A consolidated district may be formed upon petition signed by 50 or more of the legal voters resident within the limits of each of the districts proposed to be consolidated. The petition shall be filed in the circuit court for the county in which the greater part of the land in the proposed consolidated district will be situated. The petition shall set forth (a) the names proposed to be merged, (b) the name of the proposed consolidated district and (c) the reasons for the advantages to be derived from such consolidation. The petition shall conclude with a prayer for the merger of the districts into a single consolidated district. Upon its filing, the petition shall be presented to the court which shall fix the date and hour for hearing.
70 ILCS 705/14.02