The plaintiff shall state whether he or she claims in fee, or whether he or she claims for his or her own life, or the life of another, or for a term of years, specifying such life or the duration of such term.
6-111.Interest claimed.
Article VI. Ejectment · Not amended since adoption on record · Last verified July 20, 2026
In one sentenceRequires the plaintiff to state the nature of the estate claimed in the ejectment complaint: a fee, a life estate measured by the plaintiff's own life or another's, or a term of years with its duration specified.
Full Text of 735 ILCS 5/6-111
Plain-English Summary
Beyond describing which property is at stake, an ejectment complaint has to describe what kind of estate the plaintiff claims in it. This section lists three options. The plaintiff may claim in fee, may claim for the plaintiff's own life, may claim for the life of another named person, or may claim for a term of years.
Each of the estate options carries its own detail requirement. A claim measured by a life estate must specify whose life measures it, either the plaintiff's or another person's. A claim for a term of years must specify the duration of that term rather than leaving it open-ended.
This requirement connects directly to how the case ends. 6-126 requires the jury's verdict to specify the same kind of estate established at trial, whether in fee, for a life, or for a term of years, so the estate pleaded at the outset under this section frames what the fact-finder must ultimately confirm.
Frequently Asked Questions
What estate options does the plaintiff have to choose among?
A fee, a life estate measured by the plaintiff's own life or another's, or a term of years.
What extra detail does a life estate claim require?
The complaint must specify whose life the estate is measured by, the plaintiff's or another named person's.
What extra detail does a term-of-years claim require?
The complaint must specify the duration of the term claimed.
Why does the complaint need to identify the type of estate at all?
The section does not explain its purpose, but the same categories reappear in 6-126, where the verdict must specify the estate established at trial.
Does this requirement replace the description of the premises required elsewhere?
No. 6-110 requires a description of the premises; this section separately requires a statement of the estate claimed in those premises.
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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