Illinois

Illinois Supreme Court Rule 281

Official rule text defining a small claim as tort or contract money not in excess of $10,000.

Illinois Courts

Supreme Court site for rules and circuit-court information.

Illinois Courts rules library

Index of Supreme Court rules, including the small-claims article, when posted.

Key facts for Illinois

What to do next

  1. Count only tort or contract money toward the $10,000 line, and list interest separately.
  2. Do not file a tax-collection case as a small claim under the current rule.
  3. Get the form from the circuit clerk in the correct county.
  4. File an ordinary civil case if the claim exceeds $10,000.

Looking for your city or county in Illinois?

We haven't found official court-level pages for Illinois we can verify yet, so we don't show local numbers here rather than guess. Here's what to use instead, in order:

  1. General Start with the statewide information above. It applies across Illinois, but cities and counties can add their own steps, fees or deadlines.
  2. Call to confirm Ask the official office. They have the current local rule, fee and form.
    Illinois Courts
    Website →
    Phone not shown: use the contact page on the official website above.
    Your city or county office: Local governments →
    Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the Illinois page on USA.gov can point you to the right office.
  3. Know the current info? Tell us and include a link to the official page. We check every tip before it goes up.

Helpful guides

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