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Whatever the reason for your divorce, most breakups follow the same legal process in Illinois. First, one spouse files the divorce petition, then there is a discovery and negotiation phase. Then, a settlement is entered in the divorce court as a final decree of divorce. Divorces are almost always painful and difficult experiences for married couples. However, divorce can be even more challenging when there is a lot of money involved. There are considerable differences when divorce involves peopl...   Read more ...  

Divorce is a deeply personal event in a person’s life, but divorce cases are still official court proceedings that are subject to procedural requirements and court rules. One important factor is how the process gets started, and divorce cases are initiated by one spouse filing a petition for dissolution of marriage.   The petition submitted to the court states facts to establish that the court has authority over the spouses and their marriage, and it includes the petitioning spouse’s ge...   Read more ...  

Parental decision-making, parenting time, and child support are among the key considerations you expect when addressing Illinois child custody. Taxes are probably not top of mind when working out these details. Illinois uses the term allocation of parental responsibilities to refer to custody, so you are focusing on how co-parents determine the important issues involved with raising the child. However, a key issue that is closely tied to child custody is the residential arrangement, and this is ...   Read more ...  

Many divorced parents will admit that co-parenting and dealing with Illinois child custody issues are among the biggest challenges they face after the case concludes. You can probably guess that positive outcomes are possible with a solid co-parenting arrangement, and a Psychology Today article covers this topic. Children better understand the concepts of conscience and morality and are more likely to develop an easygoing personality, when co-parents work together. Conflicts often lead to higher...   Read more ...  

Divorce can be complicated and emotionally exhausting, so parties understandably want to move through it as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, delays can impact the proceedings, making it feel like your case is mired in the legal process. You should be aware that some are an unavoidable product of the law. Meeting the detailed requirements of the Illinois Dissolution of Marriage Act can take time as the parties address property division, alimony, and issues related to minor children. However, t...   Read more ...  

Emotional factors play a significant role in an Illinois divorce case, but with asset division, ending your marriage is similar to dissolving a business. Though Illinois’ statute on the disposition of property and debts is much more detailed than this short description, the basic principles still apply: Everything acquired by the couple during the marriage is presumed to be subject to equitable distribution. The asset division process starts by classifying marital versus separate property (als...   Read more ...