Illinois Small Claims Court Kit: the $10,000 Limit, Filing Guide, Demand Letter, Evidence and Hearing Prep, and a Claim Calculator

Who it is for

People and small businesses with a money claim in Illinois that may fit under $10,000, and people who have been sued there and want the same organized record. Anyone 18 or older, with or without a lawyer; a person under 18 must have a lawyer. A corporation must be represented by a lawyer.

Not the right fit if

Your claim is outside Illinois, over its small claims limit, or needs a lawyer (an injury, a dispute over land, a family case). Not a form preparation or legal service.

Why it is different

• Built only from our Illinois small claims data file, checked November 2026 against Illinois Courts: How to File and Serve a Small Claims Complaint and Summons (SC-I 1802.1, rev. 08/20); Illinois Supreme Court Library: Small Claims research guide; Madison County (Illinois) Circuit Clerk: Small Claims Court; St. Clair County (Illinois) Circuit Clerk: Fee Schedule (rev. Oct. 1, 2025).
• All 9 Illinois facts in the kit are confirmed on an official page.
• Official forms are linked, not copied, so you always file the court's current version.

What is inside

• Start here and is small claims right?. How to use the kit, the 9 confirmed Illinois facts at a glance and a yes/no checklist: is the amount under $10,000, is it the right court, is there someone to serve and something to collect from.
• Illinois filing guide. Where and how to file, from the official pages: Generally the county where the defendant lives or where the events happened. A business may be sued in any county where it does business or has an office. Fees: Set by your county court; ask the clerk. Each county's circuit clerk sets and publishes its own small claims fees: the Madison County and St. Clair County circuit clerks list different amounts for the same claim sizes. Source: https://madisoncountyil.gov/departments/circuit_clerk/small_claims_court.php. Example: Madison County, claims up to $2,500: $94; Madison County, over $2,500 up to $10,000: $264; St. Clair County, $2,500 or less: $91 (fee schedule revised October 1, 2025); St. Clair County, $2,500.01 or more: $266. Fees differ from county to county; check your county circuit clerk's fee schedule. Service costs extra. A fee waiver application is available. Online filing: https://www.illinoiscourts.gov/service-providers.htm
• Service, the hearing and after in Illinois. Service: The circuit clerk by certified mail (lowest cost), the sheriff, or a special process server appointed by the court. Lawyers are allowed. Appeal: Within 30 days after losing, file a motion asking the judge to reconsider, or an appeal to a higher court.
• Demand letter and response tracker. A neutral demand letter to fill in (what happened, the amount, a reply-by date, how to pay), a log of every reply and offer, and a short checklist before sending.
• Evidence organizer and hearing prep. An exhibit list numbered for the judge, a timeline, witness notes, a three-minute opening outline and a hearing-day packing list.
• Illinois small claims workbook (Excel). A claim calculator that adds up your items and compares the total with $10,000, a costs sheet with the Illinois fee list, a deadline sheet in business days that skips weekends and federal holidays, and a collection tracker with the balance owed.