An Illinois Small Claim Complaint is a legal document that is filed with the court when a person or business seeks to recover a debt, or damages, of $10,000 or less. The complaint initiates a civil lawsuit and sets forth the basis of the claim. There are two types of Illinois Small Claim Complaints — one for collection of a debt, and one for damages not related to a debt. In a debt collection complaint, the plaintiff (the person or business filing the complaint) must provide detailed information about the debt, including the names of the parties involved, the amount of the debt, the date the debt was incurred, and any other relevant facts. In a damages' complaint, the plaintiff must provide information about the incident that caused the damages, as well as the amount of damages they are seeking. The complaint must also include the name of the defendant (the person or business being sued) and any other relevant information. Both types of Illinois Small Claim Complaints must be filed with the Circuit Court Clerk in the county where the defendant resides. The complaint must also include the filing fee, which is typically around $50. The court will then schedule a hearing date, at which both parties must appear.