Legal Services Costs in Illinois
Verified cost ranges across cities in Illinois
Legal Services Cost Comparison — Illinois
Compare verified cost ranges across cities in Illinois
Cost Comparison — Contested Divorce
Low
$2,475
Typical
$6,213
High
$9,950
Low
$2,564
Typical
$6,436
High
$10,307
Low
$2,281
Typical
$5,725
High
$9,169
Low
$2,258
Typical
$5,668
High
$9,077
Low
$2,295
Typical
$5,761
High
$9,228
Low
$2,294
Typical
$5,759
High
$9,224
Low
$2,188
Typical
$5,493
High
$8,798
Low
$2,386
Typical
$5,988
High
$9,591
Low
$2,315
Typical
$5,811
High
$9,307
Low
$2,205
Typical
$5,534
High
$8,863
Cost Comparison — Child Custody Agreement
Low
$3,125
Typical
$6,063
High
$9,000
Low
$3,237
Typical
$6,280
High
$9,323
Low
$2,880
Typical
$5,587
High
$8,294
Low
$2,851
Typical
$5,531
High
$8,211
Low
$2,898
Typical
$5,622
High
$8,347
Low
$2,897
Typical
$5,620
High
$8,343
Low
$2,763
Typical
$5,360
High
$7,958
Low
$3,012
Typical
$5,844
High
$8,675
Low
$2,923
Typical
$5,671
High
$8,419
Low
$2,784
Typical
$5,400
High
$8,017
Cost Comparison — Child Support Order
Low
$762
Typical
$1,426
High
$2,091
Low
$789
Typical
$1,477
High
$2,166
Low
$702
Typical
$1,314
High
$1,926
Low
$695
Typical
$1,301
High
$1,907
Low
$707
Typical
$1,323
High
$1,939
Low
$706
Typical
$1,322
High
$1,938
Low
$674
Typical
$1,261
High
$1,848
Low
$734
Typical
$1,375
High
$2,015
Low
$713
Typical
$1,334
High
$1,955
Low
$679
Typical
$1,271
High
$1,862
Cost Comparison — Landlord-Tenant Dispute
Low
$513
Typical
$1,356
High
$2,200
Low
$531
Typical
$1,405
High
$2,279
Low
$472
Typical
$1,250
High
$2,027
Low
$468
Typical
$1,237
High
$2,007
Low
$475
Typical
$1,258
High
$2,040
Low
$475
Typical
$1,257
High
$2,039
Low
$453
Typical
$1,199
High
$1,945
Low
$494
Typical
$1,307
High
$2,121
Low
$479
Typical
$1,269
High
$2,058
Low
$457
Typical
$1,208
High
$1,960
Cost Comparison — Simple Will Drafting
Low
$360
Typical
$686
High
$1,013
Low
$373
Typical
$711
High
$1,049
Low
$332
Typical
$632
High
$933
Low
$328
Typical
$626
High
$924
Low
$334
Typical
$636
High
$939
Low
$334
Typical
$636
High
$939
Low
$318
Typical
$607
High
$895
Low
$347
Typical
$661
High
$976
Low
$337
Typical
$642
High
$947
Low
$321
Typical
$611
High
$902
Cost Comparison — Revocable Living Trust
Low
$1,263
Typical
$2,225
High
$3,188
Low
$1,308
Typical
$2,305
High
$3,302
Low
$1,163
Typical
$2,050
High
$2,937
Low
$1,152
Typical
$2,030
High
$2,908
Low
$1,171
Typical
$2,063
High
$2,956
Low
$1,170
Typical
$2,063
High
$2,955
Low
$1,116
Typical
$1,967
High
$2,818
Low
$1,217
Typical
$2,145
High
$3,072
Low
$1,181
Typical
$2,081
High
$2,982
Low
$1,125
Typical
$1,982
High
$2,839
Cost Comparison — Probate Filing
Low
$1,975
Typical
$4,769
High
$7,563
