Illinois vs Nevada: Legal Cost Comparison (2026)
Full side-by-side breakdown of legal fees in Illinois and Nevada — LLC formation, divorce filing, small claims limits, and notary fees.
LLC Formation Costs: Illinois vs Nevada
| Metric | Illinois | Nevada | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filing Fee | $150 | $425 | Illinois |
| Annual Report | $75 | $350 | Illinois |
| Publication Cost | $0 | $0 | Tie |
| Franchise Tax | $0 | $200 | Illinois |
| Est. Year-1 Total | $150 | $625 | Illinois |
Filing Fee
Illinois is cheaper here
Annual Report
Illinois is cheaper here
Publication Cost
It's a tie
Franchise Tax
Illinois is cheaper here
Est. Year-1 Total
Illinois is cheaper here
Illinois: Illinois processing time can be slow — up to 10 business days for standard filing.
Nevada: Nevada's $350 in annual fees makes it expensive to maintain despite popular belief that it's cheap. Initial filing is $425 total.
Illinois: Chicago access — major market for B2B and professional services.
Nevada: No state corporate income tax, no personal income tax, strong privacy protections.
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Small Claims Court: Illinois vs Nevada
| Metric | Illinois | Nevada | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Claim Limit | $10,000 | $10,000 | Tie |
| Min Filing Fee | $89 | $66 | Nevada |
| Contract SOL | 5 yrs | 6 yrs | Nevada |
Max Claim Limit
It's a tie
Min Filing Fee
Nevada is cheaper here
Contract SOL
Nevada is cheaper here
Divorce Filing Costs: Illinois vs Nevada
| Metric | Illinois | Nevada | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filing Fee | $289 | $299 | Illinois |
| Sheriff Service | $60 | $35 | Nevada |
| Children Surcharge | $0 | $0 | Tie |
Filing Fee
Illinois is cheaper here
Sheriff Service
Nevada is cheaper here
Children Surcharge
It's a tie
Notary Fees: Illinois vs Nevada
| Metric | Illinois | Nevada |
|---|---|---|
| Acknowledgment | $5 | $15 |
| Jurat | $5 | $15 |
| RON Fee | $25 | $25 |
Acknowledgment
Jurat
RON Fee
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