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Understanding eviction Guide

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Eviction is a court process:

  • Started by a landlord or property owner,
  • To remove a tenant or occupant from a home,
  • Where they have been allowed to live by spoken (oral) or written agreement.

In most situations, the housing provider must serve a written eviction notice before starting an eviction case. Learn more in Written eviction notices. 

Public housing tenants may have the right to a grievance hearing. Learn about Grievance hearings in public housing evictions.

For legal questions about starting an eviction case, use Get Legal Help to find local resources.

Last full review by a subject matter expert
March 24, 2026
Last revised by staff
March 24, 2026

About our legal information

Take action

Grievance hearings in public housing evictionsHow-To
Steps for a tenant in public housing to request a grievance hearing to try and stop the eviction from happening.
Negotiating a move-out agreement without going to courtHow-To
Steps for landlords and tenants to make a move-out agreement without going to court.
Personal service of a written eviction noticeHow-To
How to do personal service of written eviction notices in Illinois, including preparation, safety tips, delivery, and proof of service.
Substitute service of a written eviction noticeHow-To
How to serve written eviction notices in Illinois using substitute service, including preparation, safety tips, delivery rules, and proof of service.
Mailing an eviction noticeHow-To
How to serve written eviction notices in Illinois by certified or registered mail, including preparation, mailing steps, delivery rules, and proof of service.
Posting an eviction noticeHow-To
How to legally post written eviction notices in Illinois on vacant or abandoned units, including preparation, safety, posting rules, and proof of service.

Forms

Evict a tenant Easy Form
This Easy Form helps you make notice and eviction complaint forms to evict a tenant in Illinois.
Remove eviction from public record Easy Form
This Easy Form helps you ask a court to remove an eviction from the public record so it does not show up in a background check or credit report.
Respond to an eviction Easy Form
This Easy Form helps you respond to an eviction by telling the court and the other parties that you are participating in a court case. It also helps you make an Eviction Answer, Defenses, and Counterclaims form that tells how you respond to what is written in the complaint.
Extend time of eviction Easy Form
This Easy Form helps you make forms to ask the court for more time in your rental unit after being evicted.

Learn more

Dealing with unpaid rent FAQ
Find out how Illinois landlords must handle overdue rent, including late fees, payment plans, stay and pay, and rental assistance.
Addressing lease violations FAQ
Take a closer look at how Illinois landlords can respond to conduct that breaks property rules or involves criminal activity.
Ending a lease FAQ
Discover how Illinois laws apply to ending spoken (oral) and written agreements to live in someone else's property.
Trespassers and squatters FAQ
Legal options for situations where people are staying on someone else's property without any permission at all.

Worried about doing this on your own?  You may be able to get free legal help.

Apply Online

Take action

Grievance hearings in public housing evictionsHow-To
Steps for a tenant in public housing to request a grievance hearing to try and stop the eviction from happening.
Negotiating a move-out agreement without going to courtHow-To
Steps for landlords and tenants to make a move-out agreement without going to court.
Personal service of a written eviction noticeHow-To
How to do personal service of written eviction notices in Illinois, including preparation, safety tips, delivery, and proof of service.
Substitute service of a written eviction noticeHow-To
How to serve written eviction notices in Illinois using substitute service, including preparation, safety tips, delivery rules, and proof of service.
Mailing an eviction noticeHow-To
How to serve written eviction notices in Illinois by certified or registered mail, including preparation, mailing steps, delivery rules, and proof of service.
Posting an eviction noticeHow-To
How to legally post written eviction notices in Illinois on vacant or abandoned units, including preparation, safety, posting rules, and proof of service.

Forms

Evict a tenant Easy Form
This Easy Form helps you make notice and eviction complaint forms to evict a tenant in Illinois.
Remove eviction from public record Easy Form
This Easy Form helps you ask a court to remove an eviction from the public record so it does not show up in a background check or credit report.
Respond to an eviction Easy Form
This Easy Form helps you respond to an eviction by telling the court and the other parties that you are participating in a court case. It also helps you make an Eviction Answer, Defenses, and Counterclaims form that tells how you respond to what is written in the complaint.
Extend time of eviction Easy Form
This Easy Form helps you make forms to ask the court for more time in your rental unit after being evicted.

Learn more

Dealing with unpaid rent FAQ
Find out how Illinois landlords must handle overdue rent, including late fees, payment plans, stay and pay, and rental assistance.
Addressing lease violations FAQ
Take a closer look at how Illinois landlords can respond to conduct that breaks property rules or involves criminal activity.
Ending a lease FAQ
Discover how Illinois laws apply to ending spoken (oral) and written agreements to live in someone else's property.
Trespassers and squatters FAQ
Legal options for situations where people are staying on someone else's property without any permission at all.