Low
$2,046
Typical
$4,940
High
$7,834
Low
$1,820
Typical
$4,394
High
$6,969
Low
$1,802
Typical
$4,351
High
$6,899
Low
$1,832
Typical
$4,423
High
$7,013
Low
$1,831
Typical
$4,421
High
$7,010
Low
$1,746
Typical
$4,217
High
$6,687
Low
$1,904
Typical
$4,597
High
$7,289
Low
$1,847
Typical
$4,461
High
$7,074
Low
$1,759
Typical
$4,248
High
$6,737
Cost Comparison — Green Card Application
Low
$1,675
Typical
$2,944
High
$4,213
Low
$1,735
Typical
$3,049
High
$4,364
Low
$1,544
Typical
$2,713
High
$3,882
Low
$1,528
Typical
$2,686
High
$3,843
Low
$1,553
Typical
$2,730
High
$3,907
Low
$1,553
Typical
$2,729
High
$3,905
Low
$1,481
Typical
$2,603
High
$3,725
Low
$1,615
Typical
$2,837
High
$4,060
Low
$1,567
Typical
$2,754
High
$3,940
Low
$1,492
Typical
$2,622
High
$3,753
Cost Comparison — Citizenship & Naturalization
Low
$863
Typical
$1,481
High
$2,100
Low
$893
Typical
$1,534
High
$2,175
Low
$795
Typical
$1,365
High
$1,935
Low
$787
Typical
$1,351
High
$1,916
Low
$800
Typical
$1,374
High
$1,948
Low
$800
Typical
$1,373
High
$1,947
Low
$763
Typical
$1,310
High
$1,857
Low
$831
Typical
$1,428
High
$2,024
Low
$807
Typical
$1,386
High
$1,964
Low
$768
Typical
$1,320
High
$1,871
Cost Comparison — Prenuptial Agreement
Low
$938
Typical
$2,306
High
$3,675
Low
$971
Typical
$2,389
High
$3,807
Low
$864
Typical
$2,125
High
$3,387
Low
$855
Typical
$2,104
High
$3,353
Low
$869
Typical
$2,139
High
$3,408
Low
$869
Typical
$2,138
High
$3,407
Low
$829
Typical
$2,039
High
$3,249
Low
$904
Typical
$2,223
High
$3,542
Low
$877
Typical
$2,157
High
$3,438
Low
$835
Typical
$2,054
High
$3,274
Cost Comparison — DUI/DWI Defense
Low
$863
Typical
$2,538
High
$4,213
Low
$893
Typical
$2,629
High
$4,364
Low
$795
Typical
$2,338
High
$3,882
Low
$787
Typical
$2,315
High
$3,843
Low
$800
Typical
$2,353
High
$3,907
Low
$800
Typical
$2,352
High
$3,905
Low
$763
Typical
$2,244
High
$3,725
Low
$831
Typical
$2,446
High
$4,060
Low
$807
Typical
$2,374
High
$3,940
Low
$768
Typical
$2,260
High
$3,753
Cost Comparison — Misdemeanor Defense
Low
$2,063
Typical
$9,313
High
$16,563
Low
$2,137
Typical
$9,647
High
$17,157
Low
$1,901
Typical
$8,581
High
$15,262
Low
$1,882
Typical
$8,496
High
$15,110
Low
$1,913
Typical
$8,636
High
$15,360
Low
$1,912
Typical
$8,633
High
$15,353
Low
$1,824
Typical
$8,234
High
$14,645
Low
$1,988
Typical
$8,976
High
$15,965
Low
$1,929
Typical
$8,711
High
$15,493
Low
$1,837
Typical
$8,296
High
$14,754
Cost Comparison — Felony Defense
Low
$6,125
Typical
$17,438
High
$28,750
Low
$6,345
Typical
$18,064
High
$29,782
Low
$5,644
Typical
$16,069
High
$26,493
Low
$5,588
Typical
$15,908
High
$26,229
Low
$5,680
Typical
$16,172
High
$26,663
Low
$5,678
Typical
$16,165
High
$26,651
