Most people who have been through a divorce, which may include issues regarding the division of assets and liabilities, basis for the divorce and the support/visitation of children, will tell you that the process can be long, stressful and costly.…
Recent amendments to the Illinois divorce laws, which went into effect January 1, 2016, aim to simplify and expedite the divorce process. The following are the highlights of the new laws: 1. Elimination of grounds for divorce - only irreconcilable…
When you own a business, you are always thinking about protecting your business from situations that damage its profitability and long term success. Many business owners have prepared for business-related problems, but haven’t considered the effect of a divorce on…
The current IMDMA which governs divorce laws has been in effect since 1977. On July 21, 2015, Governor Rauner approved Senate Bill 57, which updates the act and will become effective beginning January 1, 2016. Some of the act’s major…
Bankruptcy While Married One spouse may file for bankruptcy without the other but in most cases both spouses’ incomes are counted toward determining eligibility to pass an income test. If one spouse files for bankruptcy, the other spouse’s credit will…
Illinois’s spousal maintenance formula took effect January 1, 2015 to standardize the way maintenance is calculated. Before the formula was enacted, judges had extensive freedom in determining maintenance, which at times led to inconsistent results. In cases where the formula…
If you cannot locate your spouse to serve with divorce papers and neither of you is on active military duty, you may qualify to obtain a dissolution of marriage by service through publication of a notice in a newspaper, an alternative to personal service of court papers.
Under the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act, you must establish no-fault or at-fault grounds for the divorce and fulfill pre-defined separation periods.
Nearly 50 percent of all marriages end in divorce. Some of these divorces are amicable, but others are litigated through the court system. In contested cases, a good divorce lawyer gives you the assurance that your best interests are being served versus the uncertainty of litigating the issues in your divorce case without proper representation.
If you are considering filing for divorce, there are some things you should know about the divorce process and decisions you need to make.