Respond to a small claims case
Someone has sued you in small claims court, 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 a lawsuit (Easy Form) (opens in a new tab) Illinois Legal Aid Online
- Blank form Appearance and jury request forms (opens in a new tab) Illinois Courts
- Blank form Answer or response forms (opens in a new tab) Illinois Courts
- Blank form Appearance (opens in a new tab) Illinois Courts
- Help page Small claims resources (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
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.
Often included
- Papers that back up your side For example, a contract, bills, receipts, or letters.
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Proof that the other side got a copy
- Blank form Proof of Delivery (opens in a new tab) Illinois Courts
May apply
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Request to waive court fees
- 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