All actions shall be tried in the county in which they are commenced, except as otherwise provided by law.
2-108.Place of trial.
Article II. Civil Practice · Part 1. Venue · Not amended since adoption on record · Last verified July 20, 2026
In one sentenceStates the default rule that a case is tried in the county where it was commenced, unless some other law provides otherwise.
Full Text of 735 ILCS 5/2-108
Plain-English Summary
This section fixes the baseline for where trial happens: the county in which the action was commenced, except as otherwise provided by law. It does not itself list what those other exceptions are; it only acknowledges that some may exist elsewhere in the law.
Read alongside the surrounding venue and transfer sections, this section states the default outcome, trial where the case was filed, while Sections 2-104 through 2-107 address what happens when venue was wrong to begin with or the case gets transferred to a different county.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is a case normally tried under this section?
In the county in which it was commenced.
Does this section allow for exceptions?
Yes. It applies "except as otherwise provided by law."
Does this section list what those exceptions are?
No. It acknowledges that other law may provide otherwise without naming which laws.
How does this section relate to the venue-transfer provisions nearby?
It states the baseline, trial in the county of commencement, while Sections 2-104 through 2-107 address wrong venue and the mechanics of transferring a case.
Does "place of trial" mean the same thing as "venue" here?
The section ties trial location to the county where the action was commenced, the same reference point venue rules elsewhere in this Part use.
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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