An Illinois Small Claim Complaint is a legal document filed in an Illinois court to initiate a dispute resolution process for certain types of claims. These claims must be for a fixed amount of money not exceeding $10,000. Illinois Small Claim Complaints are generally used when the amount in dispute is too small to warrant the high cost of a civil lawsuit. There are two types of Small Claim Complaints: (1) a Small Claim Complaint without jury demand and (2) a Small Claim Complaint with jury demand. Both types are typically adjudicated by a judge without the assistance of a jury. The plaintiff in a Small Claim Complaint must provide evidence and testimony to prove their claim. The defendant, in turn, must provide evidence and testimony to refute the plaintiff's claim.