Any defendant, his or her heirs, executors, administrators, assigns, or any person interested in the premises, through or under the defendant, may, except as to any sale had by virtue of a judgment of foreclosure in accordance with Article XV of this Act, within 6 months from the sale, redeem the real estate so sold by paying to the purchaser thereof, his or her heirs, executors, administrators or assigns or to the sheriff or other officer who sold the same, or his or her successor in office, for the benefit of such purchaser, his or her heirs, executors, administrators, or assigns, the sum of money for which the premises were sold or bid off, with interest thereon at the rate of 10% per annum from the time of such sale, whereupon such sale and certificate shall be null and void. If there has been a prior redemption by a judgment creditor, his or her heirs, executors, administrators or assigns, then redemption by a defendant, his or her heirs, executors, administrators or assigns, or any person interested in the premises through or under the defendant, shall be in accordance with Section 12-137 of this Act.
12-122.Redemption.
Article XII. Judgments - Enforcement · Part 1. In General · Not amended since adoption on record · Last verified July 20, 2026
In one sentenceA judgment debtor, their heirs, or anyone with an interest in the property can redeem real estate sold to enforce a judgment within six months of the sale by repaying the sale price plus 10% annual interest.
Full Text of 735 ILCS 5/12-122
Plain-English Summary
Except for sales held under a judgment of foreclosure entered under Article XV, this section gives the defendant, or their heirs, executors, administrators, assigns, or anyone interested in the premises through the defendant, six months from the date of sale to redeem real estate sold to enforce a judgment.
Redemption means paying the purchaser, or their heirs, executors, administrators, or assigns, or the sheriff or other officer who made the sale, or that officer's successor, for the purchaser's benefit. The amount due is the sum of money for which the property was sold or bid off, plus interest at the rate of 10% per year from the date of the sale. Once that payment is made, the sale and the certificate become null and void.
There's one wrinkle: if a judgment creditor has already redeemed the property first, redemption by the defendant's side instead follows the separate procedure set out in Section 12-137.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a judgment debtor have to redeem real estate after a sheriff's sale in Illinois?
Six months from the date of the sale.
What does it cost to redeem property sold to enforce a judgment in Illinois?
The sale price or winning bid, plus interest at 10% per year from the date of the sale.
Who besides the debtor can redeem the property?
The debtor's heirs, executors, administrators, or assigns, or any person interested in the premises through the debtor.
Who gets paid when someone redeems the property?
The purchaser, or their heirs, executors, administrators, or assigns, or the sheriff or other officer who made the sale, or that officer's successor, for the purchaser's benefit.
What happens if a judgment creditor has already redeemed the property first?
Then redemption by the defendant, or those claiming through the defendant, follows the different procedure set out in Section 12-137 instead.
Amendment History
(Source: P.A. 84-1462.)
Source & verification. Section text and amendment history are
reproduced verbatim from the Illinois Compiled Statutes, published by the
Illinois Compiled Statutes, Illinois General Assembly / Legislative Reference Bureau. Last verified July 20, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: redeem property after a sheriff sale illinoisredemption period after judgment sale illinois10 percent interest redemption illinoishow to redeem real estate sold on a judgment illinois