Hancock County Small Claims Cases
Small Claims (SC) cases offer a simplified, lower-cost path through civil court for disputes involving smaller amounts of money. Discover what qualifies as a Small Claim in Hancock County, applicable filing fees, and how to have a defendant served with a Summons.
A Small Claim is any civil action based on either tort or contract for money not in excess of $10,000, exclusive of interest and costs, as defined by Illinois Supreme Court Rule 281.
The Small Claim case category includes the following:
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Contract – money damages $10,000 or less
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Tort – money damages $10,000 or less
Filing Fees
To file a small claims complaint, the plaintiff must pay a filing fee depending on the amount and type of suit to be filed. If the amount of money you are asking for is $2,500 or less, the filing fee is $89. If the amount of money exceeds $2,500 but not more than $10,000 the filing fee is $256.
| Amount of the Debt | Fee to File the Small Claim Case |
|---|---|
| $25,000 or less | $94 |
| $2,500.01 - 10,000 | $256 |
Service of Summons Options
Once you file your complaint, you must formally serve the defendant with a copy of the Summons. Depending on where the defendant lives, you can choose one of the following methods:
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Certified Mail (Anywhere in Illinois)
If the defendant resides in the State of Illinois, you may choose to have the Circuit Clerk’s Office serve the Summons via certified mail. This requires an additional fee of $10 per defendant, which is added to your initial complaint filing fee.
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County Sheriff
If the defendant lives within Hancock County, you can choose to have the Hancock County Sheriff's Office handle personal service. If the defendant lives in another Illinois county and you prefer sheriff service, you must place the Summons directly with the Sheriff's Office of that specific county. The Sheriff’s fee varies depending on the defendant's exact address.
Forms
The Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice has approved the following forms for use in Small Claims cases in Illinois.
