Part 2 - Trial Of Right Of Property


      (735 ILCS 5/Art. XII Pt. 2 heading)
Part 2. Trial of Right of Property

    (735 ILCS 5/12‑201) (from Ch. 110, par. 12‑201)
    Sec. 12‑201. Procedure. (a) Whenever a judgment or order of attachment, entered by any court, shall be levied by any sheriff or coroner upon any personal property, and such property is claimed by any person other than the judgment debtor or defendant in such attachment, or is claimed by the judgment debtor or defendant in attachment as exempt from levy or attachment by virtue of the exemption laws of the State, by giving to the sheriff or coroner notice, in writing, of his or her claim, and intention to prosecute the same, it shall be the duty of such sheriff or coroner to notify the circuit court of such claim.
    (b) The court shall thereupon cause the proceeding to be entered of record, and the claimant shall be made plaintiff in the proceeding, and the judgment creditor or plaintiff in attachment shall be made defendant in such proceeding.
    (c) The clerk of the circuit court shall thereupon issue a notice, directed to the judgment creditor or plaintiff in attachment, notifying him or her of such claim, and of the time and place of trial, which time shall be not more than 10 days nor less than 5 days from the date of such notice.
    (d) Such notice shall be served in the same manner as provided for the service of summons in other civil cases, at least 5 days before the day of trial; and if such notice is served less than 5 days before the day of trial, the trial shall, on demand of either party, be continued for a period not exceeding 10 days.
    (e) In case return is made on such notice that the judgment creditor or plaintiff in attachment cannot be found, the proceeding shall be continued for a period not exceeding 90 days, and the judgment creditor or plaintiff in attachment shall be notified of such proceeding by publication as in other civil cases.
    (f) If the judgment creditor or plaintiff in attachment, or his or her attorney, shall at least 5 days before the day of trial, file with the clerk of the circuit court his or her appearance in such proceeding, then it shall not be necessary to notify such person as above provided.
(Source: P.A. 82‑280.)

    (735 ILCS 5/12‑202) (from Ch. 110, par. 12‑202)
    Sec. 12‑202. Trial. The trial shall proceed without written pleadings in the same manner as in other civil cases, and may be by a jury if either party demands one.
(Source: P.A. 83‑707.)

    (735 ILCS 5/12‑203) (from Ch. 110, par. 12‑203)
    Sec. 12‑203. Subpoenas. The clerk of the court shall issue subpoenas for witnesses at the request of any party or the party's attorney.
(Source: P.A. 82‑280.)

    (735 ILCS 5/12‑204) (from Ch. 110, par. 12‑204)
    Sec. 12‑204. Trial and judgment. The court or the jury shall determine the rights of the parties and the court shall enter judgment accordingly, and the court shall direct the sheriff or coroner as to the disposition of the property in the possession of the sheriff or coroner. In case the property appears to belong to the claimant, when the claimant is any person other than the judgment debtor or the defendant in the attachment, or in case the property is found to be exempt from enforcement of a judgment thereon or attachment, when the claimant is the judgment debtor or the defendant in the attachment, judgment shall be entered against the judgment creditor or plaintiff in the attachment for the costs, and the property levied on shall be released, and in case it further appears that such claimant is entitled to the immediate possession of such property, the court shall order that such property be delivered to such claimant. If it appears that the property does not belong to the claimant, or is not exempt from the enforcement of a judgment thereon or attachment, as the case may be, judgment shall be entered against the claimant for costs, and an order shall be entered that the sheriff or coroner proceed to sell the property levied on. The judgment in such cases shall be a complete indemnity to the sheriff or coroner in selling or restoring any such property, as the case may be.
(Source: P.A. 82‑280.)

    (735 ILCS 5/12‑205) (from Ch. 110, par. 12‑205)
    Sec. 12‑205. Costs. If the judgment is entered in favor of the claimant as to part of the property, and in favor of another party as to part, then the court shall in its discretion apportion the costs; and the sheriff, coroner and clerk of the court shall be entitled to the same fees as are allowed by law for similar services.
(Source: P.A. 82‑280.)