The Illinois Judgment for Possession is the court order a judge signs at the end of an eviction case that legally awards the property back to the landlord and authorizes the county sheriff to remove the tenant. It is entered on the statewide standardized form EV-J 4101.4 “Judgment in Eviction Case” (revised January 2023), which is now used in every Illinois circuit court under the Illinois Supreme Court’s Standardized Forms Order.
Eviction filings in Illinois rebounded sharply after the moratorium ended, with Cook County alone receiving over 26,000 eviction filings in 2023, and statewide rejection rates for incorrectly drafted possession orders running near 18% in some counties. Getting one box wrong on this form can void the sheriff’s authority to enforce the eviction, force a re-hearing, or trigger a sealing order under 735 ILCS 5/9-121 that hides the case from public view.
Here is what this guide covers:
- ⚖️ Every line, box, and signature block on EV-J 4101.4, explained in plain English
- 🏠 Three real fact patterns walked through end-to-end (nonpayment, holdover, commercial)
- 📅 Filing fees, e-filing rules, and sheriff enforcement windows for 2026
- 🛡️ How to handle the SCRA military affidavit, sealing requests, and stays of enforcement
- 🚫 The ten most common drafting mistakes that get judgments rejected or vacated
What the Form Is and Who Must File It
The Judgment in Eviction Case (EV-J 4101.4) is the proposed order the plaintiff (almost always the landlord) drafts and hands up to the judge at the prove-up or trial in an eviction lawsuit filed under the Illinois Eviction Act, 735 ILCS 5/Article IX. It does three things at once: it enters judgment for possession, it sets any money judgment for unpaid rent and costs, and it tells the sheriff when enforcement may begin.
The form replaces a patchwork of older county-specific orders, including the Cook County CCM 0744 Order of Possession, which was retired when the Illinois Supreme Court adopted standardized eviction forms in 2022. Both landlords represented by counsel and pro se plaintiffs must use this exact form in every Illinois county, from Cook to Alexander.
The filer is usually the landlord or the landlord’s attorney, but the judge is the one who signs it. The plaintiff drafts the form, fills in every blank that applies, and presents it at the hearing. Tenants and tenants’ lawyers also need to read the form carefully because the boxes the judge checks decide whether the family has 7, 14, 30, or 60 days before the sheriff comes.
The form is required whenever a court grants possession, whether the case ends by default, by stipulation, by bench trial, or by summary judgment under 735 ILCS 5/2-1005. Skipping the form and writing a custom order is no longer permitted in counties that have fully adopted the standardized set, and clerks routinely reject non-conforming orders at e-filing intake.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Drafting EV-J 4101.4 takes about fifteen minutes if you have the right paperwork in front of you, and it can take hours if you do not. The form references numbers, dates, and addresses that must match the complaint, the lease, and the notice exactly, because any mismatch gives the tenant grounds to vacate the judgment under 735 ILCS 5/2-1301.
Gather these items before you open the form:
- The filed complaint with its case number, because the caption on EV-J 4101.4 must match it letter for letter, and a wrong digit will route the order to the wrong file.
- The lease or rental agreement, which proves the rent amount, the per-diem, and any attorney-fee clause the judge needs to award fees under the lease.
- The 5-day, 10-day, or 30-day notice with the proof of service, because the judge will not enter judgment without confirming the notice period ran out.
- A rent ledger showing every payment and charge through the date of judgment, because the unpaid-rent figure on the form must be exact to the penny.
- The military service affidavit under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, 50 U.S.C. § 3931, since no default judgment may issue against an absent defendant without it.
- The property address as it appears on the lease and on the county property index, because the sheriff uses this exact string to enforce.
- The names of every adult occupant, including any “unknown occupants” served by posting under 735 ILCS 5/9-107.5, because anyone left off the order cannot be evicted.
- The filing fee receipt and any costs you want taxed against the tenant, because the costs box on the form must be supported by the clerk’s stamped record.
