Divorce Attorneys Orland Park

Divorce can be a contentious and emotional process. Fortunately, in 2016, Illinois officially became a no-fault divorce state, which means that, unlike in prior years, when a spouse had to prove that the other spouse was guilty of adultery, abuse, abandonment, or mental cruelty to obtain a divorce, couples no longer have to fulfill this requirement. Instead, the parties need only agree that irreconcilable differences have caused their marriage to break down in order to dissolve their union. This does not mean, however, that the divorce process is without its pitfalls and complexities, so if you and your spouse have decided to end your marriage, you should strongly consider contacting an experienced divorce attorneys Orland Park to ensure that your petition is filed properly.

Filing for a No-Fault Divorce in Illinois

Because Illinois is a no-fault divorce state, divorcing couples are now no longer required to provide proof of one spouse’s fault for the end of marriage in order to dissolve a marriage. Instead, Illinois couples are only required to establish that irreconcilable differences have led to the irretrievable breakdown of their marriage and that attempts at reconciliation have either failed or would not be in the parties’ best interests.

Living Separate and Apart

Generally, Illinois courts presume that a couple that can prove that they have been living separate and apart for at least six months has met the burden of demonstrating that irreconcilable differences exist. Fortunately, in order to live separate and apart, a couple need not live in different homes, but can instead provide evidence of a decision to live separate lives by opening different bank accounts, holding themselves out as being separated, using different bedrooms, or looking for a new residence.

Residency Requirement

Not all Illinois couples are permitted to file for divorce in the state. In fact, only when one party can prove that he or she has lived in the state for the prior three months will a couple qualify for a divorce. Fortunately, this span of time is usually measured up to the date of the granting of the divorce decree and not from the date of filing, which ensures that most residents who wish to file for divorce in Illinois are able to do so.

Divorce-Related Issues

Even when residency requirements are met, and a couple can provide evidence that irreconcilable differences exist, a divorcing party can only officially dissolve their marriage once they have dealt with certain issues, including:

• How the parties will divide up marital assets between themselves;
• Which assets qualify as separate property and so will remain in the original owner’s possession;
• Whether one of the spouses will be required to make spousal support payments to the other;
• Whether one spouse will need to make regular child support payments to the other for the care and maintenance of the couple’s shared children; and
• How responsibility for parental decision-making and time sharing will be divided between the parties.

When a couple disagrees on one or more of these issues, a family law court will step in and make these determinations on the parties’ behalf.

Divorce Attorneys Orland Park

To schedule a free consultation with a dedicated divorce attorney Orland Park, please contact Law Office of Demetrios N Dalmares and Associates Ltd. today by completing one of our brief online contact forms or by sending us a message at info@www.dalmareslaw.com.