IL HB4760

Circuit court clerks must immediately seal eviction case files upon filing and mail notice to defendants within 7 days, with sealed files remaining inaccessible to the general public.

Sealed files may be unsealed 30 days after an eviction order is entered, except for foreclosure-related evictions, condo/HOA evictions without cause, lease-expiration evictions, and other not-for-cause evictions, which must remain sealed.

All unsealed files must be re-sealed no later than 5 years after the eviction action was filed, and only parties to the action, persons with good cause, and residents with proof of occupancy can access sealed files.

Dissemination of information from sealed eviction files is prohibited and constitutes an unlawful practice under the Consumer Fraud Act; consumer reporting agencies and tenant screening services cannot report sealed evictions or use them as factors in scoring.

Violations allow tenants to recover up to 2 months' rent or twice actual damages, whichever is greater, plus reasonable attorney's fees.