In an amicable divorce, the couple works together to resolve issues such as property division, child custody, parenting time, and financial support in a fair and reasonable manner.

A contested divorce in Illinois can take several months to a year or more, depending on the complexity of the case.

A divorce settlement agreement outlines how divorcing parties plan to manage issues such as child custody, property, assets, debts, health care, and income tax. That said, each divorce case is unique and answers the question, “what is a divorce settlement agreement?”

Knowing how orders of protection work with married couples can be lifesaving in a dangerous situation. If there is any abuse or a threat of abuse between married couples, one spouse could request an order of protection that keeps him or her safe from the other spouse.

Divorcing couples may wonder, “what is reasonable spousal maintenance?” Whether spousal maintenance is reasonable depends on information such as the parties' backgrounds, each spouse's finances, the acquisition of wealth before or during the marriage, and the duration of the marriage. 

How much does an uncontested divorce cost in Illinois? An uncontested divorce can be an amicable way to end a marriage and generally costs much less than a contested divorce.

If your spouse won’t sign divorce papers in Illinois, the dissolution of your marriage is still possible. If time, space, and/or mediation efforts are ineffective, your divorce lawyer will explain your legal options and help you proceed with a default judgment for the dissolution of your marriage. 

An uncontested divorce happens when a couple reaches a mutual agreement regarding all the divorce terms before trial. A contested divorce occurs when the couple fails to agree on one or more major issues and will depend on the court to make the final decision.

To begin the divorce process (also called dissolution of marriage) in Illinois, one or both spouses need to file a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage. The Petition for Dissolution of Marriage tells the court information about the spouses, the marriage, the children, if any, the assets owned by the parties, the grounds for divorce, and other matters required by law to be included.

In Illinois, under certain conditions, personal injury settlements are considered part of the marital property and therefore may be subject to asset division during a divorce proceeding. Certain items, like gifts or inheritances, are not considered marital property.

Recreational marijuana is now legal in Illinois. This can impact Illinois divorce cases if one spouse is a cannabis user, specifically in asset distribution and child custody. Because it is legal in Illinois, recreational cannabis use will have little effect on most divorce cases.

Because divorces can take months or even years to finalize, some people end up facing the reality of having their spouse die before the divorce is final, and this creates complications that must be addressed.

Couples who attempt to dissolve their marriages without divorce lawyers often make crucial mistakes in their settlement agreements. These errors can result in financial hardship and child custody disputes.