In actions against public, municipal, governmental or quasi-municipal corporations, summons may be served by leaving a copy with the chairperson of the county board or county clerk in the case of a county, with the mayor or city clerk in the case of a city, with the president of the board of trustees or village clerk in the case of a village, with the supervisor or town clerk in the case of a town, and with the president or clerk or other officer corresponding thereto in the case of any other public, municipal, governmental or quasi-municipal corporation or body.
2-211.Service on public, municipal, governmental and quasi-municipal corporations.
Article II. Civil Practice · Part 2. Process · Not amended since adoption on record · Last verified July 20, 2026
In one sentenceLists the specific local officials, the county board chair or clerk, mayor or city clerk, village board president or clerk, town supervisor or clerk, and the equivalent officer for other public bodies, with whom summons may be left to serve those governmental corporations.
Full Text of 735 ILCS 5/2-211
Plain-English Summary
This section supplies a plain service list for public, municipal, governmental, and quasi-municipal corporations. Summons may be left with the chairperson of the county board or the county clerk for a county, the mayor or city clerk for a city, the president of the board of trustees or the village clerk for a village, and the supervisor or town clerk for a town.
For any other kind of public, municipal, governmental, or quasi-municipal corporation or body not specifically named, the section allows service on the president, clerk, or other officer corresponding to those roles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can be served for a county under this section?
The chairperson of the county board or the county clerk.
Who can be served for a city?
The mayor or the city clerk.
Who can be served for a village?
The president of the board of trustees or the village clerk.
Who can be served for a town?
The supervisor or the town clerk.
What about a public body that does not fit those categories?
Summons may be left with the president, clerk, or other officer corresponding to those roles for that corporation or body.
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: serving a municipality in Illinoisserving a city or village with a lawsuitgovernment entity service of process Illinoiscounty board chairperson service