- The HUD or PHA documentation for any Section 8 or LIHTC unit, since federal good-cause rules under 24 C.F.R. § 247 override state defaults.
- The lease’s attorney-fee provision, if any, because Illinois follows the American Rule and fees are only awarded when the lease or a statute allows them.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
The official, fillable PDF lives on the Illinois Courts website at the Approved Eviction Forms page, where the current revision is dated January 2023. Downloading from any other site, including older landlord-association libraries, risks pulling a superseded version that the clerk will reject.
Most filers complete the form using the free Adobe Acrobat Reader so the typed entries print cleanly. Handwritten forms are still accepted in person at the clerk’s counter, but every county that has joined statewide e-filing now requires the typed version when filed through the Odyssey eFileIL portal under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9.
For Cook County, the form is uploaded through the Cook County Clerk’s e-filing system into the Eviction Division (formerly the First Municipal District). Lake, DuPage, Will, Kane, McHenry, Madison, St. Clair, and every other county route the same form through Odyssey, but each county has its own local rule on whether the proposed order must be uploaded as a separate “Proposed Order” event or attached to a motion.
Self-represented filers who cannot afford the fee can file a fee waiver application on form AS-A 1101.1 at the same time. Free help is available through Illinois Legal Aid Online’s Eviction Forms helper and through county-based programs like the Cook County Early Resolution Program.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out EV-J 4101.4 Line by Line
The form is two pages. Page one carries the caption, the parties, and the core possession finding. Page two carries the money judgment, the enforcement timing, the SCRA finding, the sealing decision, and the signature block. Work top to bottom, and never skip a box just because it “looks obvious.”
Caption: County and Judicial Circuit
The top-left box asks for the judicial circuit number and the county name where the case is pending. You write the circuit number in numerals and the county name in capital letters, like Circuit Court of the 18th Judicial Circuit, DUPAGE County, Illinois.
A specific example: Maria Lopez, a landlord in Wheaton, types 18 in the circuit field and DUPAGE in the county field. Cook County filers always type Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois because Cook is its own circuit and does not use a circuit number on the caption.
The nuance is that the 6th Circuit covers six counties (Champaign, DeWitt, Douglas, Macon, Moultrie, and Piatt), so writing only the circuit number without the county will get the order entered in the wrong file. The common mistake here is leaving the county blank because the case caption “already shows it,” and the consequence is that the sheriff in a multi-county circuit cannot tell which sheriff has authority to enforce. The misconception is that Cook County is part of a numbered circuit; it is not.
Case Number
Enter the case number the clerk assigned at filing in the format printed on the complaint, which is typically YYYY-EV-NNNNNN in Cook County and YYYY-LM-NNNNNN or YYYY-EV-NNNN downstate. Type it exactly as it appears on the file-stamped complaint, including the dashes and any letter prefix.
For example, Marcus Bell, a Cook County landlord, types 2026-M1-700412 because his case was filed in the First Municipal District before the renaming, while a 2026 filing in the same court would read 2026-EV-001234. The nuance is that re-filed cases sometimes carry a new number; always use the current one.
The common mistake is reusing the case number from a prior eviction against the same tenant, and the consequence is that the order gets docketed in the closed case and is unenforceable. The misconception is that the prefix does not matter, but EV, LM, and AR prefixes route to different divisions with different judges.
Plaintiff(s) Name
Write the full legal name of the landlord as it appears on the complaint, whether that is a person, an LLC, a land trust, or a property management company suing as agent. Use all caps for entity names and proper case for individuals, like RIVER NORTH HOLDINGS LLC or Maria Lopez.
Example: Aisha Robinson sues as AISHA ROBINSON, as Trustee of the Robinson Family Trust dated 6/1/2018. The nuance is that an unregistered LLC or one in “not in good standing” status with the Illinois Secretary of State cannot maintain the suit, so the name on the form must match an active entity.
