Cook County court filing fees
These are the fees the Cook county circuit clerk lists on its own fee schedule. We read them on Sep 28, 2026. The newest date printed on the schedule is May 21, 2026.
| Fee | Amount | What the schedule says | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Divorce (dissolution of marriage) petition | $388 Domestic Relations Division fee schedule; same $388 for Praecipe for Dissolution, Legal Separation, Invalidity etc. No with/without children split. | "Petition for Dissolution of Marriage $388.00 $250.00" schedule dated Jan 1, 2022 | services.cookcountyclerkofcourt.org |
| Response or appearance in a divorce | $250 Appearance fee in Domestic Relations Division for dissolution (respondent's appearance). | "Petition for Dissolution of Marriage $388.00 $250.00" schedule dated Jan 1, 2022 | services.cookcountyclerkofcourt.org |
| Small claims case | $287 Civil Division small claims >$0 to $2,500 = $287 (appearance $0). Civil actions >$2,500 to $15,000 = $379; >$15,000 = $388. | "Breach of Contract $287.00 $0.00" schedule dated May 21, 2026 | services.cookcountyclerkofcourt.org |
| Opening an estate (probate) | $479 Probate Division, decedent's estate (intestate or will, all administration types) new case filing; appearance $250. Flat, not tiered by estate value. (Guardianship of disabled person is $379.) | "Independent Administration $479.00 $250.00" schedule dated Oct 1, 2025 | services.cookcountyclerkofcourt.org |
| Eviction case | $287 Eviction (possession only) $287, Schedule 3; Joint Action (possession and rent) $379 up to $15,000 (Schedule 2) or $388 above $15,000. Statutory mailing fee plus postage per defendant added. | "Eviction (Possession only) $287.00" schedule dated May 21, 2026 | services.cookcountyclerkofcourt.org |
The schedule doesn't state a fee for: name change petition.
Court fees are separate from a lawyer's fee, and they change. Confirm the current amount with the Cook county circuit clerk (cookcountyclerkofcourt.org) before you file. Some courts waive fees for people who qualify; the clerk can tell you how to ask.
Firms in Cook county that publish prices
- Chicago Advocate Legal, NFP Chicago - Family
- Chicago Bar Mediation Service Chicago - Mediation
- Cutler & Associates, Ltd. Schaumburg - Bankruptcy
- Davis-Sanders Law Westchester - Estate planning, Family, Real estate
- Dynasty Law, LLC Chicago - Estate planning
- G & G Law, LLC Chicago - Business
- Hunsinger Law Group, LLC Chicago - Business, Estate planning, Family
- Illinois Estate Law Chicago - Estate planning, Real estate
- Illinois Estate Law (Martin Ptasinski Law Office) Willow Springs - Real estate
- JEELANI LAW FIRM, PLC Rolling Meadows - Immigration
- Joerika Stitt Esquire, LLC Olympia Fields - Estate planning, Family
- Kaplan Estate Law LLC Chicago - Estate planning
- Larson Law Group LLC La Grange - Personal injury, Real estate
- Law Office of Beth Mann, P.C. Orland Park - Real estate
- Law Office of Jeffrey P. Story, LLC Evanston - Estate planning
- Law Offices of Douglas R. Johnson, PC Chicago - Litigation
- Law Works Illinois by Harmening Law Chicago - Family
- Levy Law Solutions Skokie - Family
- Lysinski & Associates PC Chicago - Real estate
- Mediation By Judges Chicago - Mediation
- Nyman IP LLC Chicago - Intellectual property
- Park Gold Group Arlington Heights - Estate planning, Real estate
- Reda | Ciprian | Magnone, LLC Chicago - Business, Estate planning
- Reifman Law Offices Northbrook - Family
- Sable Law Group LLC Chicago - Estate planning
- Shapiro, Cohen & Basinger, Ltd. Chicago - Personal injury
- SP Legal Group, LLC Oak Forest - Business, Estate planning, Intellectual property
- The Law Office of Steven R. Hunter Chicago - Criminal defense
- The Law Offices of Haytham Faraj Chicago - Personal injury
- The Law Offices of Konrad Sherinian, LLC Chicago - Intellectual property
- The Law Offices of Ronald Justin Arlington Heights - Estate planning
- The Law Offices of Ronald P. Strojny & Associates Cicero - Bankruptcy
- The Witt Law Firm, P.C. Chicago - Family