Understanding Eviction Trial: Enforcement of an Eviction Order
Eviction by Sheriff
If a tenant goes to trial and the judge decides to evict the tenant, the landlord can give the eviction order to the Sheriff for enforcement.
When the Sheriff comes out will depend on the county and the month. Outside of Cook County, the Sheriff may generally come out within 2-7 days after the trial.
When the Sheriff comes (unannounced), they will bring the landlord to change the locks and escort the occupants out of the unit. New keys provided to the owner, and the tenant won't be allowed back in without the landlord’s permission. The landlord will usually hold on to personal property for up to a week to and then might get rid of the property. There are limited circumstances where the Sheriff will not proceed due to very severe risk to the occupant.
Eviction in Cold Weather
Each county's Sheriff's department has different rules for winter. A Sheriff can decide not to evict if it is very cold outside due to court order.
| County | Rules |
|---|---|
| Lake | No evictions enforced on state or national holidays. No evictions enforced on the week before and the week after Christmas (generally between December 21 through January 6). Evictions canceled due to severe weather or other circumstances. |
| McHenry | No evictions when the weather is colder than 25 degrees or warmer than 110 degrees. No evictions enforced between December 21 through January 2. |
| DuPage | No evictions enforced between December 21 through January 2. |
| Boone | No restrictions to evictions in cold weather. |
| Jo Daviess | No restrictions to evictions in cold weather. |
| Carroll | No restrictions to evictions in cold weather. |
| Ogle | No restrictions to evictions in cold weather. |
| Stephenson | No restrictions to evictions in cold weather. |
| Winnebago | No restrictions to evictions in cold weather. |
| Adams | The Sheriff will wait until 9 AM to enforce an eviction order. |
Call your county sheriff's department to find out their rules for winter.
The above article provides information about legal issues but is not the same as legal advice. Legal advice is when a lawyer applies the law to your specific situation. The information in this article does not replace the advice or representation of a licensed attorney. Law Center for Better Housing cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information in this article and is not responsible for any consequences that may result from using it. You should consult with a licensed attorney to ensure the information in this article is appropriate for your specific situation. Using the information in this article does not create a relationship between Law Center for Better Housing and you as your attorney