Chicago family law / Fees by service
Self Represented Documents: Divorce Paperwork in Illinois
Self Represented Documents is a flat-fee service for people who handle an uncontested divorce or an initial custody case themselves.
Initial consultations are free for people seeking to hire an attorney. Your fee is confirmed in writing before you engage the firm.
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Initial consultations are free for people seeking to hire an attorney. Representation fees and the scope of work are confirmed separately.
The initial consultation is free for people considering hiring an attorney. This question asks whether you need the legal work itself to be free.
This concerns paid representation, not a charge for the free initial consultation. The fee depends on the work and is confirmed in writing. Choose a timing category only; do not provide amounts, account information or case details.
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Fee structure: Self Represented Documents
Self Represented Documents is for an agreed divorce when you are representing yourself, and for an initial custody case. The package is priced at $399 as a flat fee for the confirmed scope of documents.
| Service level | How it is billed | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Self Represented Documents | Flat fee | $399: covered document preparation, attorney document review and one 60-minute advice call. You handle filing, service and court dates. |
| Attorney representation (separate service) | Attorney-handled uncontested divorce: flat fee. Other full representation: initial payment plus monthly payments. | Quoted after a consultation. Call 312-965-5618 for a quote. |
Limited-scope work is billed as a flat fee for a defined task. Full representation is billed as an initial payment plus monthly payments. Attorney-handled uncontested divorce is an exception: it is billed as a flat fee.
The $399 Self Represented Documents fee is a flat fee for the covered documents and is usually paid up front.
The $399 fee is a flat fee for the covered documents. Court filing fees, service costs and other expenses are separate, are paid by you and are not advanced by the firm. The written agreement confirms the covered documents before you engage the firm.
Divorce paperwork help for people who represent themselves
Self Represented Documents is for Illinois divorce paperwork when you are representing yourself. It fits people in Cook, DuPage, Lake or Will County who want prepared divorce papers without hiring a lawyer to appear for them. The firm works only for you as its client, not for your spouse or the other parent. The parties agree on the terms, and the firm prepares the covered documents for you to file.
People often start with blank court forms, then want attorney help with the paperwork. This service gives you prepared documents, attorney review and an advice call, while you keep control of the filing and the court steps. The same package covers an initial custody case. If your case is disputed or you want an attorney in court, ask about limited-scope help or full representation instead.
What the package covers and what you handle
The package is confirmed in writing. Filing, service and court dates stay with you.
Included in the flat fee
- Preparation of the covered documents for an uncontested divorce, with or without children, or for an initial custody case
- Attorney review of the documents before you use them
- One sixty-minute advice call
- A written description of the documents the firm will prepare, confirmed before you engage the firm
You handle (not included)
- Filing the documents with the clerk
- Arranging service on your spouse, or having your spouse file an appearance
- Attending any court date the court sets
- Following up on deadlines after the documents are prepared
Not included in the package
- Court filing fees, service costs, parenting class fees and transcript costs
- An attorney appearing for you at any court date
- Negotiation, mediation, discovery or contested hearings
- Emergency or protection matters, changes to an existing order, and other kinds of matters, which need a scope review first
Factors that move the total
The same case label can involve very different work. These factors shape the scope we quote.
Your type of matter
The package is for an uncontested divorce, with or without children, or an initial custody case. A different kind of matter needs a scope review before any package or price is confirmed.
Agreement between spouses
The service assumes the terms are agreed. If terms are disputed, paperwork alone may not fit, and the firm can discuss limited-scope help or representation instead.
Records and information you provide
Documents are prepared from the information and records you give the firm. Complete, accurate information makes preparation more straightforward.
Help beyond the documents
An attorney appearing in court, or handling filing and service for you, is a separate service with its own agreed scope. Limited-scope tasks are flat fees. Attorney-handled uncontested divorce is also a flat fee, quoted after a consultation. Other full representation is an initial payment plus monthly payments.
Court and third-party costs
Filing fees, service costs, parenting class fees and transcript costs are paid separately to the court or provider. Check the clerk's current fee schedule for the court that will hear your case.
Bring these to your consultation
- Any divorce or custody papers already prepared, filed or received
- A list of the documents you think you need
- The terms you and your spouse agree on
- Family and financial information for the documents
- Court notices and any known deadlines
Self Represented Documents fees
Frequently asked questions
Pricing and process questions, answered in general terms.
What is Self Represented Documents?
It is a flat-fee service for people who represent themselves, sometimes called pro se. For $399, the firm prepares the covered divorce or initial custody documents, an attorney reviews them, and you have one sixty-minute advice call. It is document help, not representation.
Can I use it for divorce papers without a lawyer in Illinois?
The package is built for people who handle the court steps themselves. You file, arrange service and attend court dates, and no attorney from the firm appears with you. Call 312-965-5618 to confirm the documents for your situation.
How is this different from do it yourself divorce forms?
Blank court forms leave the preparation to you. With this package, the firm prepares the covered documents from your information, an attorney reviews them, and you have an advice call. It does not include filing, service or court appearances.
What costs are not included in the flat fee?
Court filing fees, service costs, parenting class fees and transcript costs are separate and are paid to the court or provider. Check the clerk's current fee schedule for the court that will hear your case.
How is the fee paid, and what if I need more help?
The $399 fee is usually paid up front. If you later want an attorney to appear for you, that is a separate engagement: an attorney-handled uncontested divorce is a flat fee quoted after a consultation, limited-scope tasks are flat fees, and other full representation is an initial payment plus monthly payments.