Establishing secure connection…Loading editor…Preparing document…

Illinois Divorce

This template is fully customizable. Edit the text, fill out the fields, and send it for signature. Give it a try!

Divorce Information and Worksheet

Instructions: This worksheet is designed to be used by persons contemplating a divorce. It may also be used by your attorney. Completing this form before your initial interview with your attorney may save you valuable time and money.

Part 1 - Definitions – Terms and Explanations

Definitions – Terms and Explanations

Term Definition
1. ComplaintThe pleading used to commence a divorce action that is filed with the court clerk, usually in the county of residence of the parties.
2. PetitionSame as complaint. Some States use the term Petition instead of complaint.
3. Plaintiff / PetitionerThe person who files the complaint. May be called Petitioner if a Petition is used instead of a complaint. If a Joint Complaint is allowed, the parties may be called Co-Plaintiffs or Co-Complainants.
4. Defendant / respondentThe person who the complaint is filed against. This person is usually required to answer the complaint within a certain number of days, or file a waiver to the complaint.
5. Co-PlaintiffsWhen both parties sign the complaint in a divorce action it is called a Joint Complaint or Joint Petition.
6. SummonsA document signed by the Court Clerk and served on the defendant informing the defendant that a complaint has been filed.
7. Cover SheetA form used by the court for basic information about the parties and the action.
8. Information SheetSame as Cover Sheet.
9. Waiver of ProcessA form filed when the defendant agrees to the divorce and does not desire to file an answer.
10. Entry of AppearanceA form indicating the defendant enters appearance in the case and may consent to an entry of divorce.
11. Court ClerkCourt personnel who handle court papers, hearings and related matters.
12. Waiting PeriodA required time after filing before the matter may be heard or a final judgment entered.

Part 2. - Your Personal Information

Personal Information

Your Name: U.S. Citizen Yes No
Address: Date of Birth:
Social Security Number:
City: State: Zip:

Where do you presently live, if different than address above?

How long have you lived at your present address?

How long did you live at former address, if applicable?

Birth State and County

Have you ever lived in a community property state? Yes No

If yes, what state?

Do you have a known future residence address? Yes No

If yes, list address:

Education level

Describe your physical condition and any health problems you may have.

Describe any emotional problems you may have.

Employment

Where are you employed?

Position

Address City State Zip

Phone Fax

How long employed at present employer?

Previous employer: Position:

Address City State Zip

Education

Educational Level Degrees

Part 3. - Spouse Personal Information

Personal Information – Spouse

Spouse Name: U.S. Citizen Yes No
Address: Date of Birth:
Social Security Number:
City: State Zip

Where does spouse presently live, if different than address above?

How long has spouse lived at present address?

How long did spouse live at former address, if applicable?

Birth State and County

Has spouse lived in a community property state? Yes No

If yes, what state?

Does spouse have a known future residence address? Yes No

If yes, list address

Education level of spouse.

Describe spouse’s physical condition and any health problems he/she may have.

Describe any emotional problems spouse may have.

Spouse Employment

Where is spouse employed?

Position

Address City State Zip

Phone Fax

How long employed at present employer?

Previous employer: Position:

Address City State Zip

Education

Educational Level Degrees

Part 4. - Marriage

Marriage

Place of Marriage

Have you ever been separated from your spouse before? Yes No

If yes, please provide dates and details of separation.

Are you now separated from your spouse? Yes No

If yes, provide details of separation.

What was date of separation?

Part 5. - Children

Children

Name Date of Birth

Name Date of Birth

Name Date of Birth

In what city and state were the children born?

Has there ever been any prior litigation regarding the custody of the children? Yes No. If yes, please explain:

Where do the children reside now? Husband Wife How long?

Are there any special issues or circumstances to be considered regarding the children? (Medical problems, etc.) Yes No

If yes, please explain:

Do the parents agree to terms of custody/visitation? Yes No

If Yes, please select:

Sole custody to Wife with reasonable visitation to Husband

Sole custody to Husband with reasonable visitation to Wife

Joint custody to Husband and Wife

Other-(describe)-

What is address where children presently reside?

