Key takeaways:
- Belvidere divorces are filed with the Boone County Circuit Clerk at the Boone County Courthouse, 601 North Main Street, part of the 17th Judicial Circuit it shares with Winnebago County.
- The courthouse front entrance is closed during construction. Use the temporary entrance on Webster Street at the back of the building, and expect to appear by Zoom unless the court says otherwise.
- Boone County charges $339 to file a dissolution of marriage and $214 for the other spouse’s appearance (schedule dated September 4, 2026). Fee waivers are available.
- With minor children, expect a required parenting course, and expect disagreements over parenting time to be routed to mediation before any contested hearing.
- Look up any attorney’s license on the ARDC website and insist on a written fee agreement: non-refundable retainers are not allowed in Illinois divorce work.
Last reviewed: October 24, 2026. This article is general information about Illinois law, not legal advice. Laws change and every situation is different, so talk to a licensed attorney in your state about your own case.
Belvidere is the seat of Boone County, so a local divorce most likely runs through the courthouse on North Main Street. That building is under construction, which changes how you get in and how hearings happen. This page covers those details, current fees, the 17th Circuit’s family rules and how to evaluate a divorce lawyer. We do not recommend specific attorneys.
Contents
- The Boone County Courthouse right now
- What filing costs in Boone County
- Boone or Winnebago: which county?
- Circuit rules for families
- Free and low-cost help
- Choosing a divorce lawyer
- Illinois rules to know
- FAQ
The Boone County Courthouse right now
Boone County Courthouse
601 North Main Street, Belvidere, IL 61008
17th Judicial Circuit
Temporary entrance: Webster Street, back of the courthouse
Boone County Circuit Clerk
Phone: (815) 544-0371
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
boonecircuitclerk.us
Construction notice: since December 22, 2025, and until further notice, public areas of the courthouse have limited or no access. The Circuit Clerk states that all parties on cases are required to appear by Zoom unless the court instructs otherwise. Call the Clerk before making a trip.
The Clerk’s virtual court page lists a Zoom meeting ID for each courtroom and notes that the Wednesday divorce calls, held in Courtroom 4, use the Courtroom 3 meeting ID. You join at zoom.us/join, or by phone at (312) 626-6799 if you cannot use video. Courtrooms may move during the renovation, so check the Clerk’s home page before each hearing.
Filings are made electronically through eFileIL, and the Clerk’s site has an e-filing page explaining how to register. Under the circuit’s Local Rule 14.01(c)(2), motions in Boone County family cases can be scheduled by calling the Clerk at (815) 544-0371, and the motion must reach the Clerk by 3:00 p.m. two days before the hearing.
What filing costs in Boone County
| Boone County fee (schedule dated 9/4/2026) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Dissolution of marriage or civil union, with or without children | $339 |
| Legal separation | $339 |
| Appearance, limited scope appearance or answer (the other spouse) | $214 |
| Annual fee for child support accounting through the State Disbursement Unit | $36 |
The schedule is posted on the Clerk’s civil department page; check it before you file, since counties revise fees periodically.
Cannot afford the fees? Ask for a waiver with the Illinois Application for Waiver of Court Fees. People receiving SNAP, SSI, TANF, AABD or General Assistance, or earning no more than 125% of the federal poverty level, can qualify for a full waiver. Between 125% and 200%, the court can waive 25%, 50% or 75% of the fees. A granted waiver can extend to court-ordered mediation and parenting programs too.
Boone or Winnebago: which county?
Under 750 ILCS 5/104, a divorce is filed in the county where either spouse lives. So if you live in Belvidere but your spouse has moved to Rockford or Loves Park, the case could be filed in either Boone or Winnebago County. Both are in the same circuit and follow the same local rules, but fees, courtrooms and logistics differ. See our Rockford divorce guide for the Winnebago side, or the Freeport guide if your spouse lives in Stephenson County.
Circuit rules for families
Because Boone and Winnebago share the 17th Circuit, the same local rules apply in Belvidere:
- Parenting class: the circuit’s divorce guide states that both parents must complete a parenting class and file the certificate with the court. PACT’s 4-hour online Parenting from Two Homes course ($75) is authorized for Boone and Winnebago, and PACT offers it free to Boone County parents who have a court-approved fee waiver. Online Parenting Programs is the other listed provider.
- Mediation first: Local Rule 14.08 sends disputes over parenting to mediation, and contested hearings generally wait until mediation ends, except for temporary relief. A party can ask the court to find the case ineligible, for example where there is domestic violence or intimidation.
