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

Listed court is Circuit Court of Fulton County - Small Claims in Lewistown. Check venue on the court's official page or with the clerk. Filing fee: set by the court; see its fee table. Claims up to $10,000. Illinois return time: 45 days or another period by condition. ACS two-bedroom rent: $778. Enter your dates below and send the dated letter first.

Court listed	Circuit Court of Fulton County - Small Claims
City	Lewistown
Address	100 N. Main St., Lewistown, IL 61542
Phone	(309) 547-3041
Statewide filing fee	Current court fee schedule
E-filing	Yes, see filing page
Small claims limit	$10,000 (statewide)
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).

Your dates and your letter

Calculate your deadline and next letter

Choose how to send your letter

We mail it, or you mail it.

$49, done for you.

We write the letter from the facts you send, mail it by USPS Certified Mail with tracking, and send you the tracking number and a PDF record of what was sent.

Mailed within 2 business days of your completed form, or a full refund.

Document preparation and mailing, not legal advice. We do not assess your claim, choose a strategy, or promise a recovery.

Write and mail my letter for $49

$29, you send it.

A print-ready PDF of the Illinois letter template, ready to download after payment.

Certified-mail instructions: what to ask for at the counter and what it costs.
Illinois small-claims details: the limit, the deadline to sue, and where to file.

You fill in the template, print it, and pay postage. The same letter template is also available free by email below. The kit adds the print-ready PDF, mailing guide, and local details in one place.

If you cannot access or use the kit files, contact us for a replacement or a full refund.

Get the Illinois kit for $29

Self-help document service. No account is required on Demand Letter Lab.

Your free letter

Get a DOCX letter with the dates and amount you entered.

Write and mail my letter for $49

Get the Illinois kit for $29

Already sent a letter? Tell us if it worked

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 Fulton County - Small Claims. 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 Fulton 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 Fulton 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	$488	$488	$976	Fits under the $10,000 limit for this illustrated claim
2	$778	$778	$1,556	Fits under the $10,000 limit for this illustrated claim
3	$991	$991	$1,982	Fits under the $10,000 limit for this illustrated claim
4	$987	$987	$1,974	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 Fulton County compare with other Illinois counties?

The two-bedroom median gross rent is $778: rank 63 of 102 counties with this metric in U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates. 22.1% of households rent in Fulton County.

Fulton County two-bedroom rent $778, rank 63 of 102 counties

Nearby counties in the two-bedroom rent ranking
County	Median gross rent
Montgomery County	$781
Schuyler County	$780
Fulton County	$778
Hancock County	$775
Richland County	$775
Jersey County	$769

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 Fulton County

Astoria
Avon
Banner
Bryant
Canton
Cuba
Dunfermline
Ellisville
Fairview
Farmington
Ipava
Lewistown
Liverpool
London Mills
Marietta
Norris
Smithfield
St. David
Table Grove
Vermont

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

Prairie State Legal Services: free civil legal help for low-income people and those over 60 in 36 northern and central Illinois counties, including eviction help through the Eviction Help Illinois Helpline
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 Fulton County?

The court sets the fee. Check the current schedule. Court page

Where do I file a deposit claim in Fulton County?

Circuit Court of Fulton County - Small Claims 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.