Illinois divorce at a glance
Official source: Illinois court forms & self-help. Always confirm current forms and fees with the court before filing.
How to file for divorce in Illinois: step by step
Illinois divorces on a single no-fault ground — irreconcilable differences — with mandatory e-filing and statewide standardized forms. Here is the path from petition to a Judgment for Dissolution of Marriage.
- Confirm you can file in Illinois
One spouse must have lived in Illinois for 90 days. Illinois’s only ground is irreconcilable differences; in an agreed/joint case you don’t have to prove a separation period.Source: 750 ILCS 5/401 - Generate your forms
Use the Illinois statewide standardized forms: the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage, Summons, and Appearance (plus parenting documents if you have children).Source: Illinois Supreme Court Approved Statewide Forms - E-file with the Circuit Court
Illinois requires e-filing through eFileIL, including for self-represented filers. Pay the filing fee (roughly $250–$390) or file an Application for Waiver of Court Fees.Source: eFileIL; Application for Waiver of Court Fees - Serve your spouse
Have your spouse served — or, in an agreed case, they can file an Appearance and waive formal service.Source: 750 ILCS 5/ - Handle children and support (if any)
If you have children, complete a parenting plan and calculate child support under Illinois’s income-shares guidelines.Source: 750 ILCS 5/505 - Finalize at a short prove-up hearing
In an uncontested case, attend a brief "prove-up" hearing; the judge enters your Judgment for Dissolution of Marriage.Source: Judgment for Dissolution of Marriage
What does filing “pro se” (without a lawyer) mean in Illinois?
Pro se — also called self-represented — means you handle your own divorce without hiring an attorney. In Illinois you have the right to file your own divorce, and the court publishes the official forms for you to use. The large majority of uncontested divorces, where both spouses agree the marriage is over and can agree on the terms, are handled pro se every day.
Filing pro se is usually a good fit when: you both agree on the divorce, you can agree on splitting property and debts, and any parenting time and support are worked out. It’s worth talking to a lawyer when: you disagree about custody or money, one spouse hides assets or won’t cooperate, there’s a business or significant property to divide, or there has been any abuse.
LawCat prepares your Illinois pro-se divorce documents for free and walks you through every filing step — so doing it yourself never means doing it alone.
How child support is calculated in Illinois
Income-shares model based on both parents’ net incomes. (750 ILCS 5/505)
Because Illinois uses an income-shares approach, the exact number comes from an official table based on both parents’ combined income. Use your court’s official child-support calculator for a precise figure.
How long does a Illinois divorce take?
No fixed post-filing waiting period for an agreed divorce; a 6-month separation creates a presumption of irreconcilable differences, which spouses can waive by agreement. After that, the timeline depends on the court’s calendar and how quickly each step is completed. An uncontested, pro-se divorce is typically the fastest path — most of the wait is the statutory period, not paperwork.
Common reasons Illinois divorce filings get rejected
- Missing signatures, or forms that aren’t notarized where the court requires it.
- Skipping the financial disclosure both spouses are required to exchange.
- Filing before meeting the residency requirement.
- Mistakes serving the other spouse, or forgetting to file the proof of service.
- Not following local county rules. Moderate. Statewide standardized forms must be accepted everywhere, but fees vary by county and Cook County (Chicago) adds local cover sheets.
LawCat’s guided questions and filing checklist are built to prevent exactly these — the errors that send self-represented filers back to the clerk’s window.
Illinois document generation is on the way
LawCat already prepares complete divorce packets free in New York, Massachusetts, and New Jersey, and is expanding to Illinois. In the meantime, the official Illinois court forms are linked below.
Official Illinois forms → See how it worksWhy LawCat is free
Most “online divorce” sites charge $137–$499 for the same public court forms, and some add monthly fees. LawCat gives document preparation away because it is built by a law firm that helps people who later decide they want an attorney. You keep the free documents either way.
Compare divorce filing fees in every state →
Illinois divorce FAQ
Do I need a lawyer to get divorced in Illinois?
No. Illinois allows you to file for divorce yourself (pro se). LawCat prepares your Illinois divorce documents free, and you pay only the court’s filing fee. You can hire an attorney at any point if your case becomes complicated.
How long do I have to live in Illinois to file for divorce?
90 days residency in Illinois before judgment (750 ILCS 5/401(a)).
How much does it cost to file for divorce in Illinois?
Varies by county: petitioner ~$250-$388; respondent appearance ~$218-$251. Statewide standardized Application for Waiver of Court Fees (Supreme Court approved form, 735 ILCS 5/5-105, <125% FPL full waiver). With LawCat your documents are free, so the filing fee is typically your only unavoidable cost — and it can often be waived if you can’t afford it.