Illinois vs Texas: Legal Cost Comparison (2026)
Full side-by-side breakdown of legal fees in Illinois and Texas — LLC formation, divorce filing, small claims limits, and notary fees.
LLC Formation Costs: Illinois vs Texas
| Metric | Illinois | Texas | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filing Fee | $150 | $300 | ✓ Illinois |
| Annual Report | $75 | $0 | ✓ Texas |
| Publication Cost | $0 | $0 | Tie |
| Franchise Tax | $0 | $0 | Tie |
| Est. Year-1 Total | $150 | $300 | ✓ Illinois |
Filing Fee
✓ Illinois is cheaper here
Annual Report
✓ Texas is cheaper here
Publication Cost
It's a tie
Franchise Tax
It's a tie
Est. Year-1 Total
✓ Illinois is cheaper here
Illinois: Illinois processing time can be slow — up to 10 business days for standard filing.
Texas: Texas has no annual report fee, but foreign qualification costs $750. The $300 formation fee is offset by zero ongoing costs for most small LLCs.
Illinois: Chicago access — major market for B2B and professional services.
Texas: No state income tax, no annual report fee, massive economy — one of the best states for small businesses.
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Start My LLC Today →Small Claims Court: Illinois vs Texas
| Metric | Illinois | Texas | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Claim Limit | $10,000 | $20,000 | ✓ Texas |
| Min Filing Fee | $56 | $54 | ✓ Texas |
| Contract SOL | 5 yrs | 4 yrs | ✓ Illinois |
Max Claim Limit
✓ Texas is cheaper here
Min Filing Fee
✓ Texas is cheaper here
Contract SOL
✓ Illinois is cheaper here
Divorce Filing Costs: Illinois vs Texas
| Metric | Illinois | Texas | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filing Fee | $289 | $300 | ✓ Illinois |
| Sheriff Service | $60 | $75 | ✓ Illinois |
| Children Surcharge | $0 | $20 | ✓ Illinois |
Filing Fee
✓ Illinois is cheaper here
Sheriff Service
✓ Illinois is cheaper here
Children Surcharge
✓ Illinois is cheaper here
Notary Fees: Illinois vs Texas
| Metric | Illinois | Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Acknowledgment | $5 | $10 |
| Jurat | $5 | $10 |
| RON Fee | $25 | $25 |
Acknowledgment
Jurat
RON Fee