Every judgment in the action of ejectment shall be conclusive as to the title established in such action upon the party against whom the same is rendered, and against all persons claiming from, through or under such party, by title accruing after the commencement of such action, subject to the exceptions hereinafter named.
6-131.Conclusiveness of judgment.
Article VI. Ejectment · Not amended since adoption on record · Last verified July 20, 2026
In one sentenceMakes an ejectment judgment conclusive on the title it establishes against the losing party, and against everyone claiming from, through, or under that party by title accruing after the action began, subject to exceptions elsewhere in Article VI.
Full Text of 735 ILCS 5/6-131
Plain-English Summary
A judgment that could be reopened by any later claimant would offer little security to the party who wins it, and this section addresses that concern for ejectment. Every judgment in an ejectment action is conclusive as to the title established in that action, but only as against the party against whom the judgment was rendered.
That conclusiveness extends further than the named party alone. It also binds everyone claiming from, through, or under that losing party, so long as their claim traces to a title accruing after the ejectment action commenced. A claim that predates the suit, or one that does not derive from the losing party, falls outside this binding effect.
The section closes by acknowledging its own limits: this conclusiveness applies "subject to the exceptions hereinafter named." Article VI's later sections, including 6-136's restriction on relitigating what was or could have been denied in the ejectment action, work together with this conclusiveness rule to define exactly how far a completed ejectment judgment reaches.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a judgment in ejectment conclusively establish?
The title established in the action, as against the party against whom the judgment was rendered.
Does the judgment bind anyone beyond the losing party?
Yes, it also binds all persons claiming from, through, or under that party, based on title accruing after the action commenced.
Does the judgment bind someone whose claim predates the ejectment action?
The section ties its binding effect to title accruing after the commencement of the action, so a claim predating the action falls outside that binding effect.
Are there any exceptions to this conclusiveness rule?
Yes. The section is expressly "subject to the exceptions hereinafter named," pointing to later provisions of Article VI.
How does this conclusiveness interact with a later petition for mesne profits?
6-136 restricts what may be pleaded in that later proceeding, barring matters that were or could have been denied in the ejectment action, reinforcing the conclusive effect this section describes.
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: conclusiveness of ejectment judgment illinoisres judicata ejectment title illinoiswho is bound by ejectment judgmenttitle accruing after action commenced