Is wife pregnant? Yes No

If yes, what is due date?

Do the children have any special medical needs? Yes No

If yes, please explain:

Children’s Doctor

Address

City State Zip

Do the children require any special educational needs? Yes No

If yes, provide details.

Please provide day care address and how often the children are kept in day care, if applicable.

Part 6. - Prior Marriages

Your Prior Marriages

Name Date of Marriage Date of Divorce County/State of Divorce

Children from prior marriages?

Name Date of Birth

Do you pay support? Yes No If yes, what amount and how paid?

Do you pay alimony? Yes No If yes, what amount and how paid?

Your Spouse Prior Marriages

Name Date of Marriage Date of Divorce County/State of Divorce

Children from prior marriages?

Name Date of Birth

Does spouse pay support? Yes No If yes, what amount and how paid?

Does spouse pay alimony? Yes No If yes, what amount and how paid?

Part 7. Income

Income of Husband (Monthly)

Salary

Dividends

Rental Income

Notes Receivable

Bonuses

Business

Commissions

Other

Total Income

Deductions from Income

Gross Pay

Less Social Security

Less Federal Withholdings

Less State Withholdings

Other Deductions

Net Pay

Income of Wife (Monthly)

Salary

Dividends

Rental Income

Notes Receivable

Business

Bonuses

Commissions

Other

Total Income

Deductions from Income

Gross Pay

Less Social Security

Less Federal Withholdings

Less State Withholdings

Other Deductions

Net Pay

Part 8. - Monthly Expenses

Monthly Expenses (Average) Who Pays Total
House Payment to
Rental Payment to
Car Loan to
Car Loan to
Electricity
Gas (Home)
Phone
Water/Garbage/Sewer

Part 9. - Joint Assets

JOINT ASSETS: DESCRIPTION OF JOINT ASSETS Current Fair Market Value
Cash (on hand)
Cash (in banks/credit unions)
Stocks/Bonds

Part 16 - Settlement Worksheet

Property Settlement Agreement Worksheet

Who will receive title to the marital home? H W
Who will pay monthly payment on marital home? H W
Who will pay the utilities for the marital home? H W

What marital assets will husband receive?

What marital assets will wife receive?

Signature Sections

Husband Signature

Date:

Wife Signature

Date:

Enter text✕

What the Illinois Divorce filing is and what it covers

An Illinois Divorce filing initiates the legal process to dissolve a marriage under Illinois law. The paperwork typically begins with a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage that lists parties, grounds, children, parenting time, spousal support, property division, and temporary relief requests. Court rules control service, notice, and hearing schedules; local circuit court clerks provide procedural forms and fee details. Family law decrees and certain final orders have special handling under state court procedures and may not be executed solely by consumer electronic signature where law or court rule requires in-person or notarized acknowledgement.

Why clear, accurate divorce documents matter

A complete Illinois Divorce packet reduces delays, lowers the risk of contested procedure, and helps courts and parties resolve children and property issues more efficiently. Accurate forms protect rights, preserve deadlines, and make post-judgment enforcement and retention straightforward.

Why clear, accurate divorce documents matter

Who commonly completes Illinois Divorce paperwork

Whether you use counsel or file pro se, follow local circuit court rules and verify required supporting documents before submission.

  • Self-represented spouses who prepare and file the petition themselves following circuit court instructions and local form templates.
  • Attorneys who draft petitions, settlements, parenting plans, and proposed judgments on behalf of clients.
  • Court clerks and mediators who review filings for procedural sufficiency and schedule hearings.

Typical signers and their roles

Petitioner

The spouse who files the petition. The petitioner signs the opening documents and must provide accurate addresses, factual grounds, and proposed relief. The petitioner's statements set the procedural timeline and trigger service requirements on the other party.

