The Illinois Thirty Day — Summons is a document created by the court that is used to summon a person to appear in court for a hearing or trial. It is sent out by the court clerk once a lawsuit has been filed. The Summons informs the defendant of the action being taken against them and gives them thirty days to file an answer to the complaint. The Summons must be served on the defendant by a third party or the sheriff. There are three types of Illinois Thirty Day — Summons: regular, special, and service by publication. Regular Summons is sent to the defendant's last known address. Special Summons is sent to the defendant's place of business or residence if the regular Summons wasn't effective. Service by Publication is used when the defendant cannot be located, and it involves publishing the Summons in a local newspaper for three weeks.