Alimony in Chicago: how it is calculated
Alimony in Chicago follows Illinois law, not a local rule — the same statute applies whether the case is filed in Cook County or anywhere else in the state. Here is what that formula produces, and where a Chicago case is actually heard.
Where a Chicago case goes
A divorce filed in Chicago is heard by the Illinois court for Cook County. The judge applies the state statute below; the county sets the filing procedure, not the amount. Chicago has about 2,721,308 residents (Census Bureau, 2024 estimate).
Open the full Illinois alimony calculator → — same formula, with every input, the statute (750 ILCS 5/504(b-1)) and the date it was last checked.
Formula
33⅓% payer − 25% recipient (net)
Type
Post-divorce maintenance (statutory formula)
Does Chicago have its own rule?
No. 750 ILCS 5/504(b-1) applies across Illinois, so a case from Chicago is decided by the same numbers as one filed anywhere else in the state. What changes locally is the courthouse, the clerk's procedure and how long the docket takes — not the amount.
What the statute says
750 ILCS 5/504(b-1) — Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act, Section 504.
Last checked 2026-08-27. Read the source →
Also for Chicago
Other Illinois cities
Aurora · Naperville · Joliet · Rockford · Elgin · Springfield · Peoria · Champaign · Waukegan · Cicero · Bloomington · Schaumburg
Everything StateTally tracks for Illinois → · Alimony in every city →