Divorce lawyers help divorcing couples split up property and assets as well as jointly held debts. They also assist in determining alimony, child custody, child support payments, and child visitation.

Lawyers can aid in divorces where the separating couple does not agree on the fair distribution of assets and property. Suppose you feel that your rights and property, as well as your ability to maintain a relationship with your children, are not being fairly represented in your divorce. In this case, you may need a divorce attorney.

Legal fees for helping with the divorce can vary significantly depending on the length of the divorce, how complicated the separation is, and several other factors. That said, Consumer Law Group strives to make hiring a divorce attorney affordable, contact us to find out more today.

Getting a divorce in Illinois takes a few steps. While it might seem fairly straightforward, there are a lot of obstacles that can stand in the way of filing for divorce.

Let our divorce attorneys help you through the process which includes:

• Filling out the required paperwork, including a Petition for the Dissolution of Marriage
• Filing all forms with the Circuit Clerk in the county where you plan on obtaining the divorce.
• Preparing for your court date.
• Representing you in court to fight for your desired terms.
• Sending a copy of the Judgment to your ex-spouse.

It’s smart to hire a divorce lawyer quickly if you believe that your spouse will be unwilling to cooperate with the divorce, is lying to you about important matters, or you believe your rights will otherwise not be honored.

There is no waiting period to file for a divorce in Illinois. However, couples are required to have resided within the state for at least 90 days before the divorce. The State of Illinois will also allow you to file a no-fault divorce due to irreconcilable differences. The court, however, cannot sign the Judgment for Dissolution of Marriage until there has been a minimum of a six month separation.

Yes. In Illinois, you may obtain a divorce due to irreconcilable differences, or irretrievable breakdown. You may have to demonstrate this to a judge by explaining how the marriage has broken down, or, you may be able to file for a no-fault divorce after separating for six months or more.

Your divorce is final as of the date the court signs the order. You and your ex-spouse will receive a copy of the order once the judge signs the order.

Legal separation occurs when spouses live separately but remain legally married. Legal separation also involves maintaining separate finances. However, because you are legally still married, you must still indicate as such on legal forms, and you may not yet remarry.

In the state of Illinois, divorce and marriage dissolution are one and the same. The name for the paperwork you file if you are seeking a divorce is Petition for Dissolution of Marriage/Civil Union.

In an annulment, the court finds that a marriage was never valid, and so the marriage is ended and, legally, it is as if it never happened. In a divorce, the marriage is recognized as legal and valid but is formally ended.

For example, if you found out that your spouse was already married at the time of the marriage, or if they were lying about their identity, you may be able to get an annulment instead of a divorce, as the marriage was never valid to begin with.

Technically, yes. However, it is rare that spouses can agree on all the terms of a divorce. Not only that, but it’s beneficial to have a lawyer look over the required paperwork to ensure that everything has been completed correctly. In most cases, you’ll need to hire a lawyer if you want to ensure that your divorce is as smooth as possible and everything is officially resolved.

Divorce is complicated and often involves quite a lot of value at stake. It’s important to gain the best legal representation you can in order to ensure agreeable terms in your divorce. Be sure to ask any legal counsel these questions before committing:

• Are you experienced in marriage law and divorce?
• How often will you be available to speak with me about my case?
• Will others at your firm be working on my case, and when can I meet them?
• How do you plan on billing me? Do you charge an hourly rate?
• What do you estimate the total cost of the divorce will be?
• Will I be allowed to meet or negotiate with my spouse?
• How do you predict a judge will rule on this case?

They may not have exact answers to each question — often, many of the factors that go into a divorce, like total cost, take time to play out — but they may still be able to give you a good idea.