The venue provisions applicable to other civil cases shall apply to actions of replevin; and in addition an action of replevin may be brought in any county in which the goods or chattels or any part of them are located.
19-103.Venue.
Article XIX. Replevin · Not amended since adoption on record · Last verified July 20, 2026
In one sentenceReplevin follows the same venue rules as other civil cases, with the added option of filing in any county where the disputed goods or chattels, or part of them, are located.
Full Text of 735 ILCS 5/19-103
Plain-English Summary
Venue tells a plaintiff which county's circuit court can hear the case. Section 19-103 starts by importing the general civil venue rules, then adds a replevin-specific option: the plaintiff may also file in any county where the property, or any part of it, sits.
That extra option matters because replevin is about physical recovery of specific goods. If the property has been moved to a county unconnected to the parties' residences or the transaction, the plaintiff still has a place to sue where the sheriff can find and seize the property.
This flexibility feeds directly into Section 19-110, which allows the clerk to issue extra certified copies of a replevin order for use in multiple counties when the goods are spread across more than one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can a replevin lawsuit be filed in Illinois?
Anywhere the general civil venue rules permit, or in any county where the property or part of it is located.
Does the location of the property control venue even if the parties live elsewhere?
Yes. Section 19-103 makes the property's location an independent basis for venue, alongside whatever venue would otherwise apply to the parties.
What if the property is split across multiple counties?
The plaintiff can file where any part of the property is located, and Section 19-110 allows additional certified copies of the replevin order for use in the other counties.
Does venue in replevin work differently from other civil actions?
The general civil venue rules still apply; this section adds the property's location as one more permissible venue rather than replacing the usual rules.
Can a defendant challenge venue in a replevin case?
The general civil venue rules govern that question the same way they would in any other civil case; this section only adds the additional property-location option.
Amendment History
(Source: P.A. 82-280.)
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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