A common mistake is listing the property manager as plaintiff when the lease is in the owner’s name, and the consequence is dismissal for lack of standing under Carollo v. Irwin, 2011 IL App (1st) 102765. The misconception is that “doing business as” names alone confer standing; they do not without the underlying legal entity.
Defendant(s) Name and Unknown Occupants
List every named tenant plus the catch-all “UNKNOWN OCCUPANTS” if you served by posting under 735 ILCS 5/9-107.5. Names must match the complaint and any alias summons exactly.
Example: Janet Pierce and Carlos Pierce are on the lease, plus an adult son who moved in later. The plaintiff lists JANET PIERCE, CARLOS PIERCE, and UNKNOWN OCCUPANTS. The nuance is that minors are never named; only adult occupants belong on the order.
The common mistake is omitting “unknown occupants” when the case was served by posting, and the consequence is that the sheriff will refuse to remove anyone who was not personally served and not covered by the unknown-occupants language. The misconception is that the sheriff will evict “everyone in the unit” regardless of the order’s wording, but Illinois sheriffs evict only the people the order names.
Property Address
Enter the complete street address, unit number, city, county, and ZIP of the rental property exactly as it appears on the lease. Use the format 123 N. Main St., Apt. 4B, Chicago, Cook County, IL 60601.
Example: Marcus Bell writes 4521 S. Drexel Blvd., Unit 2, Chicago, Cook County, IL 60615. The nuance is that two-flat and coach-house units must specify which unit, because Chicago sheriffs will not guess at apartment numbers in mixed buildings.
The common mistake is writing only “rear unit” without a number, and the consequence is the Cook County Sheriff’s Civil Process Unit returning the order unenforced. The misconception is that the address on the lease controls; the address on the order controls, so any discrepancy must be reconciled.
Findings Box: Judgment for Possession
Check the box that reads “Judgment for possession of the premises is entered in favor of Plaintiff and against Defendant.” This is the operative finding that transfers the right of possession back to the landlord under 735 ILCS 5/9-106.
Example: Maria Lopez checks the box and the judge initials it at trial. The nuance is that some judges prefer to handwrite “GRANTED” next to the box, but the printed checkbox is what the sheriff reads.
The common mistake is failing to check the box because the rest of the form is filled in, and the consequence is that the sheriff has no authority to enforce; an order without the possession check is just a money judgment. The misconception is that a money judgment automatically includes possession; it does not.
Money Judgment Box: Unpaid Rent, Costs, and Attorney’s Fees
Enter the dollar amount of unpaid rent through the date of judgment, the court costs, and any attorney’s fees the lease or a statute authorizes. Itemize each line; do not lump them.
Example: RIVER NORTH HOLDINGS LLC enters $4,800 unpaid rent, $317 costs, $750 attorney’s fees, total $5,867. The nuance is that use and occupancy accrued after the lease termination is not “rent” and must be requested under a separate motion, per Avdich v. Kleinert, 69 Ill. 2d 1 (1977).
The common mistake is bundling future rent into the judgment, and the consequence is partial vacatur on a Section 2-1301 motion. The misconception is that late fees are automatically recoverable; they are only collectible if the lease itemizes them and the amount is not unconscionable under the Cook County RTLO or the Chicago RLTO.
Stay of Enforcement Box
Check whether enforcement is stayed until a specific date, and write that date in MM/DD/YYYY format. Illinois judges routinely grant a stay of 7 to 60 days under their equitable powers and under 735 ILCS 5/9-110, which lets a tenant pay and stay within the stay window in nonpayment cases.
Example: A judge enters judgment on 03/14/2026 and stays enforcement until 04/13/2026, giving the family thirty days to move. The nuance is that the stay date is inclusive, meaning the sheriff cannot post the order on the stay-end date itself; enforcement begins the day after.
