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Here's the full breakdown for Illinois:
Our document preparation fee: $349 for one child, $99 for each additional child.
Court and related costs to budget for Illinois:
- Filing fees: $200-$500
- Service of process: ~$50 (usually via sheriff's office)
- Background check: $50–$100 (results in 3–4 weeks)
Total typical cost with us: Under $565
Compare to hiring an attorney: $3,000-$5,000+
You save an average of $4,600+ by using our professional document preparation service instead of hiring an attorney. Our forms carry a 100% court acceptance guarantee.
Most families in Illinois find the total cost is well under $1,000 — a fraction of what an attorney would charge. And our 100% court acceptance guarantee means you can file with confidence.
Stepparent adoption in Illinois at a glance
- Court
- Circuit Court
- Residency before filing
- No residency period for a stepparent adoption (the 6-month rule does not apply to a related child)
- Typical timeline
- 3-6 months
- Court filing fee
- $200-$500
- Child must consent at age
- 14
- Home study
- Usually waived for stepparents
- Illinois families we've helped
- 1,101
Adoption document specialists · 25+ years of experience · 34,000+ families helped.
Page layout updated . Individual answers have different research histories. This is general information; court requirements and individual circumstances can differ. Document preparation service, not a law firm.
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