In Illinois, certain steps need to be completed to get a divorce:

1)  Petition for Dissolution of Marriage must be filed with the court.

2)  A Parenting Order (Allocation of Parental Responsibilities and Parenting Plan) must be agreed upon and filed with the court.

3)  A Marital Settlement Agreement must be agreed upon and filed with the court.

4)  You must appear in front of a judge and be "proved up" and be granted a Judgment for Dissolution of Marriage.