Illinois Supreme Court-Approved Instructions, How to File and Present an Eviction Case

judge before
o You may serve the notice by: cashing the check or before spending or
• Handing it to the Defendant; depositing the money.
• Handing it to a person who is at least 13 years
How do I evict a tenant whose lease has ended and I
old and lives in the property;
do not want to renew?
• Sending a copy of the notice to the Defendant
If the lease ends on a specific date (and the lease terms
by certified or registered mail, with a returned
do not say it automatically changes to a month-to-month
receipt from the addressee (such as a green
tenancy) and your tenant does not move out, you may
card); OR
file an Eviction Complaint the very next day.
• Posting it on the door, but ONLY if no one lives
in the property.
Find Illinois Supreme Court approved forms at: ilcourts.info/forms.
E-I 3511.4 Page 2 of 8 (06/24)
o You may not file an eviction action the very next day How do I evict a tenant who has no written lease?
if your local landlord-tenant law or lease requires o If you ever had an agreement that allowed the
you to give your tenant advance written notice that occupant to pay rent to stay in the property, they are
you do not want to renew the lease. a tenant whether or not they had a written lease.
o If you are unsure about whether a notice is required, o A tenant with no written lease usually has a month-
it is better to give your tenant a Notice. to-month tenancy. Oral leases can also have other
types of time periods that require a different kind of
NOTE: Under Chicago law, renters must be given notice. If you think your lease is not a month to
written notice that the lease will not be renewed at least month, tenancy, you may wish to speak with a
30 days before the end of their lease. lawyer or visit illinoislegalaid.org/legal-