The defendant shall answer or otherwise appear as in other civil cases.
19-119.Answer or otherwise appear.
Article XIX. Replevin · Not amended since adoption on record · Last verified July 20, 2026
In one sentenceA replevin defendant must answer or otherwise appear in the case the same way any defendant would in any other civil action, since this section adopts the general civil rules rather than creating a separate replevin procedure.
Full Text of 735 ILCS 5/19-119
Plain-English Summary
Section 19-119 is brief by design: it tells a replevin defendant that the ordinary civil rules for answering or appearing apply, without carving out any special replevin procedure at this stage of the case.
That means whatever deadlines, formats, and appearance procedures apply generally to civil defendants under the Code and applicable Supreme Court rules govern here too, once the defendant has been served with the order functioning as a summons under Section 19-109.
By pointing back to the general civil rules rather than restating them, the section keeps the replevin article focused on what is distinctive about replevin: the seizure, bonding, and property-recovery mechanics found throughout the rest of Article XIX.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does a defendant respond to a replevin lawsuit?
By answering or otherwise appearing the same way a defendant would in any other civil case.
Are there special deadlines for answering a replevin complaint?
Section 19-119 does not create special deadlines; it directs that the general civil case rules for answering or appearing apply.
Does being served with the replevin order count as being served with a summons?
Yes. Section 19-109 establishes that the order for replevin also functions as the summons requiring the defendant to answer or appear.
Why is this section so short compared to others in Article XIX?
Because it incorporates the existing general civil procedure for answering and appearing rather than creating a separate replevin-specific process.
What happens if the defendant does not answer or appear?
The general civil rules governing default for failing to answer or appear would apply, since this section treats a replevin defendant the same as any other civil defendant.
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
Also known as: answering replevin complaint illinoisdefendant appearance replevin casegeneral civil rules replevin defendantresponding to replevin lawsuit illinois