Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Illinois

The question is why is your son ON the lease? Because the landlord wanted to know how many people would be living in the apartment and wanted you to list your minor son as an occupant? Or because it affects your eligibility for low income? Since you don't say it's impossible to answer. However, a 16-year old is still a minor in Illinois although he CAN petition a court to be "emancipated" so he can make certain decisions in his life that normally you as his parent would, but that is HIS choice, not yours. But the bigger question is why would you want your son off? Because he's causing problems for you, or you want to use it as a threat to get him to straighten up? If because he's causing problems, he's still a minor and there are child welfare consequences. If because you want to use it is as a threat, well, the landlord won't want to be in the middle of a family thing and it could backfire. It may be worthwhile for you to a social service agency and seek some family help; if it goes noplace you might then be able to get legal help.