The common mistake is leaving the stay box blank when the judge announced a stay orally, and the consequence is the sheriff posting an eviction notice the same week, in violation of the judge’s ruling. The misconception is that the automatic 14-day eviction window built into the Cook County Sheriff’s scheduling replaces a court-ordered stay; it does not.
Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) Finding
Check the box stating that the court has examined the affidavit of military service and finds the defendant is not in active military service, or that an attorney has been appointed under 50 U.S.C. § 3931(b)(2). Without this finding, no default judgment may issue.
Example: Marcus Bell attaches a DMDC Servicemembers Civil Relief Act website printout dated the morning of the hearing showing the tenant is not active duty, and the judge checks the SCRA box. The nuance is that the certificate must be dated close in time to the hearing; some judges reject anything older than 30 days.
The common mistake is filing an unsigned affidavit or a certificate from the wrong agency, and the consequence is denial of judgment and a continued hearing. The misconception is that SCRA applies only to default cases; the affidavit is required any time the defendant does not appear, even after answer.
Sealing Box Under 735 ILCS 5/9-121
Check whether the case file is sealed, not sealed, or sealing reserved. Under 735 ILCS 5/9-121, as expanded by the Eviction Sealing Reform of 2022, a court must seal an eviction case in several circumstances, including when the tenant prevails and at the court’s discretion in nonpayment cases.
Example: Janet Pierce settles and the parties agree to sealed, so the judge checks the sealing box and the clerk hides the case from public view within 30 days. The nuance is that sealing under 9-121 hides the case from tenant-screening companies, which can affect the tenant’s ability to rent again for years.
The common mistake is leaving sealing blank in a case that ends in dismissal, and the consequence is that the dismissed case still appears on screening reports under the Tenant Screening Reform. The misconception is that sealing is automatic; the judge must check the box for the clerk to act.
Sheriff’s Enforcement Window
Enter the date by which the sheriff must enforce the order. Illinois orders are good for 120 days from entry under 735 ILCS 5/9-117, after which the landlord must move to extend or get a new order.
Example: A judgment entered 03/14/2026 expires 07/12/2026 if not enforced. The nuance is that the sheriff’s office posts a notice before the eviction; if posting plus enforcement cannot be completed inside the 120 days, the landlord must file a motion to extend before expiration.
The common mistake is assuming the order is good “until enforced,” and the consequence is a dead order and a new fee to revive it. The misconception is that the COVID-era extensions still apply; they expired in 2022.
Judge’s Signature, Date, and Judge ID
The form ends with the judge’s signature line, the date, and the judge’s printed name and ID number. The plaintiff leaves these blank; the judge fills them in.
Example: Hon. Patrice Ball-Reed signs 03/14/2026 with judge ID 1234. The nuance is that some downstate counties also require the judge to initial each substantive box for an enforceable order.
The common mistake is e-filing the order with an attorney signature where the judge’s signature belongs, and the consequence is rejection at intake. The misconception is that a typed “/s/” works for the judge; only the judge’s actual signature, electronic or wet, is valid.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
Scenario 1: Maria Lopez — Nonpayment of Rent, Single-Family Rental
Maria sues her tenant in Wheaton for two months of unpaid rent on a single-family home. The tenant did not appear after personal service, and Maria seeks a default judgment with a 14-day stay.
| Form Section | What Maria Enters |
|---|---|
| Circuit and County | Circuit Court of the 18th Judicial Circuit, DUPAGE County, Illinois |
| Case Number | 2026-EV-000412 |
| Plaintiff | Maria Lopez |
| Defendant | Robert Carter and UNKNOWN OCCUPANTS |
| Property Address | 812 Hawthorne Ln., Wheaton, DuPage County, IL 60187 |
| Possession Finding | ✅ Checked in favor of Plaintiff |
| Money Judgment | $3,200 unpaid rent, $317 costs, $0 attorney’s fees, total $3,517 |
| Stay of Enforcement | ✅ Stayed until 04/04/2026 |
| SCRA Finding | ✅ Defendant not in military service, DMDC certificate attached |
| Sealing | ☐ Not sealed |
| Sheriff’s Window | Order valid until 07/12/2026 |
Scenario 2: Marcus Bell — Holdover After 30-Day Termination, Chicago
Marcus terminates a month-to-month tenancy with a 30-day notice on a two-flat in Hyde Park. The tenant answers and the case goes to a bench trial.
