Key takeaways:
- Dixon divorces are filed in Lee County Circuit Court (15th Judicial Circuit), 309 South Galena Avenue.
- Filing costs $306, plus $181 for the other spouse’s appearance (schedule effective October 1, 2025). Fee waivers exist.
- Parents of minor children must complete an approved parenting class before the final order (Rule 8.2).
- Free self-help is available at the courthouse and the Dixon Public Library.
- Check any lawyer on ARDC. Illinois bars non-refundable divorce retainers.
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.
A Dixon divorce is handled at the Lee County Courts Building. This guide covers what is specific to Lee County: where to file, what it costs, the 15th Circuit rules a judge will expect you to follow, where to find free help, and how to vet a divorce lawyer before you pay a retainer. We do not rank or recommend individual attorneys.
Contents
- Which court handles a Dixon divorce
- Filing fees in Lee County
- 15th Circuit rules for family cases
- Free and low-cost help near Dixon
- How to choose a divorce lawyer
- Illinois rules in brief
- The uncontested option
- FAQ
Which court handles a Dixon divorce
Dixon is the county seat of Lee County, so there is no question of which courthouse to use. Divorces (called dissolution of marriage in Illinois) are filed in the Circuit Court of Lee County, which belongs to the 15th Judicial Circuit along with Carroll, Jo Daviess, Ogle and Stephenson counties (705 ILCS 35/1).
Lee County Courts Building
309 South Galena Avenue, Dixon, IL 61021
Court phone: (815) 288-3309
Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
15th Judicial Circuit
Lee County Circuit Clerk
Suite 320, third floor
Phone: (815) 284-5234
Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except holidays
Circuit Clerk website
Inside the building, the e-filing kiosk is in the resource room on the third floor and the law library is on the fourth floor. Free parking is next to the building, and interpreters are provided as needed.
Filing fees in Lee County
Divorces with or without children (case types DC and DN) both fall in Lee County’s Civil Filing Fee Schedule 1.
| Lee County fee (schedule effective 10/1/2025) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Petition for dissolution of marriage, with or without children | $306 |
| Appearance fee for the other spouse | $181 |
Confirm the amounts on the clerk’s current fee schedule (PDF) before you file, since other counties in the circuit revised their schedules in 2026.
If you cannot afford the fees, file the statewide Application for Waiver of Court Fees with your petition. You usually qualify for a full waiver if you receive SNAP, SSI, TANF, AABD or General Assistance, or if household income is at or below 125% of the federal poverty level. Between 125% and 200%, a partial waiver of 25%, 50% or 75% may apply.
15th Circuit rules for family cases
The 15th Circuit local rules contain a full part on dissolution and family cases. The points most likely to affect a Dixon case:
- Financial affidavit (Rule 8.1): when property, maintenance, child support or college expenses are disputed, each side files the statewide financial affidavit at least five days before the hearing. If property division is disputed, you also submit a statement listing marital and non-marital property, proposed values and a proposed split.
- Parenting education (Rule 8.2): with a minor child, each parent must attend an approved program and file proof before any prove-up or final order. A certificate from an earlier approved program counts. The circuit’s approved program list includes several online and Zoom options and Sinnissippi Centers. The list does not publish prices, so ask each provider.
- Settlement conference (Rule 8.3): the judge can order both spouses and their attorneys to meet and negotiate in good faith before trial.
- Mediation (Rule 8.5): contested parenting cases can be sent to mediation. The circuit posts a list of family law mediators.
- E-filing (Rule 2.2): civil cases, including divorces, must be filed electronically. If you have no computer, use the third-floor kiosk.
- Remote hearings (Rule 4.4): all courts in the circuit use Zoom. Links for the Lee County judges are on the county’s virtual courtroom page. If you are not automatically allowed to appear remotely, you must ask by written motion.
When a child’s safety cannot wait for the regular schedule, our guide to emergency custody orders in Illinois explains the faster route.
Free and low-cost help near Dixon
- Lee County Legal Self-Help Center: listed by Illinois Legal Aid Online at two Dixon sites: the Courts Building, Suite 320, (815) 284-5234, and the Dixon Public Library, 221 South Hennepin Avenue, (815) 284-7261. Both offer computers, court forms, legal information and referrals.
