Any person who willfully misrepresents to the Court any fact resulting in a finding of abandonment of mortgaged real estate in connection with subsection (b) of Section 15-1603 or subsection (d) of Section 15-1706 of this Article or who threatens to injure the person or property of occupants of mortgaged real estate, or who knowingly gives such occupants false and misleading information, or who harasses or intimidates such occupants, with the intent of inducing such occupants to abandon the mortgaged premises, in order to obtain a finding of abandonment under subsection (b) of Section 15-1603 or subsection (d) of Section 15-1706 of this Article, shall be guilty of a Class B misdemeanor.
15-1104.Wrongful Inducement of Abandonment.
Article XV. Mortgage Foreclosure · Part 11. General Provisions · Not amended since adoption on record · Last verified July 20, 2026
In one sentenceThis section makes it a Class B misdemeanor to lie to the court, threaten occupants, or mislead or intimidate them into abandoning mortgaged property in order to obtain an abandonment finding under Sections 15-1603(b) or 15-1706(d).
Full Text of 735 ILCS 5/15-1104
Plain-English Summary
Illinois foreclosure law lets a court find that residential property has been abandoned, which can speed up the case under Sections 15-1603(b) and 15-1706(d). Section 15-1104 protects the integrity of that finding by criminalizing efforts to manufacture it dishonestly.
Four kinds of conduct trigger liability, each tied to intent: willfully misrepresenting facts to the court that result in an abandonment finding; threatening to injure the person or property of occupants; knowingly feeding occupants false or misleading information; and harassing or intimidating occupants. The last three must be done with the intent of inducing the occupants to abandon the premises so the mortgagee can obtain an abandonment finding under the sections named above.
The penalty is a Class B misdemeanor. By pairing the expedited abandonment procedures elsewhere in the Article with a criminal backstop here, the General Assembly discouraged mortgagees or their agents from pressuring occupants out of a home just to unlock the faster abandoned-property track.
Frequently Asked Questions
What conduct does Section 15-1104 punish?
Lying to the court about facts that produce an abandonment finding, and separately, threatening, misleading, or intimidating occupants with the intent of forcing them to abandon the property so a mortgagee can obtain an abandonment finding.
What penalty applies to a violation?
The statute classifies the offense as a Class B misdemeanor.
Which abandonment findings does this section protect?
Does this section require proof of intent?
For the threats, false information, and harassment or intimidation, yes: the conduct must be done with the intent of inducing the occupants to abandon the premises to obtain an abandonment finding.
Who can be prosecuted under this section?
The statute does not limit liability to the mortgagee itself; it applies to “any person” who engages in the described conduct.
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: illinois foreclosure wrongful abandonment inducementpenalty for lying about property abandonment illinoisharassing tenants to abandon foreclosed property