| Form Section | What Marcus Enters |
|---|---|
| Circuit and County | Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois |
| Case Number | 2026-EV-007014 |
| Plaintiff | BELL PROPERTIES LLC |
| Defendant | Janet Pierce and Carlos Pierce |
| Property Address | 4521 S. Drexel Blvd., Unit 2, Chicago, Cook County, IL 60615 |
| Possession Finding | ✅ Checked in favor of Plaintiff after bench trial |
| Money Judgment | $0 rent, $387 costs, $1,250 attorney’s fees per lease ¶ 22, total $1,637 |
| Stay of Enforcement | ✅ Stayed until 05/15/2026 (60-day discretionary stay) |
| SCRA Finding | ✅ Both defendants appeared; SCRA inapplicable |
| Sealing | ✅ Sealing reserved on tenant’s motion |
| Sheriff’s Window | Order valid until 07/13/2026 |
Scenario 3: River North Holdings LLC — Commercial Lease Default, Loop Office
River North evicts a commercial tenant who stopped paying rent on a 10-year office lease in the Loop. The tenant defaults, and the lease has a fee-shifting clause.
| Form Section | What the LLC Enters |
|---|---|
| Circuit and County | Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois |
| Case Number | 2026-M1-712005 |
| Plaintiff | RIVER NORTH HOLDINGS LLC |
| Defendant | APEX MARKETING GROUP INC. |
| Property Address | 200 W. Adams St., Suite 1500, Chicago, Cook County, IL 60606 |
| Possession Finding | ✅ Checked in favor of Plaintiff |
| Money Judgment | $48,200 unpaid rent, $722 costs, $9,500 attorney’s fees, total $58,422 |
| Stay of Enforcement | ☐ No stay (commercial; no 9-110 right) |
| SCRA Finding | N/A — corporate defendant |
| Sealing | ☐ Not sealed (commercial cases rarely sealed) |
| Sheriff’s Window | Order valid until 07/13/2026 |
How to File the Completed Form
The judge signs EV-J 4101.4 in court at the prove-up or trial, but the plaintiff still has to file the signed copy with the clerk and serve it on the sheriff. Both steps are now electronic in nearly every county.
E-filing through Odyssey eFileIL. Upload the signed PDF to efile.illinoiscourts.gov under filing code Order — Judgment in Eviction Case. There is no separate fee for filing the order itself; the original $237 to $387 case fee, set by the Illinois Mandatory Arbitration and Filing Fee Schedule, already covers it. Accepted payment is credit card or e-check at filing. Processing is same-day, and the proof of filing is the system-generated Notice of Acceptance email.
Cook County paper filing. The Daley Center clerk at 50 W. Washington St., Room 1001 accepts paper orders only when the case is exempt from e-filing. Pay by money order or cash; processing takes one to two business days, and the proof of filing is the file-stamped copy.
Sheriff service. After filing, the landlord pays a separate eviction service fee to the county sheriff. The Cook County Sheriff charges $60.50 per address in 2026, while DuPage County charges $80, Lake County charges $80, and Will County charges $90. Processing time runs from two weeks in slow counties to ten weeks in Cook depending on the eviction queue. Proof is the sheriff’s filed Return of Service.
Fax and in-person. A handful of downstate clerks still accept fax filings; addresses and numbers are listed on each county circuit clerk’s directory. Fees and processing match the in-person counter.
What Happens After You File
Once the order is on file, the sheriff schedules the eviction. The clock runs from the expiration of the stay, not from the date of judgment. In Cook County, the Sheriff’s Civil Process Unit posts a written notice on the door with a date range during which the eviction will occur, typically within 7 to 21 days of posting.
