Q: Is forced eviction without notice legal in Illinois?
I have been living in a rental property in Kane County, Illinois, for almost three years, and I am current on my rent payments. Recently, my landlord forced me out of the property and moved my belongings to storage without providing any written communication or an eviction notice. Is it legal for them to do this? I have not yet attempted to contact them about retrieving my belongings.
A: Eviction without notice is not legal in Illinois, although the type of notice may vary ion such a way that you were not aware of it. If you had abandoned the property, for example, notice can be provided by posting a notice on the property and be effective regardless of whether you have seen it. You should have received a Summons and a copy of a Complaint in Forcible Detainer notifying you of a court date. If the landlord could not find an address at which the sheriff could serve you, however, service by publication in a newspaper may have been used. Check the records in the office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court in the county within which the real estatee is located to see if there is a court proceeding of record for this eviction. If there is not, the landlord has acted illegally. In either event, I encourage you to contact a local lawyer for more specific advice pertinent to your situation.
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