735 ILCS 5/15-1505.8

Current through Public Act 103-1052

Section 735 ILCS 5/15-1505.8 - Expedited judgment and sale procedure for abandoned residential property

(a) Upon motion and notice, the mortgagee may elect to utilize the expedited judgment and sale procedure for abandoned residential property stated in this Section to obtain a judgment of foreclosure pursuant to Section 15-1506. The motion to expedite the judgment and sale may be combined with or made part of the motion requesting a judgment of foreclosure. The notice of the motion to expedite the judgment and sale shall be sent by first-class mail to the last known address of the mortgagor, and the notice required by paragraph (1) of subsection (l) of this Section shall be posted at the property address.

(b) The motion requesting an expedited judgment of foreclosure and sale may be filed by the mortgagee at the time the foreclosure complaint is filed or any time thereafter, and shall set forth the facts demonstrating that the mortgaged real estate is abandoned residential real estate under Section 15-1200.5 and shall be supported by affidavit.

(c) If a motion for an expedited judgment and sale is filed at the time the foreclosure complaint is filed or before the period to answer the foreclosure complaint has expired, the motion shall be heard by the court no earlier than before the period to answer the foreclosure complaint has expired and no later than 21 days after the period to answer the foreclosure complaint has expired.

(d) If a motion for an expedited judgment and sale is filed after the period to answer the foreclosure complaint has expired, the motion shall be heard no later than 21 days after the motion is filed.

(e) The hearing shall be given priority by the court and shall be scheduled to be heard within the applicable time period set forth in subsection (c) or (d) of this Section.

(f) Subject to subsection (g), at the hearing on the motion requesting an expedited judgment and sale, if the court finds that the mortgaged real estate is abandoned residential property, the court shall grant the motion and immediately proceed to a trial of the foreclosure. A judgment of foreclosure under this Section shall include the matters identified in Section 15-1506.

(g) The court may not grant the motion requesting an expedited judgment and sale if the mortgagor, an unknown owner, or a lawful occupant appears in the action in any manner before or at the hearing and objects to a finding of abandonment.

(h) The court shall vacate an order issued pursuant to subsection (f) of this Section if the mortgagor or a lawful occupant appears in the action at any time prior to the court issuing an order confirming the sale pursuant to subsection (b-3) of Section 15-1508 and presents evidence establishing to the satisfaction of the court that the mortgagor or lawful occupant has not abandoned the mortgaged real estate.

(i) The reinstatement period and redemption period for the abandoned residential property shall end in accordance with paragraph (4) of subsection (b) of Section 15-1603, and the abandoned residential property shall be sold at the earliest practicable time at a sale as provided in this Article.

(j) The mortgagee or its agent may enter, secure, and maintain abandoned residential property subject to subsection (e-5) of Section 21-3 of the Criminal Code of 2012.

(k) Personal property.

(1) Upon confirmation of the sale held pursuant to Section 15-1507, any personal property remaining in or upon the abandoned residential property shall be deemed to have been abandoned by the owner of such personal property and may be disposed of or donated by the holder of the certificate of sale (or, if none, by the purchaser at the sale). In the event of donation of any such personal property, the holder of the certificate of sale (or, if none, the purchaser at the sale) may transfer such donated property with a bill of sale. No mortgagee or its successors or assigns, holder of a certificate of sale, or purchaser at the sale shall be liable for any such disposal or donation of personal property.

(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of this subsection (k), in the event a lawful occupant is in possession of the mortgaged real estate who has not been made a party to the foreclosure and had his or her interests terminated therein, any personal property of the lawful occupant shall not be deemed to have been abandoned, nor shall the rights of the lawful occupant to any personal property be affected.

(l) Notices to be posted at property address.

(1) The notice set out in this paragraph (1) of this subsection (l) shall be conspicuously posted at the property address at least 14 days before the hearing on the motion requesting an expedited judgment and sale and shall be in boldface, in at least 12 point type, and in substantially the following form:

"NOTICE TO ANY TENANT OR OTHER LAWFUL OCCUPANT OF THIS PROPERTY

A lawsuit has been filed to foreclose on this property, and the party asking to foreclose on this property has asked a judge to find that THIS PROPERTY IS ABANDONED.

The judge will be holding a hearing to decide whether this property is ABANDONED.

IF YOU LAWFULLY OCCUPY ANY PART OF THIS PROPERTY, YOU MAY CHOOSE TO GO TO THIS HEARING and explain to the judge how you are a lawful occupant of this property.

If the judge is satisfied that you are a LAWFUL OCCUPANT of this property, the court will find that this property is NOT ABANDONED.

This hearing will be held in the courthouse at the following address, date, and time:

Court name:..................................................

Court address:..............................................

Court room number where hearing will be held:................

(There should be a person in this room called a CLERK who can help you. Make sure you know THIS PROPERTY'S ADDRESS.)

Date of hearing:............................................

Time of hearing:............................................

MORE INFORMATION

Name of lawsuit:............................................

Number of lawsuit:..........................................

Address of this property:....................................

IMPORTANT

This is NOT a notice to vacate the premises. You may wish to contact a lawyer or your local legal aid or housing counseling agency to discuss any rights that you may have.

WARNING

INTENTIONAL REMOVAL OF THIS NOTICE BEFORE THE DATE AND TIME STATED IN THIS NOTICE IS A CLASS B MISDEMEANOR, PUNISHABLE BY UP TO 180 DAYS IN JAIL AND A FINE OF UP TO $1500, UNDER ILLINOIS LAW. 720 ILCS 5/21-3(a).

NO TRESPASSING

KNOWINGLY ENTERING THIS PROPERTY WITHOUT LAWFUL AUTHORITY IS A CLASS B MISDEMEANOR, PUNISHABLE BY UP TO 180 DAYS IN JAIL AND A FINE OF UP TO $1500, UNDER ILLINOIS LAW. 720 ILCS 5/21-3(a).".

(2) The notice set out in this paragraph (2) of this subsection (l) shall be conspicuously posted at the property address at least 14 days before the hearing to confirm the sale of the abandoned residential property and shall be in boldface, in at least 12 point type, and in substantially the following form:

"NOTICE TO ANY TENANT OR OTHER LAWFUL OCCUPANT OF THIS PROPERTY

A lawsuit has been filed to foreclose on this property, and the judge has found that THIS PROPERTY IS ABANDONED. As a result, THIS PROPERTY HAS BEEN OR WILL BE SOLD.

HOWEVER, there still must be a hearing for the judge to approve the sale. The judge will NOT APPROVE this sale if the judge finds that any person lawfully occupies any part of this property.

IF YOU LAWFULLY OCCUPY ANY PART OF THIS PROPERTY, YOU MAY CHOOSE TO GO TO THIS HEARING and explain to the judge how you are a lawful occupant of this property. You also may appear BEFORE this hearing and explain to the judge how you are a lawful occupant of this property.

If the judge is satisfied that you are a LAWFUL OCCUPANT of this property, the court will find that this property is NOT ABANDONED, and there will be no sale of the property at this time.