Low
$5,416
Typical
$15,418
High
$25,421
Low
$5,904
Typical
$16,808
High
$27,712
Low
$5,729
Typical
$16,311
High
$26,893
Low
$5,456
Typical
$15,533
High
$25,611
Cost Comparison — Criminal Record Expungement
Low
$850
Typical
$1,894
High
$2,938
Low
$881
Typical
$1,962
High
$3,043
Low
$783
Typical
$1,745
High
$2,707
Low
$775
Typical
$1,728
High
$2,680
Low
$788
Typical
$1,756
High
$2,724
Low
$788
Typical
$1,756
High
$2,723
Low
$752
Typical
$1,674
High
$2,597
Low
$819
Typical
$1,825
High
$2,831
Low
$795
Typical
$1,771
High
$2,748
Low
$757
Typical
$1,687
High
$2,617
Cost Comparison — Deportation Defense
Low
$3,300
Typical
$8,225
High
$13,150
Low
$3,418
Typical
$8,520
High
$13,622
Low
$3,041
Typical
$7,579
High
$12,118
Low
$3,011
Typical
$7,504
High
$11,997
Low
$3,060
Typical
$7,628
High
$12,195
Low
$3,059
Typical
$7,625
High
$12,190
Low
$2,918
Typical
$7,273
High
$11,627
Low
$3,181
Typical
$7,928
High
$12,675
Low
$3,087
Typical
$7,694
High
$12,301
Low
$2,940
Typical
$7,327
High
$11,714
Cost Comparison — Asylum Application
Low
$2,488
Typical
$4,569
High
$6,650
Low
$2,577
Typical
$4,733
High
$6,889
Low
$2,292
Typical
$4,210
High
$6,128
Low
$2,269
Typical
$4,168
High
$6,067
Low
$2,307
Typical
$4,237
High
$6,167
Low
$2,306
Typical
$4,235
High
$6,165
Low
$2,199
Typical
$4,040
High
$5,880
Low
$2,398
Typical
$4,404
High
$6,410
Low
$2,327
Typical
$4,274
High
$6,220
Low
$2,216
Typical
$4,070
High
$5,924
Cost Comparison — Estate Administration
Low
$2,025
Typical
$4,713
High
$7,400
Low
$2,098
Typical
$4,882
High
$7,666
Low
$1,866
Typical
$4,343
High
$6,819
Low
$1,847
Typical
$4,299
High
$6,751
Low
$1,878
Typical
$4,370
High
$6,863
Low
$1,877
Typical
$4,368
High
$6,860
Low
$1,791
Typical
$4,167
High
$6,543
Low
$1,952
Typical
$4,542
High
$7,133
Low
$1,894
Typical
$4,408
High
$6,922
Low
$1,804
Typical
$4,198
High
$6,592
Cost Comparison — Work Visa Application
Low
$1,350
Typical
$2,375
High
$3,400
Low
$1,398
Typical
$2,460
High
$3,522
Low
$1,244
Typical
$2,189
High
$3,133
Low
$1,232
Typical
$2,167
High
$3,102
Low
$1,252
Typical
$2,203
High
$3,153
Low
$1,251
Typical
$2,202
High
$3,152
Low
$1,194
Typical
$2,100
High
$3,006
Low
$1,301
Typical
$2,289
High
$3,277
Low
$1,263
Typical
$2,222
High
$3,180
Low
$1,203
Typical
$2,116
High
$3,029
Browse Legal Services Costs by City in Illinois
Select a city to see local pricing adjusted for cost of living.
All Legal Services Services
legal-services
Contested Divorce
Legal representation in a divorce where spouses disagree on one or more issues requiring court intervention or negotiation. Billed hourly with costs escalating based on number of disputed issues, discovery, depositions, and trial time required.
