Illinois Statutes Chapter 735. Civil Procedure § 5/17-101. Compelling partition

§ 17-101. Compelling partition. When lands, tenements, or hereditaments are held in joint tenancy or tenancy in common, other than in accordance with the Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act, or other form of co-ownership and regardless of whether any or all of the claimants are minors or adults, any one or more of the persons interested therein may compel a partition thereof by a verified complaint in the circuit court of the county where the premises or part of the premises are situated. If lands, tenements or hereditaments held in joint tenancy or tenancy in common are situated in 2 or more counties, the venue may be in any one of such counties, and the circuit court of any such county first acquiring jurisdiction shall retain sole and exclusive jurisdiction. Ownership of an interest in the surface of lands, tenements, or hereditaments by a co-owner of an interest in minerals underlying the surface does not prevent partition of the mineral estate. This amendatory Act of the 92nd General Assembly is a declaration of existing law and is intended to remove any possible conflicts or ambiguities, thereby confirming existing law pertinent to the partition of interests in minerals and applies to all actions for the partition of minerals now pending or filed on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 92nd General Assembly. Nothing in this amendatory Act of the 92nd General Assembly shall be construed as allowing an owner of a mineral interest in coal to mine and remove the coal by the surface method of mining without first obtaining the consent of all of the owners of the surface to the mining and removal of coal by the surface method of mining. Ownership of an interest in minerals by a co-owner of an interest in the surface does not prevent partition of the surface. The ownership of an interest in some, but not all, of the mineral estate by a co-owner of an interest in other minerals does not prevent the partition of the co-owned mineral estate.