Hancock County Divorce Cases
If you are filing for divorce (legally called dissolution of marriage) in Hancock County, we provide information on approved forms, guided filing tools, required parenting education, and family mediation. While the Circuit Clerk's Office cannot provide legal advice, the resources below are designed to help you understand the process and required steps.
The Supreme Court’s Commission on Access to Justice provides approved statewide forms and instructions for filing a Dissolution of Marriage case in Illinois.
Divorce, Child Support and Maintenance Forms
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All Illinois Courts must accept these forms for divorce, child support, and maintenance.
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Illinois Legal Aid Online (ILAO) provides a guided interview that will ask you a series of questions and then the program will complete the forms for you. It is free to use.
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Odyssey Guide and File also offers a similar guided interview that will ask you a series of questions. The program will complete Divorce forms and help you e-file. It is also free to use.
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Pursuant to 750 ILCS 5/707, a certificate of each dissolution of marriage ordered in Illinois shall be filed with the Illinois Department of Public Health. This form shall be prepared by the person filing the petition for dissolution of marriage and shall be presented to the judge for his/her inspection prior to the entry of the final order. After the judgment of dissolution is granted, the Clerk of the Court completes the remaining entries on the certificate and files it with the Illinois Department of Public Health. This electronic version of the Certificate of Dissolution form provided by the Illinois Department of Public Health should be completed and filed electronically when filing your new divorce case.
Parenting Class
The Judges of Hancock County are dedicated to the welfare of children experiencing divorce. To support families, Parenting Class is mandatory for any parent undergoing a divorce or involved in post-divorce proceedings involving minor children. Attendance is also required for parents in parentage actions when ordered by the Court. However, any interested adult is welcome to participate in the program.
Family Mediation Program
You are required to participate in mediation if you and your child’s other parent are unable to agree on any of the following issues concerning your child:
- Custody Issues
- Visitation Issues
- Removing your child’s residence from the State of Illinois
Mediation is an informal process that allows family members to resolve disputes outside of the formal legal system. Working with a neutral mediator, both parties attempt to negotiate their own mutually acceptable, voluntary settlement. The mediator does not make the decisions; all outcomes are determined by the participants themselves.
Under Illinois law, parents are required to participate in a minimum of three hours of mediation.
