Can You File Small Claims Online in Illinois?

Claim limit: $10,000
Court: Circuit Court
File online: Yes (statewide)
Appeal window: 30 days

What eFileIL (Odyssey eFileIL / Tyler Technologies) is

Illinois's statewide portal is where electronic filings go:

System: eFileIL (Odyssey eFileIL / Tyler Technologies)
A filer representing themselves may register and file
1 of the 1 Illinois county we cover accept an electronic filing
Filing electronically does not change the fee, and does not serve the defendant

However you file, service of the defendant is a separate step with its own cost and its own proof.

Illinois counties that take an electronic filing

Of the counties Small Claims Desk covers:

Cook County — eFileIL (Odyssey eFileIL / Tyler Technologies)

Filing without going to the courthouse

Where the portal is closed to you, or your county is not on it, the counter is not the only route:

Check whether your clerk takes a mailed filing. Many do, and it is the most commonly missed option. Each county page on this site lists the filing methods that court accepts.
Send the complete set, not the form alone. The claim form, any document the claim is based on, the fee in the form the clerk accepts, and a return address. An incomplete mailed filing comes back, and the round trip costs a fortnight.
Pay in a form that survives the post. Clerks that take mailed filings generally want a money order or a cashier’s cheque rather than cash or a personal card number.
Remember that filing is not serving. However the case gets to the court, the defendant still has to be formally served, and that is a separate step with its own cost and its own proof.

Confirm with your clerk before posting anything. A rejected filing is charged again when you refile.

Common questions

Can you file a small claims case online in Illinois?

Illinois offers statewide e-filing through eFileIL (Odyssey eFileIL / Tyler Technologies). Some counties also accept in-person or mail filing.

Is e-filing open to people without a lawyer in Illinois?

Yes — Illinois lets a filer representing themselves register for eFileIL (Odyssey eFileIL / Tyler Technologies).

Does filing online cost more in Illinois?

The filing fee is the same. Card payment may carry a processing surcharge, which your county's fee page sets out.

If I file online, is the defendant notified?

No. Filing and service are separate steps. Filing electronically does not serve anybody.

Pick your county to see how it accepts filings

Small claims is filed at the county level. Pick your county for its court, fee, and forms — or start your claim and we'll ask where you'd sue.

Cook County Small Claims Court

Start my claim

Your small claims filing packet — $49

Everything above, assembled and filled in with your facts:

Your court's own forms, with your claim written in the language the court expects
A demand letter built from the same facts
A filing checklist with your court's address, hours, and fee
What to bring to your hearing