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Child Custody Agreement
Drafting and filing of a formal parenting plan establishing legal and physical custody arrangements, visitation schedules, and decision-making authority. Can be completed as a standalone agreement or as part of divorce proceedings.
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Child Support Order
Legal process to establish, modify, or enforce a court order for child financial support. Calculation is based on state-specific guidelines factoring in parental income, custody time, and child expenses. Attorney fees vary by whether the matter is contested.
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Prenuptial Agreement
Drafting of a legally binding prenuptial agreement defining each spouse's property rights and financial obligations in the event of divorce or death. Each party should have independent legal counsel for enforceability. Complexity and assets involved drive cost.
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DUI/DWI Defense
Legal defense for driving under the influence charges including DMV hearing representation, motion to suppress evidence, negotiation for reduced charges, and trial defense if necessary. First offense vs. repeat offense and BAC level significantly affect strategy and cost.
legal-services
Misdemeanor Defense
Legal representation for misdemeanor criminal charges including disorderly conduct, petty theft, simple assault, or minor drug possession. Many cases are resolved through plea negotiations or diversion programs. Flat fees are common for straightforward misdemeanors.
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Felony Defense
Legal representation for serious felony charges including drug offenses, assault, theft, fraud, or violent crimes. Requires extensive investigation, discovery review, expert witnesses, and potentially jury trial. Hourly billing with substantial retainers is standard.
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Criminal Record Expungement
Legal process to have an eligible criminal conviction or arrest record sealed or expunged from public view. Eligibility requirements vary by state based on offense type, sentence completed, and time elapsed. Improves employment, housing, and licensing opportunities.
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Landlord-Tenant Dispute
Legal assistance for landlords or tenants in disputes over lease violations, security deposit disputes, habitability issues, illegal lockouts, or eviction proceedings. Local housing laws vary significantly, making local counsel important.
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Simple Will Drafting
Preparation of a basic last will and testament naming beneficiaries, executor, and guardian for minor children. A simple will is appropriate for straightforward estates. Must be properly executed with witnesses and notarization per state law to be valid.
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Revocable Living Trust
Drafting of a revocable living trust to hold assets during the grantor's lifetime and transfer them to beneficiaries outside of probate. Includes pour-over will and asset retitling guidance. Significantly reduces estate settlement time and costs for heirs.
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Probate Filing
Legal assistance initiating probate proceedings to validate a deceased person's will and authorize the executor to administer the estate. Includes court filings, creditor notification, and asset inventory. Probate timelines and costs vary by state.
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Estate Administration
Full legal representation of an executor or administrator through the entire estate settlement process including probate, asset marshaling, debt payment, tax filings, and distribution to beneficiaries. Typically billed as a percentage of estate value or hourly.
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Green Card Application
Legal assistance with permanent residency application through family sponsorship, employment, asylum, or diversity lottery. Includes I-485 adjustment of status or consular processing, supporting documents, and USCIS interview preparation. Multi-year timeline is common.
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Citizenship & Naturalization
Legal assistance with the N-400 naturalization application for eligible permanent residents seeking U.S. citizenship. Includes eligibility assessment, form preparation, biometrics, civics test preparation, and USCIS interview coaching.
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Work Visa Application
Legal assistance obtaining temporary work authorization including H-1B, L-1, O-1, TN, or E-3 visas. Requires employer sponsorship for most categories. Annual H-1B cap and lottery add complexity and cost. Attorney fees cover petition drafting and USCIS filing.
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Deportation Defense
Legal representation in immigration court removal proceedings including bond hearings, cancellation of removal applications, asylum claims, and appeals. One of the most complex immigration matters due to high stakes and procedural complexity.
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Asylum Application
Legal assistance with affirmative or defensive asylum applications for individuals fleeing persecution based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or social group membership. Strong personal statement and corroborating evidence are critical to approval.