Chicago & Cook County
Chicago Foreclosure Defense Attorney
Your lender filed a lawsuit. You have the right to answer it, and your paperwork may hold real defenses.
A foreclosure is a lawsuit. It can be defended.
Most people facing foreclosure are told they have two choices: file bankruptcy or give up the house. Ritenhouse Law Group takes a third path. We read the loan file, the servicing history and the court filings line by line, then answer the lawsuit with defenses that can hold up in front of a judge.
For 15 years, Damon Ritenhouse has defended Illinois homeowners against banks, servicers and debt buyers. Many clients come to us after other lawyers turned the case down. We take those cases seriously.
About Damon Ritenhouse
Practice areas
How we can help
Foreclosure Defense
Answer the complaint, raise defenses, and push back in court.
Debt Collection Defense
Stop abusive collectors and hold them liable under federal law.
Tenants in Foreclosure
Know your rights when your landlord's building is foreclosed.
Building Code Violations
Defend against Chicago and Cook County code citations and fines.
Real Estate Closings
Attorney representation from contract to keys.
Business Asset Protection
Structure your business so one lawsuit can't take everything.
Who we help
- Homeowners who just received a foreclosure summons
- Homeowners already in court who need new counsel
- People with a sheriff's sale date on the calendar
- Borrowers hit with a deficiency judgment after a sale
- Anyone being pressured by a debt collector
How we work
- 1
Free case review
Tell us where your case stands and send your summons or court papers.
- 2
File and loan review
We look for defects in the lender's case: standing, notices, servicing errors, service of process and more.
- 3
A plan with two tracks
We fight to keep the home, and we map out a fallback exit so you are never left without options.
Client reviews
5.0 from 15 client reviews on Avvo(opens in a new tab)“He informed me of all potential issues and risks prior to starting on my case (landlord-tenant dispute) and updated me on the progress every step of the way. Easy to talk to and gives his honest opinion.”
“With Damon, we developed a strategy. He told me options I did not know I had and worked diligently on my behalf to get me out of the bad situation I was in.”
“Damon is extremely knowledgeable, professional and patient. He always communicated clearly and had thoroughly explored various options with my case.”
Client reviews are verbatim excerpts from Damon's Avvo profile and describe his work at his previous firm. Every case is different. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Avvo figures as of September 2026.
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Don't let the deadline pass.
In Illinois you generally have 30 days after being served to respond to a foreclosure lawsuit. Missing it can mean a default judgment. Call +1 (555) 555-5555 or request a free case review today.
Every case is different. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.