Illinois Summons (Small Claims) is a legal document issued by a court in Illinois that orders a defendant to appear in court to answer a civil lawsuit. The lawsuit must be for an amount less than $10,000 to be considered a small claim. The Summons also contains the date, time, and location of the hearing, as well as a brief description of the lawsuit and the defendant's rights. There are two types of Illinois Summons (Small Claims): the Summons of Right, which is issued when there is an agreement between the parties that the case should go to court; and the Summons of Garnishment, which is issued when the court has ordered a third party to hold money for the plaintiff until the case is resolved. Both types of Summons must be served upon the defendant in person or by certified mail.




