Cook County, Illinois: Where to File a Security Deposit Claim and What It Costs

Listed court: described in the facts table in Chicago (Daley Center, Room 1308) - plus five suburban Municipal District courthouses for claims arising outside Chicago. Check venue on the court's official page or with the clerk. Fee: see the fee table. Limit: $3,000. Return: 45 days. ACS two-bedroom rent: $1,400. Enter your dates and send the dated letter first.

Court listed	Circuit Court of Cook County - Pro Se Small Claims Court (Municipal Division, First Municipal District); larger claims via Municipal Division Civil/Small Claims Section in the six district courthouses
City	Chicago (Daley Center, Room 1308) - plus five suburban Municipal District courthouses for claims arising outside Chicago
Address	50 W. Washington Street - Room 2600, Chicago, IL 60602
Phone	(312) 603-6000
County filing fee	~$176-$268 depending on claim amount tier (Pro Se Branch); claims from $3,000.01 up to $10,000 use a separate, higher Municipal Division fee schedule - see CCG0603 fee schedule at cookcountyclerkofcourt.org
E-filing	Yes, see filing page
Small claims limit	$3,000
State deposit return deadline	45 days after the date the lessee vacated the premises. Applies when: no itemized statement and receipts furnished within the 30-day window; the full deposit is due. 30 days after the later of the date the lessee vacated the premises or the date the lessee's right of possession ends. Applies when: lessor deducts for damages; itemized statement of damages with estimated or actual repair costs.
Time limit to sue	5 years
Deposit statute	765 ILCS 710/1 (Security Deposit Return Act); related: 765 ILCS 715/1 (Security Deposit Interest Act)

Some counties have more than one small claims court, and venue rules differ by state; check which court hears your claim on the court's official page or with the clerk.

Details

Limits: $10,000 (statewide).

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Details of the return rules

Illinois statutory deadlines
When it applies	Deadline	Starts from
no itemized statement and receipts furnished within the 30-day window; the full deposit is due	45 days	the date the lessee vacated the premises

Illinois return rule: 45 days (no itemized statement and receipts furnished within the 30-day window; the full deposit is due). Check the dates you entered above.

Court listed for this county: Circuit Court of Cook County - Pro Se Small Claims Court (Municipal Division, First Municipal District); larger claims via Municipal Division Civil/Small Claims Section in the six district courthouses. Check venue on the official court page or with the clerk.

Free dated DOCX by email. Print-ready state PDF kit: $29. Letter preparation and mailing: $49.

Who do you name in the claim?

Find and compare the legal names

Find and compare the legal names in these records:

The lease: the Landlord or Owner line and who signed.
The deposit receipt or the account your rent went to.
The owner of record in the property records of Cook County.
The Illinois business registry for an LLC or management company: its exact legal name and registered agent. Illinois Secretary of State

A registered agent receives court papers for a company; it is not the defendant.

This page shows where the names are recorded; it does not decide who is legally liable.

What to bring to the clerk

Your lease.
Deposit receipt or payment record.
The demand letter and proof of delivery.
Move-out photos and an inventory or condition report.

Check the Illinois filing procedure before you go.

Court forms

Service methods: constable or sheriff; private process server.

Procedure source (medium confidence): The Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice has approved the following forms. All Illinois Courts must accept these forms.

Is it worth filing here?

Illustration: a deposit equal to one month's ACS median gross rent (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) for a home in Cook County. This is calculated from rent, not measured deposits. The statutory amount requires the rule's conditions.

Bedrooms

Bedrooms	Deposit owed	Statutory amount	Total illustration	Limit check
1	$1,224	$1,224	$2,448	Fits under the $10,000 limit for this illustrated claim
2	$1,400	$1,400	$2,800	Fits under the $10,000 limit for this illustrated claim
3	$1,638	$1,638	$3,276	Fits under the $10,000 limit for this illustrated claim
4	$1,836	$1,836	$3,672	Fits under the $10,000 limit for this illustrated claim

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates, tables B25064, B25031, B25003, B25070; accessed 2026-09-21. Penalty rule.

How does Cook County compare with other Illinois counties?

The two-bedroom median gross rent is $1,400: rank 5 of 102 counties with this metric in U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates. 42.5% of households rent in Cook County.

Cook County two-bedroom rent $1,400, rank 5 of 102 counties

Nearby counties in the two-bedroom rent ranking
County	Median gross rent
Lake County	$1,413
Kane County	$1,411
Cook County	$1,400
McHenry County	$1,371
Will County	$1,371
Grundy County	$1,142

Ranking uses the same ACS metric and period within this state; ties share a rank. Coverage is 102 of 103 listed counties. Census source.

Places in Cook County

Alsip
Arlington Heights
Barrington
Barrington Hills
Bartlett
Bedford Park
Bellwood
Bensenville
Berkeley
Berwyn
Blue Island
Bridgeview
Broadview
Brookfield
Buffalo Grove
Burbank
Burnham
Burr Ridge
Calumet City
Calumet Park
Chicago
Chicago Heights
Chicago Ridge
Cicero
Country Club Hills

And 111 more.

These are Census places in the county. Check the rental's address with the clerk to find the court.

U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census place-to-county relationship file

Free legal help

Legal Aid Chicago: free civil legal help for Chicago and suburban Cook County tenants, including preventing eviction or termination from subsidized housing and Housing Choice Vouchers, challenging housing discrimination, and restoring essential utilities
CARPLS: free legal advice for low- and moderate-income Cook County residents on landlord-tenant problems; attorneys advise by phone and do not go to court
Law Center for Better Housing: free legal representation for Chicago and suburban Cook County renters facing eviction, unsafe conditions, security-deposit disputes, and illegal lockouts
Metropolitan Tenants Organization: bilingual tenants-rights hotline and organizing help for Chicago-area renters on repairs, deposits, and landlord problems
Spanish Coalition for Housing: HUD-approved rental counseling connecting Chicago households to resources to keep safe, sustainable, and affordable rental housing; south office (773) 933-7575
Access Living: HUD-listed rental housing counseling and legal help for people with disabilities in Chicago, including disability-related housing discrimination and fair-housing testing

FAQ

How much does it cost to file in Cook County?

County filing fee: ~$176-$268 depending on claim amount tier (Pro Se Branch); claims from $3,000.01 up to $10,000 use a separate, higher Municipal Division fee schedule - see CCG0603 fee schedule at cookcountyclerkofcourt.org.

Where do I file a deposit claim in Cook County?

Circuit Court of Cook County - Pro Se Small Claims Court (Municipal Division, First Municipal District); larger claims via Municipal Division Civil/Small Claims Section in the six district courthouses is listed. Some counties have more than one small claims court, and venue rules differ by state; check which court hears your claim on the court's official page or with the clerk. Court page

Who should I name in the claim?

Compare the legal names on the lease, deposit receipt, property records and business registry. A registered agent receives papers for a company; it is not the defendant.

What should I bring to the clerk?

Bring your lease, deposit receipt, demand letter, proof of delivery, photos and any move-out inventory.