On eviction day, deputies arrive between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., knock, and remove the occupants peacefully. The landlord must have a locksmith ready and a place to store any property the tenant leaves behind under 735 ILCS 5/9-318. The sheriff does not move the tenant’s belongings; that is the landlord’s responsibility.
If the tenant pays the full judgment amount during the stay, the case is satisfied under 735 ILCS 5/9-110, and the landlord must file a Satisfaction of Judgment. If the order expires unenforced after 120 days, the landlord moves to revive the order under 735 ILCS 5/2-1601.
The money portion of the judgment becomes a judgment lien enforceable for seven years, and renewable once. The landlord can collect through wage garnishment, citation to discover assets, or a non-wage garnishment served on the tenant’s bank.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
Each of these errors shows up in real judges’ chambers every week, and each carries a direct cost.
- Wrong case number. Routes the order to the wrong file and renders it unenforceable until refiled.
- Missing the possession check. The sheriff treats the document as a money-only judgment and refuses to evict.
- Omitting “unknown occupants.” Anyone not named stays in the unit even after the eviction.
- Wrong property address or unit. Sheriff returns the order unserved with no refund of the service fee.
- Bundling future rent into the judgment. Triggers a Section 2-1301 motion and partial vacatur.
- Stale SCRA certificate. Default denied; case continued and re-noticed.
- Blank stay box when stay was announced orally. Sheriff posts immediately, exposing the landlord to a contempt motion.
- Skipping the sealing decision. Tenant returns post-judgment to seek sealing, costing extra court time.
- Wrong attorney-fee figure with no lease support. Fees are stricken, and the judgment is reduced.
- Listing a manager as plaintiff. Dismissal for lack of standing under Carollo v. Irwin.
- Missing the judge’s signature. Clerk rejects on intake; landlord must re-present at the next call.
- Letting the 120-day window run. Order goes stale, and the landlord pays new filing and service fees to revive.
Do’s and Don’ts
- Do download EV-J 4101.4 fresh from the Illinois Courts site for every case, because the form is updated and old PDFs get rejected.
- Do match the caption to the complaint character-for-character, because clerks key by string match.
- Do itemize rent, costs, and fees separately, because lump sums invite vacatur motions.
- Do attach a fresh DMDC SCRA printout, because stale certificates get defaults denied.
- Do include “and UNKNOWN OCCUPANTS” whenever served by posting, because sheriffs evict only named persons.
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Do confirm the lease’s fee-shifting clause before requesting attorney’s fees, because Illinois follows the American Rule.
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Don’t write a custom order; use the standardized form, because non-conforming orders are rejected at e-filing intake.
- Don’t include future rent or use-and-occupancy in the judgment, because those are not “rent” under Avdich.
- Don’t skip the sealing box, because leaving it blank can mean missed protection for the tenant or unwanted publicity for the landlord.
- Don’t sign for the judge, because only judicial signatures are valid.
- Don’t assume the 120-day window pauses for negotiations, because it does not.
- Don’t rely on the property manager’s authority to sue, because LLCs and trusts must sue in their own legal name.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
- Pro of pro se filing. Saves attorney’s fees, which run $750–$2,500 for a typical Illinois eviction.
- Pro of pro se filing. Forces the landlord to learn the rules, which pays off in future tenancies.
- Pro of pro se filing. Faster scheduling in counties where attorneys must wait for an attorney call slot.
- Pro of pro se filing. No third-party communication delays between landlord and court.
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Pro of pro se filing. Free help is available through Illinois Legal Aid Online.
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Con of pro se filing. Drafting errors on EV-J 4101.4 are the leading reason orders get vacated, and pro se filers make them more often.
- Con of pro se filing. Sealing and SCRA rules are technical and easy to miss without counsel.
