Illinois vs Pennsylvania: Legal Cost Comparison (2026)
Full side-by-side breakdown of legal fees in Illinois and Pennsylvania — LLC formation, divorce filing, small claims limits, and notary fees.
LLC Formation Costs: Illinois vs Pennsylvania
| Metric | Illinois | Pennsylvania | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filing Fee | $150 | $125 | Pennsylvania |
| Annual Report | $75 | $70 | Pennsylvania |
| Publication Cost | $0 | $0 | Tie |
| Franchise Tax | $0 | $0 | Tie |
| Est. Year-1 Total | $150 | $125 | Pennsylvania |
Filing Fee
Pennsylvania is cheaper here
Annual Report
Pennsylvania is cheaper here
Publication Cost
It's a tie
Franchise Tax
It's a tie
Est. Year-1 Total
Pennsylvania is cheaper here
Illinois: Illinois processing time can be slow — up to 10 business days for standard filing.
Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania recently switched from decennial to annual report requirements — more admin overhead now.
Illinois: Chicago access — major market for B2B and professional services.
Pennsylvania: Philadelphia and Pittsburgh offer strong mid-Atlantic market access.
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Small Claims Court: Illinois vs Pennsylvania
| Metric | Illinois | Pennsylvania | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Claim Limit | $10,000 | $12,000 | Pennsylvania |
| Min Filing Fee | $89 | $68.50 | Pennsylvania |
| Contract SOL | 5 yrs | 4 yrs | Illinois |
Max Claim Limit
Pennsylvania is cheaper here
Min Filing Fee
Pennsylvania is cheaper here
Contract SOL
Illinois is cheaper here
Divorce Filing Costs: Illinois vs Pennsylvania
| Metric | Illinois | Pennsylvania | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filing Fee | $289 | $201 | Pennsylvania |
| Sheriff Service | $60 | $45 | Pennsylvania |
| Children Surcharge | $0 | $0 | Tie |
Filing Fee
Pennsylvania is cheaper here
Sheriff Service
Pennsylvania is cheaper here
Children Surcharge
It's a tie
Notary Fees: Illinois vs Pennsylvania
| Metric | Illinois | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Acknowledgment | $5 | $5 |
| Jurat | $5 | $5 |
| RON Fee | $25 | — |
Acknowledgment
Jurat
RON Fee
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