How to Look Up Eviction Records in Illinois 2026

Where to Search Illinois Eviction Records

In Illinois, an eviction record lives with the Circuit Court (Eviction / Forcible Entry and Detainer) in the county where the rental sits, and reaching it takes a little legwork: there is no statewide portal. Cases are not pooled into one searchable site, so you search county-by-county through the local Circuit Court clerk, online if that county offers a case-lookup tool, in person at the courthouse if it does not. Cook County and the collar counties tend to publish case dockets online; many downstate counties still expect a call or a counter visit.

The expungement picture is friendlier than in most states. Sealing is available for certain records: Cook County passed a local ordinance during COVID to seal qualifying eviction filings, and Illinois enacted SB 2299 (2021) to limit how COVID-era eviction records can be used against a tenant. Certified copies run $2 per page in Cook County and $0.25 per page downstate. With average rent near $1,021, both sides have real money riding on what a record actually says.

How to look up an Illinois eviction record

Start with the county. Because Illinois runs no statewide system, you search the Circuit Court clerk in the county where the property is located. Cook, DuPage, Lake, Will, Sangamon, and so on each maintain their own records. Many larger counties offer an online case-search tool keyed to the tenant's name or a case number; smaller downstate counties may require a phone call or an in-person request at the clerk's counter.

An Eviction (Forcible Entry and Detainer) case is filed under the parties' names, so you can search by tenant name even without the case number. If the county is online, you can usually confirm a filing for free; pulling the full file or a certified copy carries a per-page fee. When a county has no public portal, the clerk's office is the authoritative source, ask specifically for Forcible Entry and Detainer filings.

Reading the result: a filing is not a judgment

The single most important thing to check is the disposition. A case appearing in the Circuit Court index means an eviction was filed, it does not mean the landlord won. Cases are dismissed, settled, sealed, or decided for the tenant all the time. A filing is not a judgment. Treating a mere filing as proof the tenant lost is both inaccurate and, under federal fair-housing and credit rules, a screening hazard.

Look at how the case ended: a dismissal or a judgment for the defendant tells a very different story than an order of possession entered against the tenant. Note the date, the parties, and any agreed order. In Illinois you may also find that a once-visible Cook County case has been sealed and no longer appears, another reason to read the docket carefully rather than reacting to a name match alone.

Sealing, SB 2299, and what it means for screening

Illinois gives tenants two real avenues for relief. The Cook County ordinance lets qualifying eviction records be sealed, and SB 2299 (2021) limits adverse use of COVID-era eviction records statewide. For a landlord, that changes the screening math. If a record has been sealed, it is off-limits, do not deny an applicant based on a sealed or expunged eviction record.

Layered on top is the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA): if you screen through a tenant-screening company, you must follow adverse-action rules, give the applicant a copy of the report and a chance to dispute, and rely on accurate, current data. Pulling a stale or sealed case from a third-party database and acting on it invites both an FCRA dispute and an Illinois sealing-law problem. Verify against the live Circuit Court record. (Cook County Ordinance No. 20-2366; 735 ILCS 5/9-213.1.)

The tenant's side: getting a record sealed

If you are a tenant in Illinois, sealing is worth pursuing. In Cook County, the local ordinance allows certain eviction records to be sealed, and SB 2299 specifically protects tenants whose cases stemmed from the COVID-era emergency. Start at the Circuit Court clerk in the county that heard your case and ask about the procedure for sealing an Eviction (Forcible Entry and Detainer) record; the path and eligibility differ between Cook County and downstate counties.

Practical steps: gather your case number and disposition, confirm whether your case qualifies under the ordinance or SB 2299, and file the request with the same court that entered the order. A free legal-aid clinic can help you check eligibility. Once a record is sealed, it should drop out of the public index, and landlords are not permitted to base a denial on it.

Step-by-Step: How to Search Illinois Eviction Records

1. Identify the county court. Find the Circuit Court (Eviction / Forcible Entry and Detainer) website for the county where the property is located.
2. Search by party name. Enter the prospective tenant's full legal name (last name, first name) as a defendant/respondent. Try name variations including maiden names.
3. Filter by case type. Select eviction, forcible detainer, unlawful detainer, or summary possession as the case type depending on the court's terminology.
4. Review the disposition. Identify whether the case resulted in a judgment for the landlord (eviction), dismissal (tenant won or case settled), or is still pending. A filing alone does not mean the tenant was evicted.
5. Check the filing date. Important: Illinois has eviction record protections, Cook County Ordinance No. 20-2366; 735 ILCS 5/9-213.1. Do not make adverse screening decisions on sealed, expunged, or protected records.
6. Request certified copies if needed. For a certified copy of the court record, contact the Circuit Court (Eviction / Forcible Entry and Detainer) clerk's office directly. Fees are typically $2/page (Cook) | $0.25/page (downstate).

Eviction Record Expungement in Illinois

Landlords and screening companies may not use sealed or expunged eviction records as a basis for adverse tenant-screening decisions in Illinois. Tenants who believe their records have been improperly used may have a civil claim under the applicable statute. If a tenant discloses an expunged eviction, you may ask for context but cannot deny housing based solely on the expunged record.

This guide was prepared by the Eviction Risk Map research team using public information from the Illinois Circuit Court system and the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court in each county, along with the relevant sealing authorities (Cook County Ordinance No. 20-2366 and 735 ILCS 5/9-213.1). Last reviewed June 2026. It is general information, not legal advice; verify current procedures with the Circuit Court clerk in the county that heard the case, and consult a licensed Illinois attorney or a legal-aid clinic for guidance on your specific situation.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I look up an eviction record in Illinois?

Search the Circuit Court clerk in the county where the rental is located. Illinois has no statewide portal, so records are county-by-county. Larger counties like Cook and the collar counties usually offer an online case-search tool; many downstate counties require a phone call or an in-person visit to the clerk. Look for an Eviction (Forcible Entry and Detainer) case by the tenant's name or case number.

Are Illinois eviction records public?

Generally yes. Eviction (Forcible Entry and Detainer) cases are filed in the Circuit Court and are part of the public court index. The exception is records that have been sealed, under the Cook County ordinance or SB 2299, qualifying eviction records can be removed from public view, in which case they will not appear and cannot lawfully be used against an applicant.

Can a tenant expunge an eviction in Illinois?

In many cases, yes. Cook County enacted a local ordinance allowing certain eviction records to be sealed, and Illinois SB 2299 (2021) limits adverse use of COVID-era eviction records. Eligibility and procedure vary by county, so a tenant should ask the Circuit Court clerk that heard the case how to request sealing (Cook County Ordinance No. 20-2366; 735 ILCS 5/9-213.1).

How much does a certified copy of an Illinois eviction record cost?

Certified copies cost about $2 per page in Cook County and $0.25 per page in downstate counties. Confirming that a case exists is often free through a county's online search, but the per-page fee applies when you request the full file or a certified copy from the Circuit Court clerk.

Related Illinois Landlord Guides

Court portal information sourced from the Illinois court administrative office official website. Expungement laws from published Illinois statutes (see citations above). Last updated August 28, 2026. For informational purposes only, not legal advice.