Key takeaways:
- DeKalb divorces are filed in DeKalb County Circuit Court (23rd Judicial Circuit), 133 West State Street, Sycamore.
- The clerk charges $331 for the petition and $206 when the other spouse appears, under a schedule that took effect September 21, 2026. Low-income filers can ask for a fee waiver.
- Parents must finish an approved parent education program by the first case management conference or pay a $50 sanction (Rule 6.65).
- Free self-help: the courthouse center and the DeKalb and Sycamore public libraries.
- Check any lawyer on ARDC and read the client rights statement Illinois requires.
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.
If you live in DeKalb, your divorce will be handled a few miles away in Sycamore, the county seat. If you are starting a divorce in DeKalb, this guide gives you the local details: the court and clerk’s office, current filing fees, the 23rd Circuit’s family court rules, free help in town, and how to evaluate a divorce lawyer. We do not recommend or rank any lawyer or firm.
Contents
- The court that hears DeKalb divorces
- What filing costs in DeKalb County
- 23rd Circuit family court rules
- Free and low-cost help
- How to choose a divorce lawyer
- Illinois rules in brief
- The simplified route for agreed cases
- FAQ
The court that hears DeKalb divorces
Under 705 ILCS 35/1, the 23rd Judicial Circuit is made up of DeKalb and Kendall counties. Every DeKalb County divorce goes through the Circuit Clerk in Sycamore. Under 23rd Circuit Rule 6.10, pre-decree motions, temporary support requests and post-decree matters are heard by the judge assigned to the Family Court call.
DeKalb County Courthouse
133 West State Street, Sycamore, IL 60178
Court phone: (815) 895-7160
Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
23rd Judicial Circuit
DeKalb County Circuit Clerk
Civil and divorce: (815) 895-7131
Email: dekalbcircuitclerk@dekalbcounty.org
Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed court holidays
Circuit Clerk website
All civil documents, divorce papers included, must be filed electronically under Illinois Supreme Court order M.R. 18368. The courthouse provides e-filing kiosks for people without a computer. A Spanish interpreter is on staff Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Parking lots are within two blocks of the courthouse, with metered spaces at the building.
What filing costs in DeKalb County
| DeKalb County fee (effective 9/21/2026) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Dissolution with children (DC) | $331 |
| Dissolution without children (DN) | $331 |
| Appearance by the other spouse | $206 |
The same schedule says a counterclaim in a dissolution case costs the original filing fee minus any appearance fee already paid. Fees change, so confirm on the clerk’s civil case filing fees (PDF) before you file.
The Application for Waiver of Court Fees is the statewide form for anyone who cannot pay. Receiving SNAP, SSI, TANF, AABD or General Assistance, or having income at or below 125% of the federal poverty level, usually means a full waiver. Incomes up to 200% may get a partial waiver.
23rd Circuit family court rules
Article VI of the 23rd Circuit local rules (as approved through December 5, 2024) governs domestic relations cases. Several provisions shape how a DeKalb divorce runs:
- Financial affidavit (Rule 6.25): any request about support or maintenance must be backed by a financial affidavit. It is delivered to the other side with proof of service rather than filed with the first pleading, it goes stale after 60 days unless updated, and before the hearing you attach your four most recent pay stubs.
- Waiting period (Rule 6.30): no family case is heard on the merits before the summons return date, or 30 days after an appearance is filed without a summons, unless both parties waive this in court or in writing.
- Family mediation (Rule 6.60): court-required mediation covers parenting issues such as parental responsibilities, parenting time and relocation. Financial issues go to mediation only if the parties and their attorneys agree. Mediators screen out unsafe cases, for example where there is domestic violence. The clerk posts a DeKalb County mediator list.
- Parent education (Rule 6.65): parents in cases about parental responsibilities, parenting time or relocation must complete an approved program by the initial case management conference and before final judgment. A judge can excuse attendance only on a best-interests finding. Missing the deadline brings a $50 sanction, and the presiding judge in each county sets the program fee.
- Remote hearings: the clerk’s courtroom live stream page lists a Zoom room for each judge. Recording a stream is not allowed without the court’s permission.
If a child is in immediate danger, see our guide to emergency custody orders in Illinois.
Free and low-cost help
- Self-Help Legal Center: first floor of the courthouse, Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed noon to 1 p.m., (815) 899-4540. A JusticeCorps Fellow helps with forms, procedure and e-filing, but not legal advice.
- Library locations: Illinois Legal Aid Online also lists self-help centers at the DeKalb Public Library, 309 Oak Street, (815) 756-9568, and the Sycamore Public Library, 103 East State Street, (815) 895-2500. The court’s law library is inside the Sycamore Public Library, across from the courthouse.
