Illinois Small Claim Summons is a legal document used to initiate a lawsuit in state court. It is a writ issued by a court clerk or judge that informs the defendant that they are being sued and provides the details of the lawsuit. The summons must be served on the defendant to initiate the lawsuit. There are two types of Small Claim Summons: Service by Publication and Personal Service. Service by Publication is used when the defendant cannot be found or is out of state. Personal Service is used when the defendant can be found and served with the summons. The summons provides the plaintiff and defendant with information on the court where the case will be heard, the date of the hearing, and the amount of damages being sought.