Illinois law governs the time limit for enforcing judgment and states “no judgment shall be enforced after the expiration of 7 years from the time the same is rendered.”1 The same statute allows the 7-year limitation period to be extended “upon the revival of the judgment by a proceeding.”
Enforcement proceedings (also known as collection actions) to collect judgments are governed primarily by 735 ILCS 5/2-1402. This statute provides three main tools for enforcing and collecting judgments: (1) the Citation to Discover Assets; (2) wage garnishment proceedings; and (3) non-wage garnishment proceedings.
Creditors typically acquire property liens through your voluntary consent. On the other hand, creditors get judgment liens after winning a lawsuit against you for a debt you owe.
In Illinois, a judgment from an Illinois state court, or a federal court located in Illinois, becomes a lien on real property only after a transcript, certified copy, or memorandum of the judgment is recorded at the office of the county recorder in the county where the property is located.
How does a creditor go about getting a judgment lien in Illinois? To attach a lien, if the debtor's property is located in the same county where the judgment was entered, the creditor files the judgment with the county recorder.
Enforcement proceedings (also known as collection actions) to collect judgments are governed primarily by 735 ILCS 5/2-1402. This statute provides three main tools for enforcing and collecting judgments: (1) the Citation to Discover Assets; (2) wage garnishment proceedings; and (3) non-wage garnishment proceedings.
A court judgment must be recorded with the Recorder of Deeds in the county where the property is located in Illinois before it can be enforced. Even if the property is situated in the same county as the judgment, the creditor must record the judgment.
After getting the judgment, a creditor can learn about the debtor's financial resources by issuing a Citation to Discover Assets. Creditors can use our Citation to discover assets to debtor Easy Form and Collect a judgment from debtor's bank or employer Easy Form programs to prepare these documents.
In Cook County, base court costs for petty traffic tickets are approximately $254.00. Court costs for major traffic offenses are approximately $362.00. Court costs for DUI are approximately $1,381.00. Court costs for other misdemeanor offenses are around $439.00.