Every DuPage County eviction I file goes to the courthouse at 505 County Farm Road. The eviction call sits in Courtroom 1004.
Filing does not get you a court date here. The DuPage Circuit Clerk sends notice that the case is filed. The court does not assign a hearing. I set the hearing myself through the county's case schedule portal. That step surprises landlords who try to file on their own.
Service comes next. I hire a process server to serve the summons. I file proof of service at least three days before the hearing. Some tenants dodge the server. After five failed attempts, the court will likely grant authority to post notice. The DuPage County Sheriff posts for $25 per property. The Sheriff requires four copies. You arrange the posting in person only.
If the tenant appears, the case goes to the DuPage Mediation Program. That session lands about 20 days after the first hearing. About 90 percent of my cases settle there. The mediators are fair. They push both sides toward cost-effective resolutions.
If mediation fails, the case goes to trial. A trial takes about 30 minutes. Trials start at 11:00 am. I bring the notice, the affidavit of service, the lease, the rental ledger, the SCRA non-military affidavit, and proof of service of the eviction notice. The rules of evidence apply.
If the tenant does not appear, I move for default after one hearing. Default takes an accurate complaint, the exhibits, an SCRA affidavit, and an affidavit of the amounts due.
The court customarily puts a 14 day stay on the eviction order. The Sheriff lockout takes three to six weeks after that.
