AI Dispute Engine

Illinois · 765 ILCS 710 (Security Deposit Return Act)

Wrongful Termination in Cook County, Illinois

Answer a few plain-English questions and get a professional wrongful termination demand letter written from your perspective, grounded in Illinois law. Your first letter is free — no credit card.

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Illinois law at a glance

Response deadline
45 days
Max damages
2x
Small claims limit
$10,000
Statute
765 ILCS 710 (Security Deposit Return Act)

Deposit must be returned within 45 days (30 days for itemized statement). Chicago has stricter local ordinances requiring interest on deposits and 2x damages for violations.

What you'll need

  • Termination letter or notice
  • Employee handbook or policy manual
  • Performance reviews
  • Emails or texts showing the real reason
  • Final pay stub and severance offer if any

When to send it

  1. Day 0
    Preserve every email, text, and review before access is cut off.
  2. Day 1-14
    Send the demand letter outlining the unlawful basis for termination.
  3. Day 30
    If unresolved, file a charge with the EEOC or state labor agency if required.
  4. After right-to-sue
    File suit within the statutory deadline.

How it works in Cook County

STEP 1
Tell us what happened
Answer short questions about your wrongful termination in Cook County, IL. No legal wording required.
STEP 2
AI drafts your letter
Your answers are mapped to Illinois statutes such as 765 ILCS 710 (Security Deposit Return Act) and written in your own voice.
STEP 3
Download and send
Get your letter instantly, then send it certified mail. Most disputes settle before court.

Uses the Wrongful Termination template — Put your employer on notice of an unlawful firing before you sue.

What happened when other people sent theirs

“I'd written off my deposit completely. The letter cited the exact statute and the deadline they'd blown — I had a check nine days later.”
Marcus T. · Recovered $1,850 from a former landlord
“I had no idea how to word any of this. I answered a few questions and got something that actually sounded like it came from an attorney's office.”
Priya R. · Billing dispute resolved in two weeks
“Sent it certified mail like the timeline said. They called me the day it was delivered and reversed the charge.”
Danielle W. · Charge reversed after one letter

Submitted directly by AI Dispute Engine customers. Last names shortened for privacy. Outcomes vary — no result is guaranteed.

Wrongful Termination FAQs — Cook County, IL

Is at-will employment a defense?

At-will status does not permit termination based on protected class, retaliation, or in violation of public policy — Title VII and state analogs still apply.

Do I need an EEOC charge first?

For discrimination claims under Title VII, yes — you generally must file with the EEOC and get a right-to-sue letter before suing in federal court.

Does this wrongful termination letter work in Cook County, IL?

Yes. Your letter is generated against Illinois law, including 765 ILCS 710 (Security Deposit Return Act), and formatted for delivery to a recipient in Cook County.

What is the small claims limit near Cook County?

Illinois caps small claims at $10,000, and the statutory response window is 45 days with damages up to 2x.

Other disputes in Cook County

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