How are divorce papers served in Illinois?

November 17, 2020 Admin

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How are divorce papers served in Illinois?

Illinois law requires that service be by a sheriff. \u201cProcess shall be served by a sheriff\u201d 735 ILCS 5/2-202(a). 99% of divorce lawyers who practice in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois use special process servers. The Illinois statute requires divorce lawyers to motion the court to appoint a special process server.

How long does it take to get served divorce papers in Illinois?

The summons must be served to the other spouse, typically by the sheriff or a professional service. It can take the sheriff’s office up to three weeks to serve your spouse. After this time, the spouse is given 30 days to respond whether the divorce is uncontested or contested.

Where do I go to file divorce papers in Cook County IL?

The clerk’s office will file your paperwork, provide you with a case number, assign a judge to your case, and issue your summons. The filing fees are posted on the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County’s website at www.cookcountyclerkofcourt.org.