Frankfort Divorce Attorneys

Choosing to end your marriage is rarely an easy choice to make. Issues that some couples can work through can drive other couples to the breaking point. Only you know when ending your marriage is the right choice for you.

If you have determined that divorce is the right choice for you, the next step is to learn about the divorce process. Speak with an experienced divorce lawyer about the issues present in your marriage and considerations you will have to make in your divorce because of the circumstances you face, like a wide income disparity between you and your spouse, or ensuring that your child with special needs receives the support he or she requires.

What your Divorce Settlement will Contain

If you have no children and neither spouse plans to seek spousal maintenance, your divorce settlement will be a fairly simple document because it will only include a property distribution order. Property distribution is part of every divorce, regardless of the size of the couple’s marital estate. This order states how the couple’s marital assets and debts are to be divided in their divorce, and this order is determined according to the doctrine of equitable distribution. Both partners’ personal and financial needs are considered and the resulting division plan is not necessarily a 50/50 split.

When a couple has minor children, their divorce settlement can also include a child support order and a parenting plan. A child support order requires one parent to pay the other a specific amount of money on a recurring basis to help cover the costs of raising their children. A parenting plan includes each parent’s parental responsibilities to the children and the parenting time schedule the family will follow. These orders can be modified later if the parent seeking the modification has a justifiable reason to do so.

When one partner leaves the workforce or works part time to devote him- or herself to the couple’s home and children, that partner may seek spousal maintenance in their divorce. This is money one partner pays to the other to help him or her avoid financial hardship after the divorce. Often, it is only paid for a sufficient period of time to help the recipient prepare to reenter the workforce.

Requirements for an Illinois Divorce

Every state has laws that govern the divorce process. In Illinois, these requirements include:

• At least one of the spouses must have resided in Illinois for 90 days or longer in order to file for divorce;
• A divorce cannot be finalized until the couple has lived separately for at least six months; and
• The only ground for divorce a couple may state is irreconcilable differences.

Work with an Experienced Frankfort Divorce Attorney

To learn more about the divorce process in Illinois and how you can prepare for your divorce, contact our team of experienced divorce attorneys at Demetrios N. Dalmares & Associates, Ltd. today to set up your initial consultation with a member of our team.