The Illinois 20-Day Summons is a legal document issued by the Circuit Court of Illinois that serves as a notice to a defendant in a civil case that they have been sued by another party. This document informs the defendant of the case details, including the date and time of a hearing that is scheduled within 20 days of the summons being served. There are three types of Illinois 20 Day Summons: Service by Publication, Sheriff’s Service, and Certified Mail. Service by Publication is used when the defendant is unable to be located; Sheriff’s Service is used when the sheriff delivers the summons directly to the defendant; and Certified Mail is used when the summons is sent via mail to the defendant. The 20-Day Summons outlines the requirements for the defendant to respond to the lawsuit, such as filing an appearance or other documents with the court. Failure to respond to the summons within the allotted time may result in a default judgment being entered against them.