How Much Does a Divorce Cost?

How Much Does a Divorce Cost?

By: Gordon & Perlut, LLC

Financial issues are often at the front of everyone’s mind in a Chicago area divorce case. Whether you are filing for divorce or have recently been served with divorce papers, you are likely wondering how much you should expect your divorce to cost. There is no simple calculation for a divorce because every case is different and many need to be handled in different ways.

However, we can provide you with some specific considerations as you begin to estimate the total cost for your divorce. If you have follow-up questions or want to get a more precise sense of how much your divorce will cost, you should get in touch with a Chicago area divorce lawyer at Gordon & Perlut, LLC.

Court and Filing Costs for Divorce in Illinois

There are some basic costs to filing for divorce in the Chicago area that you should plan to include in any calculations you are doing for your divorce. Unlike other potential costs in a divorce case, these are objective fees everyone must pay in Cook County (as of 2020); similar costs apply in surrounding counties:

  • $388 to file your petition for divorce in the Cook County Circuit Court Clerk’s office
  • $251 appearance fee for the other spouse
  • $60 fee for service of process in Cook County (to have the Sheriff serve your spouse with divorce papers)

You may also need to consider transcript fees and parenting seminar fees if you have minor children from the marriage. A divorce lawyer can provide you with detailed information about any fees you will pay to file for divorce or to respond after you have been served divorce papers.

Uncontested Divorces Are Less Expensive

If you will have an uncontested divorce, you should expect to pay less overall for your divorce. An uncontested divorce is one in which both spouses agree to every single issue in the case. If there is even one disputed issue, then that disputed matter will need to be decided by a judge, and the cost of the case will increase. The more times you need to have a court hearing or go before a judge, the costlier you should expect your case to be.

Mediation Can Lower Costs

When spouses cannot reach an agreement about an issue, family mediation may be able to keep costs down while providing other benefits, as well. In mediation, spouses can seek to reach an agreement about any legal issues in dispute. If they can resolve the dispute, they can enter into a legal agreement, allowing them to move forward without requiring court intervention.  Call Gordon & Perlut, LLC regarding mediation services.

Learn More from a Divorce Attorney in the Chicago area

We know how difficult divorce can be on a person’s finances, and we can work with you to help keep costs down in your divorce while maintaining personalized and careful representation. A variety of options may exist to help with your circumstances. One of the dedicated Chicago divorce lawyers at our firm can discuss your case with you today and options for getting started. Contact Gordon & Perlut, LLC for more information.

Chicago Office – 312.360.0250

Skokie Office – 847.329.0101