The person making such distress shall immediately file with the clerk of the circuit court a copy of the distress warrant, together with an inventory of the property levied upon.
9-302.Filing of distress warrant with inventory.
Article IX. Eviction · Part 3. Distress for Rent · Not amended since adoption on record · Last verified July 20, 2026
In one sentenceSection 9-302 requires whoever carries out a distress for rent to file a copy of the distress warrant and an inventory of everything seized with the circuit clerk right away.
Full Text of 735 ILCS 5/9-302
Plain-English Summary
Seizing a tenant's property is only the first step; Section 9-302 turns that self-help act into a matter the court can supervise. The person who made the distress — the landlord, an agent, or an attorney — must file a copy of the distress warrant with the clerk of the circuit court immediately after the seizure.
Alongside that copy, the filer must submit an inventory of the property levied upon. That inventory becomes the court record of exactly what was taken, which matters later if the tenant disputes the seizure, posts a bond to release the goods under Section 9-311, or asks the court to order a sale of perishable property under Section 9-312.
The word "immediately" carries weight here: distress for rent lets a landlord act before any judge signs off, so prompt filing is what brings the seizure under judicial oversight and starts the summons process that Section 9-303 describes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who must file the distress warrant after property is seized?
The person who made the distress — the landlord or the agent or attorney who carried out the seizure — must file a copy of the warrant with the clerk of the circuit court.
What must accompany the distress warrant when it is filed?
An inventory of the property levied upon must be filed together with the copy of the distress warrant.
How quickly must the warrant and inventory be filed?
The statute requires the filing to happen immediately after the property is seized.
What happens after the warrant and inventory are filed?
Under Section 9-303, the clerk issues a summons against the party the warrant was directed at once the copy of the warrant and inventory are on file.
Why does the inventory matter to the tenant?
It becomes the official record of what was seized, which the tenant can rely on when posting a bond to release the property under Section 9-311 or contesting the distress in the court proceeding.
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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