ILCS » Chapter 815 · Act 640
Illinois Compiled Statutes

815 ILCS 640/1 (2026)

Any person who makes an agreement with any other person to represent him in his claim for settlement of a personal injury claim within 5 days after the occurrence which gave rise to the claim may, within a 10 day period after the occurrence elect to avoid the agreement by notifying the other person in writing of the election by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested

✓ current as of May 2026
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(815 ILCS 640/1) (from Ch. 29, par. 71)
    Sec. 1. Any person who makes an agreement with any other person to represent him in his claim for settlement of a personal injury claim within 5 days after the occurrence which gave rise to the claim may, within a 10 day period after the occurrence elect to avoid the agreement by notifying the other person in writing of the election by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested.
    The person undertaking the representation of the injured party by such an agreement must, at the time of the agreement, furnish the party with whom the agreement is made a copy of the agreement and the address to which the notice may be sent and a copy of this Act, and obtain written acknowledgement of receipt of such from the party represented. If he fails to do so, the 10 day period provided for in this Act does not commence to run until the agreement, address and a copy of this Act are furnished.
(Source: P.A. 81-1125.)

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 2 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1998–2021 · leading case: Thomas P. Valenti, Pc v. Swanson, 690 N.E.2d 1031 (Ill. App. Ct. 1998).
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Thomas P. Valenti, Pc v. Swanson, 690 N.E.2d 1031 (Ill. App. Ct. 1998). · cites it 3× “815 ILCS 640/1 (West 1996). One of the requirements is that the attorney provide the clients with a copy of the Act at the time the contingent fee agreement is entered into.”
Seiden Law Grp., P.C. v. Segal, 2021 IL App (1st) 200877 (Ill. App. Ct. 2021). “3d 492, 495-96 (1998) (allowing an attorney to obtain compensation under quantum meruit principles even though he failed to comply with section 1 of the Personal Injury Representation Agreement Act (815 ILCS 640/1 (West 1996)), which required attorneys in certain personal injury…”
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