When service or return of process is made by mail, the postage and postal fees may be recovered as costs.
5-122.Postage as costs.
Article V. Costs · Not amended since adoption on record · Last verified July 20, 2026
In one sentenceAllows a party to recover as taxable costs the postage and postal fees spent whenever service of process, or the return of process, is carried out by mail instead of in person.
Full Text of 735 ILCS 5/5-122
Plain-English Summary
This is a narrow, single-purpose section. It addresses one specific expense: postage and postal fees.
When service or return of process is made by mail, those postage and postal fees may be recovered as costs. The rule ties the recoverable expense directly to service or return of process being carried out by mail.
The section sits alongside the Article's other, broader rules about who recovers costs and when, adding one specific taxable item to that framework rather than changing who wins or loses on costs generally.
Frequently Asked Questions
What expense does this section make recoverable as costs?
Postage and postal fees.
When does this rule apply?
When service or return of process is made by mail.
Is recovery of these fees automatic, or something a party must separately claim?
The section says these amounts "may be recovered as costs," without describing a separate claim procedure.
Does this section cover courier or private delivery fees?
No. Its language addresses postage and postal fees specifically, tied to service or return of process made by mail.
Where does this fit among the Article's other cost provisions?
It's a narrow rule identifying one specific taxable expense, alongside the Article's broader rules about who recovers costs and when.
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: postage as court costs illinoismail service of process costs illinoisrecovering postal fees as costs illinois