How long you have in Illinois
Every kind of claim has its own window, counted from the day the clock started. Miss it and the court usually cannot hear the claim.
| Kind of claim | Agreement | Window | Counted from | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unpaid Invoice | In writing | 10 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | 735 ILCS 5/13-206 |
| Unpaid Loan | In writing | 10 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | 735 ILCS 5/13-206 |
| Contractor Dispute | In writing | 10 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | 735 ILCS 5/13-206 |
| Auto Repair | In writing | 10 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | 735 ILCS 5/13-206 |
| Security Deposit | In writing | 10 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | 735 ILCS 5/13-206 |
| Other | In writing | 10 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | 735 ILCS 5/13-206 |
| Unpaid Invoice | Spoken or by conduct | 5 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | 735 ILCS 5/13-205 |
| Unpaid Loan | Spoken or by conduct | 5 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | 735 ILCS 5/13-205 |
| Contractor Dispute | Spoken or by conduct | 5 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | 735 ILCS 5/13-205 |
| Auto Repair | Spoken or by conduct | 5 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | 735 ILCS 5/13-205 |
| Security Deposit | Spoken or by conduct | 5 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | 735 ILCS 5/13-205 |
| Other | Spoken or by conduct | 5 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | 735 ILCS 5/13-205 |
| Property Damage | Either | 5 years | the day the damage happened | 735 ILCS 5/13-205 |
| Sale of Goods | Either | 4 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | 810 ILCS 5/2-725(1) |
Worked example
If the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken was 2026-03-15, a window of 10 years runs out on 2036-03-15. That is the same arithmetic the check uses: calendar months, clamped to the end of the month, and no roll forward to the next court day.
More about Illinois
Common questions
- How long do you have to bring a small claims claim in Illinois?
- The shortest window is 4 years, counted from the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken, under 810 ILCS 5/2-725(1). Other kinds of claim run longer; the time-limit page lists each one.
- How long do you have on a property damage claim in Illinois?
- 5 years, counted from the day the damage happened, under 735 ILCS 5/13-205.
- How long do you have on a sale of goods claim in Illinois?
- 4 years, counted from the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken, under 810 ILCS 5/2-725(1).
- How much can you claim in small claims court in Illinois?
- An individual can claim up to $10,000. A business can claim up to $10,000. A public agency can claim up to $10,000. That comes from Ill. S. Ct. Rule 281.
Verify with your court
Numbers change, and a court can post its own variation. Open Illinois's small claims page and confirm anything you are about to rely on.
Open the court's small claims pageVerified on 2026-09-05, sources:
Verified on 2026-09-05, sources: Rules effective from 2026-07-01.
- 735 ILCS 5/13-206 · effective 2007-08-16 · A claim based on a written agreement, promissory note, or written lease must be filed within ten years of when it was broken.
- 735 ILCS 5/13-205 · effective 1982-07-01 · A claim based on a spoken agreement, or for damage to your property, must be filed within five years.
- 810 ILCS 5/2-725(1) · effective 1962-07-02 · A claim about a sale of goods must be filed within four years of the breach.
FairSquare assembles documents and explains your court's rules. It is not a substitute for advice about your situation.