15-1505.8.Expedited judgment and sale procedure for abandoned residential property.

Article XV. Mortgage Foreclosure · Part 15. Judicial Foreclosure Procedure · Last amended 2013 · Last verified July 20, 2026

In one sentenceSection 15-1505.8 lets a mortgagee seek an expedited judgment and sale for abandoned residential property, with the hearing scheduled within a fixed window, 14-day posted notices at the property, and a bar on the shortcut whenever the mortgagor or a lawful occupant appears and contests abandonment.

Full Text of 735 ILCS 5/15-1505.8

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) (i) (j) (k)

(a) Upon motion and notice, the mortgagee may elect to

utilize the expedited judgment and sale procedure for abandoned residential property stated in this Section to obtain a judgment of foreclosure pursuant to Section 15-1506. The motion to expedite the judgment and sale may be combined with or made part of the motion requesting a judgment of foreclosure. The notice of the motion to expedite the judgment and sale shall be sent by first-class mail to the last known address of the mortgagor, and the notice required by paragraph (1) of subsection (l) of this Section shall be posted at the property address.

(b) The motion requesting an expedited judgment of foreclosure and sale may be filed by the mortgagee at the time the foreclosure complaint is filed or any time thereafter, and shall set forth the facts demonstrating that the mortgaged real estate is abandoned residential real estate under Section 15- 1200.5 and shall be supported by affidavit.

(c) If a motion for an expedited judgment and sale is filed at the time the foreclosure complaint is filed or before the period to answer the foreclosure complaint has expired, the motion shall be heard by the court no earlier than before the period to answer the foreclosure complaint has expired and no later than 21 days after the period to answer the foreclosure complaint has expired.

(d) If a motion for an expedited judgment and sale is filed after the period to answer the foreclosure complaint has expired, the motion shall be heard no later than 21 days after the motion is filed.

(e) The hearing shall be given priority by the court and shall be scheduled to be heard within the applicable time period set forth in subsection (c) or (d) of this Section.

(f) Subject to subsection (g), at the hearing on the motion requesting an expedited judgment and sale, if the court finds that the mortgaged real estate is abandoned residential property, the court shall grant the motion and immediately proceed to a trial of the foreclosure. A judgment of foreclosure under this Section shall include the matters identified in Section 15-1506.

(g) The court may not grant the motion requesting an expedited judgment and sale if the mortgagor, an unknown owner, or a lawful occupant appears in the action in any manner before or at the hearing and objects to a finding of abandonment.

(h) The court shall vacate an order issued pursuant to subsection (f) of this Section if the mortgagor or a lawful occupant appears in the action at any time prior to the court issuing an order confirming the sale pursuant to subsection (b- 3) of Section 15-1508 and presents evidence establishing to the satisfaction of the court that the mortgagor or lawful occupant has not abandoned the mortgaged real estate.

(i) The reinstatement period and redemption period for the abandoned residential property shall end in accordance with paragraph (4) of subsection (b) of Section 15-1603, and the abandoned residential property shall be sold at the earliest practicable time at a sale as provided in this Article.

(j) The mortgagee or its agent may enter, secure, and maintain abandoned residential property subject to subsection (e-5) of Section 21-3 of the Criminal Code of 2012.

(k) Personal property. (1) Upon confirmation of the sale held pursuant to

Section 15-1507, any personal property remaining in or upon the abandoned residential property shall be deemed to have been abandoned by the owner of such personal property and may be disposed of or donated by the holder of the certificate of sale (or, if none, by the purchaser at the sale). In the event of donation of any such personal property, the holder of the certificate of sale (or, if none, the purchaser at the sale) may transfer such donated property with a bill of sale. No mortgagee or its successors or assigns, holder of a certificate of sale, or purchaser at the sale shall be liable for any such disposal or donation of personal property.

(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of this subsection (k), in the event a lawful occupant is in possession of the mortgaged real estate who has not been made a party to the foreclosure and had his or her interests terminated therein, any personal property of the lawful occupant shall not be deemed to have been abandoned, nor shall the rights of the lawful occupant to any personal property be affected. (l) Notices to be posted at property address.

(1) The notice set out in this paragraph (1) of this subsection (l) shall be conspicuously posted at the property address at least 14 days before the hearing on the motion requesting an expedited judgment and sale and shall be in boldface, in at least 12 point type, and in substantially the following form:

"NOTICE TO ANY TENANT OR OTHER LAWFUL OCCUPANT OF THIS PROPERTY

A lawsuit has been filed to foreclose on this property, and the party asking to foreclose on this property has asked a judge to find that THIS PROPERTY IS ABANDONED.

The judge will be holding a hearing to decide whether this property is ABANDONED.

IF YOU LAWFULLY OCCUPY ANY PART OF THIS PROPERTY, YOU MAY CHOOSE TO GO TO THIS HEARING and explain to the judge how you are a lawful occupant of this property.

If the judge is satisfied that you are a LAWFUL OCCUPANT of this property, the court will find that this property is NOT ABANDONED.

This hearing will be held in the courthouse at the following address, date, and time:

Court name:................................................... Court address:................................................ Court room number where hearing will be held:................. (There should be a person in this room called a CLERK who can help you. Make sure you know THIS PROPERTY'S ADDRESS.) Date of hearing:.............................................. Time of hearing:..............................................

MORE INFORMATION

Name of lawsuit:.............................................. Number of lawsuit:............................................ Address of this property:.....................................

IMPORTANT

This is NOT a notice to vacate the premises. You may wish to contact a lawyer or your local legal aid or housing counseling agency to discuss any rights that you may have.

