What Does a Chicago Landlord Attorney Cost?
It depends on what the tenant does. A Chicago eviction is a $1,600 flat fee that covers the case from notice through judgment. That includes a bench trial, even if the tenant hires a lawyer. Work bills hourly in only two cases: the tenant demands a jury, or the tenant starts discovery. Hourly work is $350 an hour out of court and $450 in court, with payment plans. Three costs sit outside the flat fee: the Sheriff's enforcement fee, judgment collection, and appeals. We give you the Sheriff placement papers and the judgment order.
- Abdilla and Associates represents property owners only in Chicago and Cook County landlord-tenant matters and does not represent tenants.
- As of October 2026, the office handles evictions on flat fees: $1,600 in Chicago, $895 to $1,250 in suburban Cook County, $895 in DuPage County, and $995 in Kane County. A bench trial is included, even if the tenant hires a lawyer. Work is billed hourly only if the tenant demands a jury or starts discovery.
- RLTO and other landlord-tenant consultations outside the flat-fee list are billed at $350 per hour out of court and $450 per hour in court.
- The office drafts Chicago leases and the required RLTO attachments, serves eviction notices, and defends landlords against Chicago RLTO claims.
- The firm files more than 150 evictions a year across Cook, DuPage, and Kane counties.
Fees as of October 2026. Timelines and statistics verified September 21, 2026. Firm figures are from Abdilla and Associates case files, not court statistics. Court counts are from the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts and the Cook County Sheriff, compiled on the Chicago eviction statistics page.
What Problems Bring Chicago Landlords to This Office?
Landlords call after a tenant stops paying, stops responding, or claims to know their rights.
What you tried wasn't wrong; it just doesn't work with tenants who've stopped acting in good faith.
"They said they'd pay next week..."
"Next week" turned into next month. You weren't stupid for believing them; you were reasonable.
"They stopped responding..."
When texts go unanswered, the negotiation is over. They're running out the clock because they know the system is slow.
"They said they 'know their rights'..."
They're bluffing. We call that bluff professionally. Most fold when they see an attorney on the other side.
You've done everything you could. None of it worked. Now let us finish it.
Two Recent RLTO Suits From My Desk
Not every case ends in a dismissal. Here is what two recent tenant lawsuits actually cost my landlord clients.
The motion I lost
In 2025 a four-month condo tenant sued the owner on more than 15 RLTO grounds. Only one ground carried real fee exposure. I moved to dismiss the complaint. The judge denied the motion. We settled for a few thousand dollars. The owner paid no attorney fees to the tenant.
The non-renewal that settled
In 2026 a tenant sued my client after a non-renewal. We resolved it by agreed order. My client paid $7,350. The tenant agreed the notice was valid. The tenant agreed to move out by April 30, 2026. Rent stayed at $1,050 until then.
What Are the Numbers Behind a Chicago Eviction?
The office handles 150+ landlord cases a year, wins 99% of them, and has 12+ years of experience.
We're in eviction court 4+ days per week. The judges know us by name.
What Does a Chicago Landlord Attorney Cost?
A Chicago eviction is $1,600 flat, and suburban evictions range from $895 to $1,250.
Flat-fee pricing. Hourly only if the tenant demands a jury or starts discovery.
Chicago Eviction
Complete representation from notice through judgment
Flat fee, Chicago†
- ✓ All required notices (5-day, 10-day, 30-day, Fair Notice)
- ✓ Court filing and ALL appearances, same price
- ✓ Back rent judgment included
- ✓ Section 8 / CHA procedure handling
- ✓ Tenant counterclaim defense
- ✓ Post-victory enforcement roadmap
† Client pays court filing fee ($389.25) and process server (~$155) directly.
The Locked Fee Guarantee*
Your price is locked the moment you hire us, from notice through judgment. A bench trial is included, even if the tenant hires a lawyer. We don't care how hard your tenant fights; that's our problem, not yours. Work is billed hourly only if the tenant demands a jury or starts discovery, with payment plans available.
Tenant files 10 motions? Same price.
Case takes 200 days? Same price.
Tenant gets a lawyer? Same price.
And if we resolve faster than expected, we refund you the difference.
* Applies to residential cases with no jury demand and no tenant discovery.
📝 Lease Drafting & Review: $350
RLTO-compliant, required disclosures, 24-hour turnaround.
🛡️ RLTO & Security Deposit Defense
Free consultation to discuss your case.
Suburban properties? DuPage $895 · Kane $995 · Suburban Cook $895-$1,250 by district. Call for details.
Free Download
Get the Exact Eviction Notices We File, Free
The Illinois Supreme Court standardized forms we serve for our own clients. Enter your email and all three download instantly.
- ✓ 5-Day Notice: Non-Payment of Rent
- ✓ 10-Day Notice: Lease Violation
- ✓ 30-Day Notice: Non-Renewal of Tenancy
Your forms are ready:
Serve the wrong notice, or serve it the wrong way, and the case restarts from day one. If you'd rather have it done right, call (630) 839-9195.
What Chicago Landlords Say
Real reviews from property owners we've helped
"Justin was very helpful and guided me on steps I have to do prior to having a potential eviction case. His tone and responses were very kind and knowledgeable."
"I can't recommend Abdilla and Associates enough! Their professionalism, expertise, and dedication made all the difference in resolving my case. From start to finish, they communicated clearly, kept me informed, and truly advocated for my best interests!"
"Very humane and landlord empathetic eviction lawyer! His answers are clear and concise. Thank you so much :)"
"Justin evicted a tenant of mine in record time. It's unheard of and I just did not think it was possible to get this tenant out so fast. Only eight weeks."
Resolved through negotiated settlement
"Justin was highly recommended to us and we're very pleased with his services. He's an amazing attorney, very knowledgeable of landlords rights, and will start working immediately to protect your investment. He's a very honest individual who discounted $1K because my tenant moved out after receiving his notice."
What Else Does the Office Handle for Landlords?
Besides evictions, the office defends RLTO claims, forms LLCs, represents LLCs in court, and handles identity protection for landlords.
Most landlords who call about an eviction also need one of these:
RLTO Defense
A tenant's lawyer sent an RLTO demand? I audit every claim before you answer, and I fight the ones that do not hold.
LLC Formation: $750
Protect your rental properties with an LLC. Custom operating agreement, EIN, registered agent setup. Your LLC can't file its own eviction; we handle both.
LLC Court Representation
An LLC cannot represent itself in court. If your LLC needs to evict or file a lawsuit, an attorney must appear. We handle both the formation and the litigation.
Identity Protection
Fake reviews from a bad tenant? Photos stolen for a fake listing? We use facial recognition to find and stop online impersonation. From $500.