Chicago Eviction Court Steps 2026–27: The 5-Day Notice, Your First Zoom Court Date, Pay and Stay, and the Sheriff
In Chicago and the rest of Cook County, an eviction follows a set path: a written notice, a court case, a first court date that's usually held remotely, and, only if the landlord wins, enforcement by the Cook County Sheriff. Chicago tenants also have protections many renters elsewhere in Illinois don't: a one-time right to "pay and stay" after a case is filed, limits on late fees, and free help through the county's Early Resolution Program.
This guide walks through each step and where to get help.
Last checked October 2026. Sources: the Cook County Sheriff's Office Eviction Procedure Tenant's Guide; the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County's "A Guide to Evictions" handout and Early Resolution Program flyer; and Illinois Legal Aid Online's "Dealing with unpaid rent" FAQ and "Responding to eviction papers" guide. This is general information, not legal advice.
The Short Version
Notice: for unpaid rent, a written notice giving you at least 5 days to pay (30 days in public housing).
Complaint and summons: if you don't pay, the landlord files in the Circuit Court of Cook County, and you're served.
First court date: currently held remotely by Zoom or phone. Every unrepresented tenant is referred to the Early Resolution Program for free legal aid, mediation and rental assistance.
Pay and stay: in most Chicago rentals, you can end the case once by paying the back rent plus the landlord's filing and service costs before the judge enters an eviction order.
Order for Possession: if you lose, the order goes to the Sheriff. Enforcement can happen as soon as 24 hours after it's placed with the Sheriff's evictions office, and you won't be told the date.
Free help: Cook County Legal Aid for Housing and Debt, 855-956-5763 or cookcountylegalaid.org. You don't need a court case to call.
Step 1: The Written Notice
Illinois law requires a landlord to serve a written termination notice before filing an eviction case. According to the Cook County Sheriff's tenant guide, it must include:
A description of the rental (usually the address)
The reason the lease is ending, such as unpaid rent or a lease violation
When the lease will end after the notice is served
For unpaid rent, Illinois Legal Aid Online (ILAO) explains that private-housing tenants, including Housing Choice Voucher holders, must get at least 5 days to pay. A lease, a local law or the landlord may give more time. Public housing tenants must get 30 days and information about requesting a grievance hearing.
How the days are counted: the day the notice is served is day zero. If the last day falls on a weekend or court holiday, the deadline moves to the end of the next court business day.
During the notice period, you can:
Pay the full amount by the deadline. The Sheriff's guide notes that paying within the five days can prevent a case from being filed.
Agree on a written payment plan with your landlord.
Negotiate a move-out agreement without going to court.
Is the amount wrong? ILAO suggests contacting the landlord, trying to reach a written agreement, and gathering proof such as bank statements, Zelle or Venmo history and receipts.
Check late fees too. In Chicago, ILAO says late fees can't exceed $10 for the first $500 of monthly rent plus 5% of the rent over $500. This limit doesn't apply to owner-occupied buildings with six or fewer units.
Step 2: The Complaint and Summons
If the notice period ends without a resolution, the landlord files an Eviction Complaint in the Circuit Court of Cook County. The Clerk's guide lists the papers a landlord must file, including a copy of the eviction notice and an affidavit showing how it was served.
You'll be served by a Sheriff's officer or a special process server, either in person or by substitute service, where the papers are left with a family member or resident 13 or older and a copy is also mailed to you. You'll also receive information about the Early Resolution Program (ERP).
The summons lists your court date, time and how to appear. Mark it on your calendar right away.
If the papers look wrong or weren't served properly, ILAO says you can ask legal aid about filing a motion to quash.
Step 3: Respond and File Your Paperwork
ILAO's free Respond to an eviction Easy Form helps you prepare an Appearance, an Eviction Answer, Defenses and Counterclaims, a list of bad property conditions, a Jury Request if you want one, and proof that you delivered copies to the landlord.
Tips from ILAO:
File early. If you're within three days of your court date, save or screenshot proof that you filed.
Ask for a fee waiver if you can't afford filing fees.
Decide about a jury. You may lose the right to a jury trial if you don't request one in time.
Don't skip court. If you don't file an appearance or show up, the judge can enter a default judgment allowing the Sheriff to evict you.
