Illinois Legal Aid Online (Eviction & Legal Help)
Last updated August 2026
An Illinois eviction for unpaid rent starts with a written notice giving you at least 5 days to pay, and here is the right that matters: paying in full within that window stops the eviction. The landlord must accept it. Evanston stretches the notice to 10 days.
After the deadline, geography decides your options. Outside Cook County, a landlord can refuse late rent and file. In Chicago, Evanston, and suburban Cook County, pay-and-stay protections continue even after the case is filed. IllinoisLegalAid.org explains your city's exact rules free.
Every eviction runs through the circuit court, usually across multiple dates, and only the county sheriff, with a court order, can physically remove you. Landlord lockouts are illegal self-help.
Illinois also lets tenants clean the record: courts can seal eviction files, even when an eviction order was entered, and Illinois Legal Aid Online offers a free Easy Form to request removal from the public record. A sealed case stops following your future applications.
For a lawyer, use the Get Legal Help tool on IllinoisLegalAid.org: answer questions about your issue, location, and income, and it routes you to the best available legal aid organization. One honest note: submitting the form is not representation; organizations cannot take every case, so file it early and work 2-1-1 for rent funds in parallel.
Help available in English and Spanish.
Updated August 2026 Program details can change — confirm with the program directly.
Who qualifies
- The legal information, how-to guides, and Easy Forms are free for everyone
- Legal aid representation from the referral directory is generally income-based; each program screens you
You may qualify. The program makes the final decision.
How to apply
- 1
Read the notice and count your days: at least 5 to pay in Illinois, 10 in Evanston.
- 2
Can you gather the rent? Paying in full within the notice period stops the eviction, and the landlord must accept it.
- 3
Missed the window in Chicago or Cook County? Check IllinoisLegalAid.org; pay-and-stay rights can continue after filing.
- 4
Use the Get Legal Help tool early to reach a legal aid organization; it routes by issue, location, and income.
- 5
Go to every court date; only the sheriff with a court order can remove you, and lockouts are illegal.
- 6
Afterward, use the free Easy Form to ask the court to seal the eviction record, even if an order was entered.
- 7
Behind on rent? Dial 2-1-1 about local rent funds while the case proceeds.
What the application looks like
Common questions
How much notice does an Illinois eviction take?
At least 5 days' written notice to pay for nonpayment (10 in Evanston), and paying in full within that window stops the case. The landlord must accept it.
Can I pay late and stay?
Depends where you live. Outside Cook County, landlords can refuse rent after the notice period. Chicago, Evanston, and suburban Cook County have pay-and-stay protections that continue even after filing.
Can my landlord lock me out?
No. Only the county sheriff can carry out an eviction, and only with a court order. Landlord lockouts are illegal self-help.
Can I get an eviction off my record?
Often yes. Illinois courts can seal eviction files even when an order was entered, and Illinois Legal Aid Online's free Easy Form requests removal from the public record.
How do I find a free lawyer?
The Get Legal Help tool on IllinoisLegalAid.org routes you by issue, location, and income to the best available organization. Submitting is not representation, so file early and follow up.
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