WARNING

INTENTIONAL REMOVAL OF THIS NOTICE BEFORE THE DATE AND TIME STATED IN THIS NOTICE IS A CLASS B MISDEMEANOR, PUNISHABLE BY UP TO 180 DAYS IN JAIL AND A FINE OF UP TO $1500, UNDER ILLINOIS LAW. 720 ILCS 5/21-3(a).

NO TRESPASSING

KNOWINGLY ENTERING THIS PROPERTY WITHOUT LAWFUL AUTHORITY IS A CLASS B MISDEMEANOR, PUNISHABLE BY UP TO 180 DAYS IN JAIL AND A FINE OF UP TO $1500, UNDER ILLINOIS LAW. 720 ILCS 5/21-3(a).".

(2) The notice set out in this paragraph (2) of this subsection (l) shall be conspicuously posted at the property address at least 14 days before the hearing to confirm the sale of the abandoned residential property and shall be in boldface, in at least 12 point type, and in substantially the following form:

"NOTICE TO ANY TENANT OR OTHER LAWFUL OCCUPANT OF THIS PROPERTY

A lawsuit has been filed to foreclose on this property, and the judge has found that THIS PROPERTY IS ABANDONED. As a result, THIS PROPERTY HAS BEEN OR WILL BE SOLD.

HOWEVER, there still must be a hearing for the judge to approve the sale. The judge will NOT APPROVE this sale if the judge finds that any person lawfully occupies any part of this property.

IF YOU LAWFULLY OCCUPY ANY PART OF THIS PROPERTY, YOU MAY CHOOSE TO GO TO THIS HEARING and explain to the judge how you are a lawful occupant of this property. You also may appear BEFORE this hearing and explain to the judge how you are a lawful occupant of this property.

If the judge is satisfied that you are a LAWFUL OCCUPANT of this property, the court will find that this property is NOT ABANDONED, and there will be no sale of the property at this time.

This hearing will be held in the courthouse at the following address, date, and time:

MORE INFORMATION

Name of lawsuit:.............................................. Number of lawsuit:............................................ Address of this property:.....................................

IMPORTANT

This is NOT a notice to vacate the premises. You may wish to contact a lawyer or your local legal aid or housing counseling agency to discuss any rights that you may have.

WARNING INTENTIONAL REMOVAL OF THIS NOTICE BEFORE THE DATE AND TIME STATED IN THIS NOTICE IS A CLASS B MISDEMEANOR, PUNISHABLE BY UP TO 180 DAYS IN JAIL AND A FINE OF UP TO $1500, UNDER ILLINOIS LAW. 720 ILCS 5/21-3(a).

NO TRESPASSING

KNOWINGLY ENTERING THIS PROPERTY WITHOUT LAWFUL AUTHORITY IS A CLASS B MISDEMEANOR, PUNISHABLE BY UP TO 180 DAYS IN JAIL AND A FINE OF UP TO $1500, UNDER ILLINOIS LAW. 720 ILCS 5/21-3(a)."

Plain-English Summary

For residential property the mortgagee can show is abandoned under Section 15-1200.5, Section 15-1505.8 lets the mortgagee move -- combined with or separate from the motion for judgment of foreclosure -- to expedite the judgment and sale, supported by an affidavit and notice mailed to the mortgagor's last known address plus the posted notice this Section requires. If filed at or before the deadline to answer the complaint, the motion must be heard no earlier than the answer deadline and no later than 21 days after it passes; if filed after that deadline, it must be heard within 21 days of filing. The hearing gets scheduling priority within those windows.

If the court finds the property abandoned, and nobody -- mortgagor, unknown owner, or lawful occupant -- has appeared to contest that finding, the court grants the motion and proceeds directly to trial of the foreclosure, with the resulting judgment including everything Section 15-1506 requires. The court must vacate that order any time before the sale is confirmed if the mortgagor or a lawful occupant appears and proves the property wasn't abandoned. Once granted, the reinstatement and redemption periods for the abandoned property end under Section 15-1603(b)(4), and the mortgagee may enter, secure, and maintain the property subject to Section 21-3(e-5) of the Criminal Code.

Personal property left behind is treated as abandoned once the sale is confirmed, and the certificate or deed holder (or purchaser) may dispose of or donate it without liability -- unless a lawful, unterminated occupant is in possession, in which case that occupant's personal property isn't deemed abandoned. Two notices must be conspicuously posted at the property in boldface, at least 12-point type: one at least 14 days before the hearing on the expedite motion, and one at least 14 days before the hearing to confirm the sale. Both warn occupants that removing the notice early, or trespassing on the property, is a Class B misdemeanor under 720 ILCS 5/21-3(a), punishable by up to 180 days in jail and a $1,500 fine, while making clear neither notice is itself a notice to vacate.

Frequently Asked Questions

How soon must a court hear a motion to expedite judgment on abandoned residential property?

If filed before the answer deadline expires, no earlier than that deadline and no later than 21 days after it expires; if filed after the deadline expires, no later than 21 days after the motion is filed.

What stops a court from granting the expedited judgment and sale?

The mortgagor, an unknown owner, or a lawful occupant appearing in the action, in any manner, before or at the hearing and objecting to the finding of abandonment.

Can an order finding the property abandoned be undone later?

Yes. The court must vacate it if the mortgagor or a lawful occupant appears any time before the sale is confirmed and shows the property wasn't abandoned.

How far ahead must the required notices be posted at the property?

At least 14 days before the hearing on the motion to expedite, and separately at least 14 days before the hearing to confirm the sale.

What happens to a lawful occupant's personal property left in an abandoned home after sale?

It is not deemed abandoned, and the rights of a lawful occupant whose interest hasn't been terminated in the foreclosure are unaffected.

Amendment History

(Source: P.A. 97-1164, eff. 6-1-13; 98-20, eff. 6-11-13.)

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

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