Respondent

The spouse served with the petition who may file a written response or appear at hearings. The respondent's answer and counterproposals are essential for contested matters and affect negotiation, temporary orders, and final decree contents.

Key data elements required on Illinois Divorce forms

Full legal names: First, middle, last
Addresses: Street, city, state, ZIP
Date of marriage: MM/DD/YYYY
Children information: Names and DOBs
Property list: Major assets/liabilities
Relief requested: Custody, support, division

Consequences of errors or omissions

Dismissal risk: Court may dismiss for improper service
Default judgment: Failure to respond may lead to default
Enforcement issues: Ambiguous language complicates enforcement
Support miscalculations: Incorrect income info affects orders
Fee exposure: Additional costs for corrections
Privacy exposure: Sensitive data leaks risk harm

Common preparation pitfalls to avoid

  • Incomplete service information or incorrect addresses that delay proceedings and require re-service or additional court dates.
  • Using informal agreements without converting them into a court‑approved settlement or written parenting plan enforceable by the decree.
  • Failing to attach required financial disclosures, which may prevent entry of final orders on property division or support.
  • Relying on unsigned or improperly notarized exhibits when the court requires sworn affidavits or verified financial statements.

Real-world examples of Illinois Divorce workflows

Two short examples show how parties and counsel handle filings and electronic elements while complying with court requirements.

Optica Ventures example

Brian Fitzgibbons' small business legal team used standardized petition templates to ensure consistency across cases and reduce drafting time.

  • They combined local court forms with a detailed property schedule to avoid later disputes.
  • The firm preserved signed copies and a clear audit trail for settlement enforcement, which simplified post‑judgment collections and reduced follow-up filings over multiple jurisdictions.

Fertility Centers example

John Butler's operations team centralized document intake to ensure all required attachments were present before filing.

  • A checklist prevented missed disclosures.
  • Centralized records with timestamps and retained copies ensured their counsel could respond quickly to discovery requests and provided evidence of compliance with court filing requirements when the case proceeded to hearing.

Step-by-step: Completing an Illinois Divorce filing

Follow these sequential steps to prepare and submit the core divorce documents in Illinois.

  • 01
    Prepare petition: Complete Petition for Dissolution with factual and relief sections
  • 02
    File with court: Submit petition to circuit court clerk and pay filing fee
  • 03
    Serve respondent: Arrange legal service per Illinois rules
  • 04
    Schedule hearing: Follow clerk instructions and attend any required hearings

Where filings go and how they move through the system

The typical routing sequence for divorce documents in Illinois involves court filing, service, responses, temporary hearings, and final judgment.

  • Court clerk: Receives petition and assigns case number
  • Process server: Delivers documents to respondent per court rules
  • Discovery exchange: Parties exchange financial disclosures and exhibits
  • Judge or hearing: Court resolves contested issues and signs decree

Essential elements a professional divorce packet should include

A complete packet reduces friction: required forms, verified disclosures, proposed orders, and a clear evidence schedule.

Petition and summons

A clearly completed Petition for Dissolution and a summons prepared according to circuit court formatting requirements plus certificate of filing.

Financial affidavits

Income and asset disclosures supporting support and property division requests; attach pay stubs, tax returns, and account statements where required.

Parenting plan

Detailed custody, parenting time schedule, decision‑making responsibilities, and dispute resolution language for cases involving children.

Proposed judgment

Draft final judgment or settlement order with clear, enforceable terms for property division, support, and any ongoing obligations.

Practical tips for accurate and efficient completion

Adopt these practices to avoid common delays and improve clarity across the case lifecycle.

