Illinois Small Claims Complaint and Judgment is a legal process available to people in Illinois who wish to take action against another party for an amount of money up to $10,000. The process is designed to provide an informal and inexpensive way to resolve a dispute without the need for a lawyer or a lengthy court process. There are two types of Illinois Small Claims Complaint and Judgment: Default Judgments and Contested Judgments. A Default Judgment is issued when the defendant fails to appear in court or does not file an answer to the complaint. In this case, the court will typically award the plaintiff the amount claimed in the complaint. A Contested Judgment is issued when the defendant appears in court and disputes the claim. The court will hear arguments from both sides and make a ruling. The Illinois Small Claims Complaint and Judgment process is a quick and efficient way to settle disputes without the need for costly legal representation.