ILCS » Chapter 770 · Act 5
Illinois Compiled Statutes

770 ILCS 5/1 (2026)

Attorneys at law shall have a lien upon all claims, demands and causes of action, including all claims for unliquidated damages, which may be placed in their hands by their clients for suit or collection, or upon which suit or action has been instituted, for the amount of any fee which may have been agreed upon by and between such attorneys and their clients, or, in the absence of such agreement, for a reasonable fee, for the services of such suits, claims, demands or causes of action, plus costs and expenses

✓ current as of May 2026
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(770 ILCS 5/1) (from Ch. 13, par. 14)
    Sec. 1. Attorneys at law shall have a lien upon all claims, demands and causes of action, including all claims for unliquidated damages, which may be placed in their hands by their clients for suit or collection, or upon which suit or action has been instituted, for the amount of any fee which may have been agreed upon by and between such attorneys and their clients, or, in the absence of such agreement, for a reasonable fee, for the services of such suits, claims, demands or causes of action, plus costs and expenses. In the case of a claim, demand, or cause of action with respect to which the total amount of all liens under the Health Care Services Lien Act meets or exceeds 40% of the sum paid or due the injured person, the total amount of all liens under this Act shall not exceed 30% of the sum paid or due the injured person. All attorneys shall share proportionate amounts within this statutory limitation. If an appeal is taken by any party to a suit based on the claim or cause of action, however, the attorney's lien shall not be affected or limited by the provisions of this Act.
    To enforce such lien, such attorneys shall serve notice in writing, which service may be made by registered or certified mail, upon the party against whom their clients may have such suits, claims or causes of action, claiming such lien and stating therein the interest they have in such suits, claims, demands or causes of action. Such lien shall attach to any verdict, judgment or order entered and to any money or property which may be recovered, on account of such suits, claims, demands or causes of action, from and after the time of service of the notice. On petition filed by such attorneys or their clients any court of competent jurisdiction shall, on not less than 5 days' notice to the adverse party, adjudicate the rights of the parties and enforce the lien.
(Source: P.A. 93-51, eff. 7-1-03.)

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 84 cases (15 in the last 5 years), 1993–2026 · leading case: Kovitz Shifrin Nesbit, P.C. v. Rossiello, 911 N.E.2d 1180 (Ill. App. Ct. 2009).
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Kovitz Shifrin Nesbit, P.C. v. Rossiello, 911 N.E.2d 1180 (Ill. App. Ct. 2009). · cites it 6× “After the execution of that agreement, Rossiello served a notice of attorney’s lien on KSN, which represented Sudler and Prairie House, pursuant to the Attorneys Lien Act (Act) (770 ILCS 5/1 (West 2006)). Anderson had previously filed a union grievance against Sudler, which was…”
People v. Philip Morris, Inc., 759 N.E.2d 906 (Ill. 2001). · cites it 3× “On September 28, 1999, Illinois Special Counsel served notice of their attorney’s lien pursuant to the Attorneys Lien Act (770 ILCS 5/1 (West 1998)). Based on their contingent fee agreement with the Attorney General, they claimed a lien of 10% of any amount recovered from the…”
Tm Ryan Co. v. 5350 South Shore, L.L.C., 836 N.E.2d 803 (Ill. App. Ct. 2005). · cites it 4× “In its response to the petition, South Shore contended: (1) Weinberg had perfected a lien on the insurance proceeds in the sum of $73,380, pursuant to the Attorneys Lien Act (770 ILCS 5/1 (West 2002)); and (2) BABCO’s citation, and the lien asserted under it, had expired,…”
Moenning v. Union Pac. R.R. Co., 2012 IL App (1st) 101866 (Ill. App. Ct. 2012). · cites it 3× “Lerum, who had represented plaintiff in the trial court but not on the appeal from the judgment on the personal injury suit, filed a petition to adjudicate and enforce his attorneys lien pursuant to the Attorneys Lien Act (770 ILCS 5/1 (West 2010)). The petition attached a copy…”
Lewsader v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 694 N.E.2d 191 (Ill. App. Ct. 1998). · cites it 3× “The trial court found that the Estate had neither a valid statutory attorney’s lien (770 ILCS 5/1 (West 1996)) nor an equitable lien in the settlement proceeds in the matter of Lewsader v.”
Illinois State Bar Ass'n Mut. Ins. Co. v. McNabola Law Grp., P.C., 2019 IL App (1st) 182386 (Ill. App. Ct. 2019). · cites it 2× “On February 18, 2011, McNabola served his notice of a lien, as authorized by the Attorneys Lien Act (Act) (770 ILCS 5/1 (West 2016)), on KL Gates LLP, the attorneys representing defendants.”
In Re Midway Indus. Contractors, Inc., 272 B.R. 651 (Bankr. N.D. Ill. 2001). · cites it 2× “of Hartford (“National Fire”) 1 on January 20, 1999, January 21, 1999, January 26, 1999 and January 27, 1999, respectively, purportedly pursuant to the provisions of the Illinois Attorney’s Lien Act, 770 ILCS 5/1 (the “Attorney’s Lien Claim”).”
LeFevre, Zeman, Oldfield & Schwarm Law Grp., Ltd. v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 706 N.E.2d 130 (Ill. App. Ct. 1999). · cites it 5× “(1994)) preempts the Illinois Attorneys Lien Act (Illinois Act) (770 ILCS 5/1 (West 1994)). This motion was denied on April 10, 1997.”
Chicago Title & Trust Co. v. Levine, 789 N.E.2d 769 (Ill. App. Ct. 2002). · cites it 2× “We affirm and hold that an attorney commits slander of title when he maliciously files a lien against property in contravention of the Illinois Attorneys Lien Act (770 ILCS 5/1 (West 2000)), disparages title to the property, and causes damages.”
Bishop v. Burgard, 764 N.E.2d 24 (Ill. 2002). “3d 1059, 1068 (1999) (like a claim under the common fund doctrine, a claim brought pursuant to the Illinois Attorneys Lien Act (770 ILCS 5/1 (West 1994)) is an independent action wholly unrelated to an underlying benefit plan, a claim does not arise out of the contractual…”
Watkins v. GMAC Fin. Servs., 785 N.E.2d 40 (Ill. App. Ct. 2003). · cites it 2× “Staver secured a lien on any proceeds from National under the Attorneys Lien Act (Act) (770 ILCS 5/1 (West 2000)). Staver then reached a settlement in which National agreed to pay for the loss of the car in return for the title.”
In Re Solis, 610 F.3d 969 (7th Cir. 2010). · cites it 2× “O’Callaghan’s remaining arguments are also unpersuasive. He argues that he is entitled to a reasonable fee for obtaining a declaration of Solis’ rights, but the sources he cites are inapposite because they concerned fee disputes in the absence of enforceable fee agreements.”
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