If the plaintiff recovers, judgment shall be entered in favor of plaintiff, for the amount which the court finds to be due the plaintiff.
9-307.Judgment for plaintiff.
Article IX. Eviction · Part 3. Distress for Rent · Not amended since adoption on record · Last verified July 20, 2026
In one sentenceSection 9-307 provides that when a landlord wins a distress action, the court enters judgment for whatever amount it finds due.
Full Text of 735 ILCS 5/9-307
Plain-English Summary
Section 9-307 states the outcome for a landlord who prevails: if the plaintiff recovers, judgment is entered in the plaintiff's favor for the amount the court finds due. The judgment tracks the court's own finding of what is owed, not necessarily the amount claimed in the distress warrant.
That distinction matters because the tenant may have raised defenses or a counterclaim under Section 9-306 that reduce the amount ultimately found due. The judgment reflects whatever balance survives that process, rather than locking in the landlord's original claim.
Section 9-308 then explains how a judgment for the plaintiff can be enforced, distinguishing between property already distrained and the defendant's other property depending on how the defendant was brought into the case.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the court award if the landlord wins a distress action?
Judgment for the amount the court finds is due to the plaintiff, which may differ from the amount originally claimed in the distress warrant.
Does the judgment amount always match the rent claimed in the distress warrant?
Not necessarily. The judgment reflects what the court finds to be due after considering any defenses or counterclaim the tenant raised under Section 9-306.
What happens after judgment is entered for the landlord?
Section 9-308 governs how that judgment can be enforced, including against the property that was distrained and, in some circumstances, the defendant's other property.
Can the tenant still contest the amount after a distress warrant is issued?
Yes. The judgment under Section 9-307 comes only after the court considers the case, including any defenses or counterclaim raised under Section 9-306.
Is a landlord guaranteed to recover the full amount stated in the distress warrant?
No. Section 9-307 ties recovery to what the court finds due, not automatically to the figure in the warrant.
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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