Illinois Small Claims Court Forms: Which Ones You Need and How to File Them

The Forms You Actually Need

Illinois standardizes small claims forms through the Supreme Court Access to Justice Commission. Every Circuit Clerk in all 102 counties must accept these statewide forms under Supreme Court Rule 10-101. Here's the lineup:

Small Claims Complaint (Form SMC / CSC 702) — the main document. It identifies you (the plaintiff), the defendant, the amount you're claiming, and the factual basis for your case. This is the form that starts the lawsuit.

Small Claims Summons (Form SU-I 1502.1) — issued by the clerk once you file the complaint. It orders the defendant to appear by a specific return date.

Rule 282 Simplified Complaint — a shorter version of the complaint for claims of $2,500 or less. Less detail required, same legal effect.

Additional Defendants / Additional Reasons attachments — continuation sheets if you're suing multiple parties or your factual statement needs more space.

Letter to Sheriff — accompanies the summons when you choose sheriff service instead of certified mail.

Application for Waiver of Court Fees — the Rule 298 form for requesting a fee waiver if you qualify financially.

Certification for Exemption From E-Filing — used to request a good-cause exemption; some exemptions under Rule 9(d), including qualifying incarceration and disability exemptions, are automatic and do not require this form.

Cook County vs. Downstate

The forms themselves are the same statewide — that's the whole point of the Supreme Court's standardization. But the filing procedures differ.

In Cook County, small claims cases are routed to specific Municipal District courthouses based on where the defendant lives or where the transaction happened. You'll need to identify the right district (Daley Center for downtown Chicago, Rolling Meadows, Markham, Bridgeview, Maywood, or Skokie) when selecting your court.

Downstate counties route all small claims through a single courthouse per county, which simplifies things.

What to Attach to Your Complaint

Under 735 ILCS 5/2-606, if your claim is based on a written instrument — a contract, lease, invoice, or promissory note — attach a copy as an exhibit or state in the pleading why the copy is not attached. Failing to attach or explain can get your case dismissed.

Before attaching anything, redact personal information per Supreme Court Rule 138: Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, driver's license numbers, and birth dates. Keep the unredacted originals in your personal files.

Filing Through eFileIL

Electronic filing is mandatory for all Illinois courts. The process:

1. Go to efile.illinoiscourts.gov
2. Create an account with an approved Electronic Filing Service Provider (EFSP)
3. Select your county circuit court and choose "Small Claims" as the case category
4. Upload your complaint and any exhibits as redacted PDF documents
5. Submit payment for the filing fee (or attach your approved fee waiver)
6. Receive an electronic timestamp and clerk confirmation

Many courthouses also have public-access terminals with scanners if you need help digitizing paper documents. Cook County's Daley Center, McLean County (Room 404), and Madison County (Room 120) all offer this.

ILAO's Easy Form Alternative

Illinois Legal Aid Online (ILAO) offers a "Small Claims Complaint Easy Form" — an online interview tool that asks you questions and generates a completed complaint form from your answers. It's free and accepted by Illinois courts. The catch is that ILAO generates the form but doesn't track your filing deadlines, service of process, or hearing prep for you.

The Illinois Small Claims Filing Guide includes a filing packet checklist that walks you through which forms you need, what to attach, and how to submit — whether you're filing electronically or qualifying for a paper exemption.

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