A corporation may prosecute as plaintiff or defend as defendant any small claims proceeding in any court of this State through any officer, director, manager, department manager or supervisor of the corporation, as though such corporation were appearing in its proper person. No corporation may appear as assignee or subrogee in a small claims proceeding. For the purposes of this Section, the term "officer" means the president, vice-president, registered agent or other person vested with the responsibility of managing the affairs of the corporation, and "small claims proceeding" means a civil action based on either tort or contract for money not in excess of $2,500, exclusive of interests and costs, or for collection of taxes not in excess of that amount.
2-416.Representation of corporations in small claims.
Article II. Civil Practice · Part 4. Parties · Not amended since adoption on record · Last verified July 20, 2026
In one sentenceSection 2-416 lets a corporation prosecute or defend a small claims case — meaning a tort or contract action for $2,500 or less — through a non-lawyer officer or manager, but bars a corporation from appearing as an assignee or subrogee in that setting.
Full Text of 735 ILCS 5/2-416
Plain-English Summary
A corporation can prosecute a small claims case as plaintiff, or defend one as defendant, through any officer, director, manager, department manager, or supervisor, as though the corporation itself were appearing without a lawyer. "Officer" for this purpose means the president, vice-president, registered agent, or anyone else vested with responsibility for managing the corporation's affairs.
A "small claims proceeding" here means a civil action based on tort or contract for money not exceeding $2,500, not counting interest and costs, or a collection action for taxes not exceeding that amount.
One limit applies regardless of the amount involved: a corporation may not appear as an assignee or subrogee in a small claims proceeding.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a corporation appear in small claims court without a lawyer?
Yes. A corporation may prosecute or defend a small claims proceeding through any officer, director, manager, department manager, or supervisor, as though the corporation were appearing in its own proper person.
Who counts as an "officer" able to represent the corporation this way?
The president, vice-president, registered agent, or any other person vested with responsibility for managing the corporation's affairs.
What dollar amount defines a "small claims proceeding" under this section?
A civil action based on tort or contract for money not exceeding $2,500, exclusive of interest and costs, or a collection action for taxes not exceeding that amount.
Can a corporation use a non-lawyer representative if it's suing as an assignee or subrogee?
No. A corporation may not appear as assignee or subrogee in a small claims proceeding under this section.
Does this section apply to contract claims, tort claims, or both?
Both, as long as the money sought doesn't exceed $2,500 exclusive of interest and costs, along with tax collection actions up to that same amount.
Amendment History
(Source: P.A. 84-1043.)
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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