Step 4: Your First Court Date and the Early Resolution Program
According to the Clerk's guide, first court dates in Cook County eviction cases are currently held remotely by Zoom or phone. Your summons has the connection details, and they're also posted at cookcountycourt.org. Courthouses have a limited number of Zoom stations with staff to help if you don't have a device.
Every unrepresented tenant who appears is referred to the Early Resolution Program. ERP is part of Cook County Legal Aid for Housing and Debt (CCLAHD) and offers:
Free legal aid
Mediation with your landlord
Negotiation help
Connections to rental assistance
Partner organizations include CARPLS Legal Aid, Legal Aid Chicago, Lawyers' Committee for Better Housing, Chicago Volunteer Legal Services, the Center for Disability & Elder Law and the Center for Conflict Resolution.
ILAO also notes that every court date ends with a court order, even if it only sets the next date. Ask for a copy every time.
Step 5: Pay and Stay
This protection is one of the most important for Chicago renters. ILAO explains that tenants in Chicago (except owner-occupied buildings with six or fewer units), Evanston and suburban Cook County have a one-time right to pay and stay even after a case is filed.
Before the judge enters an eviction order, you can pay the landlord:
All unpaid rent,
The landlord's filing fees and court costs (not attorney fees), and
The cost of serving the papers.
If you pay the full amount, the case must be dropped. This right can also apply after a default judgment if the judgment is vacated and the case is reinstated.
Court-Based Rental Assistance (CBRAP) can help cover it. According to ILAO, CBRAP can pay up to $10,000 in emergency rental payments, including up to two months of future rent, for tenants who:
Are in an eviction case for unpaid rent,
Rent their Illinois home as their primary residence,
Have household income at or below 80% of area median income, and
Haven't received CBRAP in the past 18 months.
You don't have to be a citizen to qualify. Call CBRAP at (866) 454-3571 (English, Spanish and Polish). In Chicago, you can also call 3-1-1 and ask about emergency financial assistance, or contact Catholic Charities at (312) 655-7700.
Step 6: Settlement or Trial
If you reach an agreement, ILAO recommends:
Agreeing only to terms you can actually meet
Spelling out that if you follow through, the case will be dismissed with prejudice and the file sealed
Keeping the word "eviction" out of the order's title, since an eviction order can affect your access to housing assistance
Without an agreement, prepare for trial with documents, photos and witnesses. If the landlord wins, the judge may enter a money judgment only, an eviction order only, or both.
Step 7: The Order for Possession and the Sheriff
If the landlord gets an Order for Possession, here's how enforcement works, according to the Sheriff's tenant guide:
After any stay period ends, the landlord files the order with the Sheriff's evictions office.
Enforcement can happen as soon as 24 hours after the order is placed with the Sheriff.
You'll get one letter from the Sheriff saying your eviction is on the schedule. The Sheriff won't tell you the date or time.
On eviction day, uniformed deputies knock and announce themselves, can enter by force if needed, and turn the property over to the landlord.
The Sheriff doesn't remove or store your belongings. You must arrange that with the landlord.
If you file a motion after the order, or win an order staying the eviction, you must deliver certified, file-stamped copies to the Sheriff's Office in Room 701 of the Daley Center.
Only the Sheriff can evict you in Cook County. To confirm whether there's an active eviction order, call the Sheriff at 312-603-3714. For relocation help, call the Sheriff's Social Services Department at 312-603-3337.
Where to Get Help in Chicago
Cook County Legal Aid for Housing and Debt / Early Resolution Program: 855-956-5763, cookcountylegalaid.org
Daley Center eviction legal resources: Wednesdays, 9–10 a.m., 14th floor; plus the court advice desk on the Concourse Level
CBRAP: (866) 454-3571
Chicago 3-1-1: emergency financial assistance
Catholic Charities: (312) 655-7700
Cook County Sheriff Social Services: 312-603-3337
Closing Thoughts
The most important moves for a Chicago tenant are to respond quickly, show up for the first Zoom court date, use the free Early Resolution Program, and, if you're behind on rent, use your one-time pay-and-stay right with help from CBRAP. Get every agreement in writing, ask for a copy of every court order, and don't let anyone but the Sheriff remove you from your home.
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