- Prairie State Legal Services: DeKalb County is served by the West Suburban office, 31W001 East North Avenue, Suite 200, West Chicago, (630) 690-2130 or (800) 690-2130. It serves eligible low-income residents and seniors, and runs a Domestic Violence Line at (844) 388-7757.
- Illinois Court Help: call or text (833) 411-1121 for help with court procedures and legal aid referrals. Illinois Legal Aid Online offers form programs for divorce.
- Illinois Lawyer Finder: the county’s resource page lists this state bar service at (800) 922-8757, weekdays 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with a 30-minute consultation for no more than $25. We found no official DeKalb County bar referral service.
How to choose a divorce lawyer
Illinois lets you handle a divorce yourself. Advice from an attorney becomes more valuable when a case involves children, a home, retirement savings, self-employment income or abuse.
- Look the lawyer up. The Illinois ARDC search confirms the license and shows public discipline.
- Ask about the Family Court call. How often do they appear in Sycamore, and how familiar are they with the 23rd Circuit’s parent education and mediation rules?
- Prepare consultation questions. What are the likely outcomes? Is mediation a good fit? What will each stage cost? Who answers my calls?
- Know the fee options. Hourly billing against an advance retainer is the most common model. Flat fees may be offered for limited, clearly defined work. Limited scope representation under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 13 covers just part of a case.
- Insist on the rights statement. 750 ILCS 5/508(f) requires a Statement of Client’s Rights and Responsibilities in each written engagement agreement.
Key protections in that statement: counsel “may not require a non-refundable retainer fee, but must remit back any overpayment at the end of the representation.” You must receive itemized bills at least quarterly and are not billed for time spent explaining or correcting a bill. Pledging your assets to secure fees needs court approval first, and counsel “cannot guarantee results.”
Illinois rules in brief
- Residency: one spouse must have lived in Illinois, or been stationed here, for 90 days (750 ILCS 5/401). If you moved to DeKalb recently, for example to attend Northern Illinois University, count those days before filing.
- Grounds: irreconcilable differences, the only ground. A 6-month separation before judgment makes it irrebuttable.
- Child support: Illinois guideline support is figured from both parents’ net incomes; get an estimate from our child support calculator, then read the Illinois child support guide.
- Maintenance: the statutory formula and duration table are built into our Illinois alimony calculator.
- Served? Your appearance is generally due within 30 days. Read served with divorce papers in Illinois.
The simplified route for agreed cases
A joint petition for simplified dissolution (750 ILCS 5/452) is available only if every condition holds: no children born or adopted during the marriage and no pregnancy; a marriage of 8 years or less; no real estate; no retirement benefits other than IRAs under $10,000 combined; both spouses waive maintenance; marital property under $50,000 after debts; combined gross income below $60,000, with neither above $30,000; full exchange of asset, debt and tax return information; and written agreements dividing assets over $100, debts and any companion animals. Both spouses must appear in person and use forms from the circuit clerk (750 ILCS 5/453).
FAQ
Where do I file for divorce if I live in DeKalb, Illinois?
With the DeKalb County Circuit Clerk at the DeKalb County Courthouse, 133 West State Street, Sycamore. Civil documents must be e-filed, and the courthouse has e-filing kiosks and a first-floor Self-Help Legal Center.
What is the divorce filing fee in DeKalb County?
The Circuit Clerk’s schedule effective September 21, 2026 lists $331 for a dissolution with or without children and $206 for the other spouse’s appearance. You can apply for a fee waiver.
Is a parenting class mandatory in DeKalb County?
Yes, in cases about parental responsibilities, parenting time or relocation. 23rd Circuit Rule 6.65 requires each parent to complete an approved program by the initial case management conference, with a $50 sanction for missing that deadline.
Does DeKalb County require mediation in a divorce?
Court-ordered mediation under Rule 6.60 covers disputes about the children. Financial issues are mediated only if both parties and their attorneys agree, and cases with impediments such as domestic violence can be screened out.
Sources: 705 ILCS 35/1 (judicial circuits); 750 ILCS 5/401; 750 ILCS 5/452; 750 ILCS 5/453; 750 ILCS 5/508; Illinois Courts directory: DeKalb County Courthouse; DeKalb County Circuit Clerk; DeKalb County filing information; DeKalb County civil filing fees; 23rd Circuit local rules, Article VI; DeKalb County Self-Help Legal Center; Self-help resources; Illinois Legal Aid Online: DeKalb County; Prairie State Legal Services offices; Illinois Legal Aid Online: fee waivers.
