Respond to an eviction
Your landlord has started a case to make you leave, and you want to take part.
- Prepare your documents Fill in the forms yourself, or use a guided interview. These sites do not file anything for you.
- File them Upload the finished documents to LITEfile to send them to the court.
Get the forms
- Guided interview Respond to an eviction (Easy Form) (opens in a new tab) Illinois Legal Aid Online
- Blank form Eviction forms (opens in a new tab) Illinois Courts
- Instructions How to respond to an eviction complaint (opens in a new tab) Illinois Courts
- Help page Going to court for an eviction case (opens in a new tab) Illinois Legal Aid Online
Documents filings like this often include
Your case may need more or fewer. Nothing here is required to start a filing.
About this list
Your landlord has asked the court to make you leave. Filing an appearance is what keeps you in the case, so the judge does not decide it without hearing from you, and an answer is where you say what you disagree with and why. Eviction moves quickly, and there may be defenses or rent help this list cannot tell you about, so it is worth talking to a lawyer as early as you can.
This list is a guide, not legal advice. We built it from what cases like yours usually need, so your case may need documents that are not here, and may not need some that are. Only the court can tell you for certain, and the clerk cannot give you legal advice.
Eviction: your rights as a tenant (Illinois Legal Aid Online)
Commonly included
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Appearance form
This tells the court you are in the case, so the judge does not rule without you.
- Blank form Appearance (opens in a new tab) Illinois Courts
Often included
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Answer to the complaint
Your response to what the landlord says, and any defenses you have.
- Blank form Eviction Answer, Defenses, and Counterclaims (opens in a new tab) Illinois Courts
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Proof that the landlord got a copy
Send the landlord a copy of everything you file, and tell the court you did.
- Blank form Proof of Delivery (opens in a new tab) Illinois Courts
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Request to waive court fees
File this if you cannot afford the fee to file your appearance.
- Guided interview Fee waiver (Easy Form) (opens in a new tab) Illinois Legal Aid Online
- Blank form Application for Waiver of Court Fees (opens in a new tab) Illinois Courts
- Instructions How to request a fee waiver (opens in a new tab) Illinois Courts
May apply
- The written notice your landlord gave you For example, a 5, 10, or 30 day notice.
- Your lease If you have a written lease, the judge will want to see it.
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Request for a jury
Ask for this by your first court date if you want a jury.
- Blank form Jury Request (opens in a new tab) Illinois Courts