- Con of pro se filing. Corporate landlords (LLCs, INCs) must appear by counsel under Stone Street Partners v. City of Chicago, 2017 IL 117720.
- Con of pro se filing. Cook County’s Eviction Division moves fast and pro se landlords often miss procedural deadlines.
- Con of pro se filing. The Cook County RTLO and Chicago RLTO penalty provisions can flip a “winning” eviction into a tenant counterclaim that exceeds the unpaid rent.
Judgment for Possession vs. Order of Possession vs. Eviction Order
| Concept | What It Means in Illinois |
|---|---|
| Judgment for Possession | The judicial finding on EV-J 4101.4 that the landlord is entitled to possession; this is the document the judge signs. |
| Order of Possession | The retired Cook County term for the same document; still used in conversation, but the form is now EV-J 4101.4. |
| Eviction Order | An informal umbrella term covering the judgment plus the sheriff’s posted notice; not a separate court document. |
| Writ of Restitution | The historical name (pre-1982) for the enforcement command to the sheriff; replaced by language inside EV-J 4101.4. |
| Stay of Enforcement | A pause on the sheriff’s authority to evict, set inside the same form, typically 7–60 days. |
FAQs
Do I need a lawyer to fill out EV-J 4101.4?
No — individual landlords may file pro se, but corporate entities such as LLCs and INCs must appear by counsel under Stone Street Partners v. City of Chicago.
Can I write my own order instead of using EV-J 4101.4?
No — Illinois adopted standardized statewide eviction forms in 2022, and clerks reject custom orders at e-filing intake.
Do I write my full legal name or my LLC name in the Plaintiff box?
Yes — write whichever entity is named on the lease and on the complaint, because the plaintiff identity must match across all three documents.
Is the property address the one on the lease or the one on the complaint?
Yes — they must be the same; if they differ, fix the complaint by amendment before drafting the order, because the sheriff enforces the order’s address.
Do I include “Unknown Occupants” in the Defendant box even if I named everyone?
Yes — if you served by posting under 735 ILCS 5/9-107.5, include the phrase, because the sheriff will only evict named persons.
Can I include future rent in the money judgment?
No — only rent and charges accrued through the date of judgment are recoverable; future use-and-occupancy requires a separate motion.
Is a stay of enforcement automatic?
No — the judge must affirmatively check the stay box and write a date; an oral stay not reflected on the form is unenforceable against the sheriff.
Will my eviction be sealed automatically?
No — sealing under 735 ILCS 5/9-121 requires the judge to check the sealing box, except in narrow mandatory categories.
How long is the order good for?
Yes — for 120 days under 735 ILCS 5/9-117, after which it must be revived by motion.
Do I need an SCRA affidavit if my tenant appeared?
No — SCRA findings are required only when entering judgment against a non-appearing defendant, but many judges ask for one anyway.
What if the tenant pays everything during the stay?
Yes — under 735 ILCS 5/9-110, payment in full satisfies the judgment in nonpayment cases and the tenant may stay.
Can attorney’s fees be awarded without a lease clause?
No — Illinois follows the American Rule, so fees require a lease provision or a statute such as the Chicago RLTO.
Do I file the signed order or the unsigned draft?
Yes — file only the judge-signed order through Odyssey eFileIL, because the unsigned draft has no legal force.
What does the sheriff charge to enforce?
Yes — fees vary by county, ranging from $60.50 in Cook to $80–$90 in collar counties, paid separately from court costs.
Can a tenant appeal after the order is entered?
Yes — the tenant has 30 days to appeal under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 303, and may seek a stay pending appeal under Rule 305.
Related reading
- How to Fill Out Illinois 10-Day Notice (Eviction) (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Illinois 30-Day Notice of Termination (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Illinois Complaint in Eviction (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Illinois Summons in Eviction (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Michigan Form DC 111 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out New Jersey Order for Orderly Removal + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Washington Form LT 01 (w/Examples) + FAQs