How Much Does a Divorce Cost in Illinois?

The total cost of an Illinois divorce ranges from under $500 for a simple uncontested case to over $50,000 for contested litigation. The biggest variable isn't filing fees — it's whether you and your spouse can agree on property division, maintenance, and parenting time without going to trial.

Court Filing Fees

Illinois filing fees vary by county because each circuit court sets its own fee schedule:

These fees cover the initial petition only. Additional motions, subpoenas, and certified copies each carry separate charges.

Fee waivers are available for those who qualify based on income. You'll need to file an Application for Waiver of Court Fees and provide proof of income, public benefits, or financial hardship.

Uncontested Divorce: The Low End

An uncontested divorce — where both spouses agree on every issue — is the least expensive option. Typical costs:

• Filing fees: $210–$388
• Process serving: $50–$100 (if needed)
• Attorney review of settlement agreement: $500–$1,500 (optional but recommended)
• Total range: $300–$2,000

Illinois also offers Joint Simplified Dissolution under 750 ILCS 5/452 for marriages meeting strict criteria: married less than 8 years, no children, limited assets and income, and both spouses waive maintenance. This streamlined process reduces both time and cost.

Contested Divorce: The High End

When spouses disagree on property division, maintenance, or parenting issues, costs escalate quickly:

• Attorney retainers: $3,500–$10,000 upfront
• Hourly rates: $200–$500 per hour
• Discovery costs: $2,000–$10,000 (document requests, depositions, interrogatories)
• Expert witnesses: $5,000–$15,000 (forensic accountants, property appraisers, custody evaluators)
• Trial preparation and court time: $5,000–$25,000+
• Total range: $15,000–$100,000+

The average contested divorce in Illinois with moderate assets runs $15,000–$25,000 per spouse. High-asset cases with business valuations, pension divisions, and custody disputes can exceed $100,000.

Mediation: The Middle Ground

Divorce mediation uses a neutral third party to help both spouses reach agreement. Illinois courts frequently recommend or require mediation before trial.

• Mediator fees: $100–$400 per hour
• Typical total: $2,500–$7,500 for the full mediation process
• Attorney review: $500–$1,500 per spouse (to review the mediated agreement before signing)

Mediation works best when both spouses are willing to negotiate in good faith. It gives you control over the outcome instead of leaving it to a judge.

Where the Money Actually Goes

Attorney fees consume the largest share of divorce costs. Every email, phone call, document review, and court appearance gets billed at the hourly rate. The most effective way to reduce legal fees is to walk into your attorney's office with organized financial documents — asset inventories, account statements, debt schedules, and preliminary calculations.

Attorneys who spend 10 hours organizing your raw bank statements at $350/hour generate $3,500 in fees before any legal strategy begins. Doing that organization yourself eliminates those hours entirely.

Reducing Your Costs

Three practical steps to lower expenses:

1. Organize your financials before hiring an attorney. A complete inventory of assets, debts, income, and expenses — with supporting documents — saves hours of billable time.

2. Agree on as much as possible. Every issue you resolve between yourselves is one less issue for attorneys to argue over. Even partial agreements (agreeing on the house but disputing maintenance) reduce costs.

3. Use mediation first. If communication with your spouse is still functional, mediation costs a fraction of litigation and produces faster results.

The Illinois Divorce Financial Split Guide provides the worksheets and calculation tools to build your complete financial picture before you spend money on professional services — helping you arrive prepared whether you choose mediation, an attorney, or the pro se path.

See more Illinois guides →