- Prairie State Legal Services: Lee County is served by the Moline office, 1515 5th Avenue, Suite 200, Moline, (309) 794-1328 or toll free (800) 322-9804. It provides free civil legal help to eligible residents, generally with household income under 125% of the poverty level (up to 200% with certain expenses). It has a Domestic Violence Line at (844) 388-7757.
- Illinois Legal Aid Online: plain-language guides and interview programs that fill in the statewide divorce forms.
- Illinois Lawyer Finder: the Illinois State Bar Association’s referral service, (800) 922-8757. We could not find an official Lee County bar referral service.
Illinois Supreme Court Rule 13 also lets a lawyer handle just part of a case (limited scope help).
How to choose a divorce lawyer
A lawyer is optional, but children, a house, a pension, a business or abuse are good reasons to get advice.
- Check the license. Search the lawyer’s name on the Illinois ARDC site to confirm active status and any public discipline.
- Ask about Lee County experience. How often do they appear before the judges in the Dixon courthouse, and what share of their work is family law?
- Bring specific questions. What outcome is realistic for me? Should we try mediation first? Who will handle my file day to day? How fast do you return calls?
- Understand the fee model. Many divorce lawyers bill hourly against a retainer, an advance deposit they draw down as they work. Some offer flat fees for defined tasks, such as an uncontested case or a document review. Ask what is included and what triggers extra charges.
- Read the engagement agreement. In Illinois it must include the Statement of Client’s Rights and Responsibilities from 750 ILCS 5/508(f).
Your rights under 508(f): the statement says the counsel “may not require a non-refundable retainer fee, but must remit back any overpayment at the end of the representation.” It also requires itemized bills at least quarterly, bars fees contingent on obtaining the divorce or based on the support or property you receive (except as Supreme Court rules allow), requires court approval before your assets are pledged to secure fees, and says counsel “cannot guarantee results.”
Illinois rules in brief
- Residency: one spouse must have lived in Illinois, or been stationed here in the military, for 90 days (750 ILCS 5/401).
- No-fault only: the sole ground is irreconcilable differences. Six months of living apart creates an irrebuttable presumption that this is met.
- Child support: Illinois uses an income shares formula. Try our child support calculator or read the Illinois child support guide.
- Maintenance: see the Illinois alimony calculator.
- If you were served: you generally have 30 days to file your appearance. Our served with divorce papers guide walks through it.
Stephenson County readers can use our Freeport guide, which follows the same circuit rules.
The uncontested option
Couples who agree on everything and meet every condition of 750 ILCS 5/452 can file a joint petition for simplified dissolution. The conditions include: 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 worth less than $10,000 combined; both spouses waive maintenance; marital property worth less than $50,000 after debts; combined gross income under $60,000, with neither spouse over $30,000; full disclosure of assets, debts and tax returns; and signed written agreements dividing property over $100, allocating debts, and covering any companion animals. Under 750 ILCS 5/453, you use forms provided by the circuit clerk and both spouses must appear in person.
FAQ
Where do I file for divorce in Dixon, Illinois?
With the Lee County Circuit Clerk, Suite 320 on the third floor of the Lee County Courts Building, 309 South Galena Avenue, Dixon. Civil cases must be e-filed, and there is a public e-filing kiosk in the third-floor resource room.
How much does it cost to file for divorce in Lee County?
Under the schedule effective October 1, 2025, the petition costs $306 and the other spouse’s appearance costs $181. You can ask the court to waive fees with the Application for Waiver of Court Fees. Attorney fees are separate.
Do both parents have to take a parenting class in Lee County?
Yes. 15th Circuit Rule 8.2 requires each parent of a minor child to attend an approved parenting education program and provide proof before any prove-up or final order, unless the court waives it for good cause.
Can I attend a Lee County divorce hearing by Zoom?
Often, yes. The 15th Circuit uses Zoom, with Lee County judges’ links on the county website. If remote appearance is not automatically allowed, you must ask by written motion.
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: Lee County Courthouse; Lee County Circuit Clerk; Lee County fee schedule effective 10/1/2025; 15th Judicial Circuit local rules; 15th Circuit approved parenting programs; Illinois Legal Aid Online: Lee County; Prairie State Legal Services offices; ISBA: Illinois Lawyer Finder; Illinois Legal Aid Online: fee waivers.
