McLean County, Illinois Ends Foreclosure Mediation

The McLean County Residential Foreclosure Mediation Program, launched in March 2012, has officially been suspended as of May 1, 2025, according to the county’s Circuit Court announcement.

Established under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 99.1, the McLean County initiative provided a voluntary, court‑annexed mediation process for homeowners facing foreclosure. Borrowers and lenders met with a neutral mediator—with support from University of Illinois law students—to explore loan modifications, short sales, deed-in-lieu options, or other agreements aimed at resolving cases outside of formal court hearings funded in part by a filing fee added to each foreclosure complaint.  

After more than thirteen years in operation, the program was formally suspended on May 1, 2025. Pursuant to County officials, the program had fulfilled its initial goals—bringing disputing parties to the table and easing court case backlogs—and may no longer align with current judicial priorities and resource constraints.

With the program paused, residents facing foreclosure in McLean County must pursue traditional legal routes—often involving formal proceedings and scheduled court hearings. As more Illinois counties may choose to reevaluate court-annexed mediation, McLean’s decision may reflect a broader trend toward resource reallocation and the potential sunset of additional Mediation Programs.