Use consistent, verified names and dates
Enter full legal names, consistent date formats (MM/DD/YYYY), and preserve copies of IDs. Mismatched names create service and enforcement problems and may require amendatory filings.
Attach complete financial documentation
Provide pay stubs, recent tax returns, bank statements, and retirement account summaries when requested. Complete disclosure reduces contested motions and supports accurate support calculations.
Follow local form templates
Use circuit court templates and caption formats. Deviating from local requirements can lead to rejection or clerical corrections that delay the case.
Keep an organized audit trail
Retain copies of filed documents, service certificates, and signed agreements with timestamps. A clear record simplifies motions to enforce or modify orders later.

Key milestones from filing to final judgment

A typical sequence includes filing, service, responsive pleadings, temporary hearings, and final resolution; local rules set exact timing.

01

Filing the petition

Submit Petition to circuit court clerk and pay filing fees

02

Service on respondent

Arrange proper service and file proof of service with the court

03

Respondent deadline

Respondent files answer or appears within statutorily prescribed time

04

Final hearing or mediation

Court enters temporary or final orders after hearing or settlement

Timing considerations and common scheduling points

Observe deadlines for service, responses, discovery, and hearing notices to avoid procedural defaults.

Service timeframe:

Serve respondent per Illinois rules promptly after filing

Answer deadline:

Respondent must file answer within statutory period

Temporary orders:

Courts may schedule emergency or temporary relief hearings quickly

Mediation deadlines:

Some counties require mediation before final hearing

Final judgment timing:

Timing depends on contested issues and court docket availability

Additional documents and clauses to include for clarity

Beyond core forms, include supporting exhibits and clear enforcement language to anticipate common post‑judgment issues.

Parenting time schedule

A specific, dated calendar or schedule reduces later interpretation disputes and supports enforcement when transitions or holiday exchanges arise.

Child support computation

Include detailed income calculations and attach worksheets so the court can reproduce or review the basis for support amounts.

Property division schedule

List major assets and debts with account numbers, approximate values, and proposed split to make settlement terms enforceable.

Temporary orders request

State clearly any emergency relief sought—temporary custody, exclusive use of marital home, or temporary support—so the court can act promptly.

Confidential exhibits

Mark sensitive items for in‑camera review or sealing when they contain medical, financial, or personal security information.

Enforcement language

Include remedies for noncompliance, contempt language, and procedures for modification to reduce later litigation.

Configuring a digital workflow for divorce documents

Design workflows to collect signatures, attach exhibits, and preserve audit trails while respecting court requirements.

Field Configuration
Signature method Collect signer intent and attribution with audit trail
Document attachments Require mandatory exhibits before submission
Authentication Use email/SMS or stronger ID verification where needed
Retention Store signed PDF/A and audit record securely

Delivery and technical distribution options

Ensure the chosen method meets court rules for format and that all parties receive verifiable copies and audit trails.

  • E‑filing systems: Court portals accept PDFs with required metadata
  • Email delivery: Use encrypted attachments when sending sensitive files
  • Cloud storage: Maintain version control and access logs

How electronic signatures and traditional filing compare for divorce documents

Some steps in divorce processing accept electronic methods while core court orders and certain family law decrees may require in‑court or notarized actions.

Criteria Electronic filing In-person / Paper filing
Initial petition
Final decree signature varies; many courts require judge signature
Sworn affidavits may require notarization or ron in-person notarization
Service proof electronic proof accepted by many clerks paper proof also accepted

Comparing common eSignature vendors for document workflows

Core vendor pricing and capability points relevant to processing legal packets for Illinois Divorce. Use vendor sites or contracts to confirm plan details for large or regulated deployments.

signNow DocuSign Adobe Sign PandaDoc HelloSign
Starting Price $8/user/mo $15/user/mo $14/user/mo $19/user/mo $15/user/mo
Free Trial 7-day free trial Varies Varies Varies Varies
Bulk Send Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
HIPAA Compliant Yes Yes Yes No No

Frequently asked questions about Illinois Divorce forms and filings

Answers to common procedural and document questions to help avoid delays and ensure court acceptance.


Need help? Contact support

be ready to get more
Join over 28 million airSlate SignNow users