2019-2020 Cook County Eviction Stoppage

Cook County Court Halts Evictions

On November 25, 2019, Circuit Court of Cook County Judge E. Kennth Wrights, Jr. issued the expected General Order 2019-01 which sets out the annual eviction moratorium for the enforcement of Cook County eviction orders for December 2019 and January 2020.  As usual, the order applies to residential (not commercial) eviction in Cook County.

The Court Order orders the Sheriff of Cook County to cease the execution of eviction orders from December 18, 2019 to January 2, 2020.

In addition, as is customary, the Court has ordered the Sheriff not to execute executing residential evictions when (a) the outside temperature is 15 degrees Fahrenheit or lower on the day of the eviction or (b) whenever weather conditions, regardless of temperature, might endanger the health and welfare of those people to be evicted.

So does that mean that evictions do not take place in the winter?  On the contrary, the eviction courts continue to work day in and day out.  What does happen is that the Sheriff is backed up for an additional 15 or more days (depending on how extreme the weather conditions are).  There is no good reason to hold off on filing an eviction in the winter “because they don’t evict in December”.  In reality, getting a case going is often the only way to get a tenant out.  Waiting doesn’t make things easier!

Need help with your winter eviction?  Don’t delay.  Contact us.