- Financial affidavits: each spouse files one before a temporary financial hearing (Rule 14.02). These affidavits are not available for public access.
- Default hearings: if your spouse does not respond, Rule 14.05 requires notice of the default hearing at least 7 and no more than 30 days beforehand.
If a child is in immediate danger, read about emergency custody orders in Illinois.
Free and low-cost help
- Boone County Self-Help Center: inside the law library at the courthouse. The 17th Circuit lists navigator hours of 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday to Friday, at (815) 547-8083 (Illinois Legal Aid Online lists (815) 544-3103). Given the construction limits, call before going. Navigators explain forms and procedure but cannot give legal advice.
- Prairie State Legal Services: Boone County is served by the Rockford office, 303 North Main Street, Suite 600, Rockford, (815) 965-2902 or (800) 892-2985. It provides free civil legal aid to people who qualify.
- Illinois Legal Aid Online: statewide forms and guides at illinoislegalaid.org.
- Finding a private lawyer: the Circuit Clerk’s self-help page points to the ISBA Illinois Lawyer Finder (a phone referral includes a 30-minute consultation for $25 or less) and to the Boone County Bar Association website, which lists member attorneys.
Choosing a divorce lawyer
You can handle an Illinois divorce on your own. When property, children or maintenance are at stake, a family law attorney can explain your options. To make a consultation count:
- Verify first. Search the lawyer on the Illinois ARDC site for license status and any discipline.
- Ask local questions. Do they regularly handle cases in Boone County? How comfortable are they with Zoom hearings and the circuit’s mediation program?
- Compare fee models. Hourly billing against a retainer is common in contested cases. Flat fees are sometimes offered for narrow, defined work. Limited scope representation lets an attorney help with only one task, such as drafting a settlement or attending one hearing.
Read the client’s rights statement. Illinois law (750 ILCS 5/508(f)) requires it to be appended to a written divorce engagement agreement. It says the lawyer may not require a non-refundable retainer and must refund any overpayment, that you get itemized bills at least quarterly, that pledging your assets for fees needs court approval, that your file must be turned over within 30 days if you switch lawyers, and that no lawyer can guarantee results.
Illinois rules to know
- 90-day residency: one of you must satisfy the Illinois residence rule in 750 ILCS 5/401; military presence in the state also counts.
- No-fault only: the ground is irreconcilable differences. Living apart for 6 continuous months creates a presumption that cannot be challenged.
- Child support: for a first figure based on both parents’ incomes, use our child support calculator and read the Illinois child support guide.
- Maintenance: use the Illinois alimony calculator.
- Served with papers? The 30-day response window starts with service. See served with divorce papers in Illinois.
- Joint Simplified Dissolution: a streamlined process (750 ILCS 5/451 to 5/456) for couples with no children together, a marriage of 8 years or less, no real estate, no retirement benefits beyond IRAs under $10,000 combined, a waiver of maintenance, net marital property under $50,000, combined income under $60,000 with neither spouse over $30,000, full disclosure of assets, debts and tax returns, and signed written agreements dividing property and allocating any companion animals. Both spouses must appear in person (Section 453), even though most other Boone hearings are currently on Zoom.
FAQ
Where do I file for divorce in Belvidere, IL?
With the Boone County Circuit Clerk at the Boone County Courthouse, 601 North Main Street, Belvidere, usually by e-filing. During construction, the entrance is on Webster Street at the back of the building.
How much is the divorce filing fee in Boone County?
The Clerk’s schedule dated September 4, 2026 lists $339 to file a dissolution of marriage and $214 for the other spouse’s appearance. You can apply for a fee waiver if you qualify.
Will my Boone County divorce hearing be on Zoom?
Probably. While the courthouse is under construction, the Circuit Clerk says all parties are required to appear by Zoom unless the court instructs otherwise. Meeting IDs are on the Clerk’s virtual court appearances page.
Is there free legal aid for Belvidere residents?
Yes. Prairie State Legal Services’ Rockford office, (815) 965-2902, serves Boone County residents who qualify, and the courthouse Self-Help Center can explain forms and procedures.
Sources: 750 ILCS 5/104; 750 ILCS 5/401; 750 ILCS 5/452; 750 ILCS 5/508; Boone County Circuit Clerk; Boone County civil filing fees, 9/4/2026; Boone County virtual court appearances; Boone County self-help resources; 17th Circuit divorce e-guide; 17th Circuit Local Rules, Part 14; PACT; Prairie State Legal Services offices; Illinois Legal Aid Online: fee waivers.
