Georgia vs Illinois: Legal Cost Comparison (2026)
Full side-by-side breakdown of legal fees in Georgia and Illinois — LLC formation, divorce filing, small claims limits, and notary fees.
LLC Formation Costs: Georgia vs Illinois
| Metric | Georgia | Illinois | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filing Fee | $100 | $150 | Georgia |
| Annual Report | $50 | $75 | Georgia |
| Publication Cost | $0 | $0 | Tie |
| Franchise Tax | $0 | $0 | Tie |
| Est. Year-1 Total | $100 | $150 | Georgia |
Filing Fee
Georgia is cheaper here
Annual Report
Georgia is cheaper here
Publication Cost
It's a tie
Franchise Tax
It's a tie
Est. Year-1 Total
Georgia is cheaper here
Georgia: Georgia's foreign qualification fee ($225) is more than double the domestic formation fee.
Illinois: Illinois processing time can be slow — up to 10 business days for standard filing.
Georgia: Atlanta's business ecosystem makes Georgia attractive for Southeast operations.
Illinois: Chicago access — major market for B2B and professional services.
Ready to Form Your LLC?
Let a trusted formation service handle the paperwork for your chosen state — starting at $39 + state fees.
A local attorney bills $300+/hour for this. LegalZoom does it flat-fee, online.
Small Claims Court: Georgia vs Illinois
| Metric | Georgia | Illinois | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Claim Limit | $15,000 | $10,000 | Georgia |
| Min Filing Fee | $46 | $89 | Georgia |
| Contract SOL | 6 yrs | 5 yrs | Georgia |
Max Claim Limit
Georgia is cheaper here
Min Filing Fee
Georgia is cheaper here
Contract SOL
Georgia is cheaper here
Divorce Filing Costs: Georgia vs Illinois
| Metric | Georgia | Illinois | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filing Fee | $200 | $289 | Georgia |
| Sheriff Service | $50 | $60 | Georgia |
| Children Surcharge | $50 | $0 | Illinois |
Filing Fee
Georgia is cheaper here
Sheriff Service
Georgia is cheaper here
Children Surcharge
Illinois is cheaper here
Notary Fees: Georgia vs Illinois
| Metric | Georgia | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Acknowledgment | $2 | $5 |
| Jurat | $2 | $5 |
| RON Fee | — | $25 |
Acknowledgment
Jurat
RON Fee
Which of These Fits Your Situation?
Self-serve templates and guides, instant download, no attorney needed.
Dealing with more than one? Get My Everything Bundle: $109.99 (save vs. buying separately)