Homer Glen Divorce Lawyers

Getting divorced is not a personal failure. Rather, it is a way to exit a marriage that, for whatever reason, is no longer healthy for the spouses living in it. If you have reached this point in your marriage, the next step for you is to educate yourself about the divorce process and prepare for the changes that are coming to your life. Speak with an experienced divorce lawyer to gain a stronger understanding of what the process entails and what you can specifically expect based on your circumstances.

Every state has unique divorce laws. If you plan to file for divorce in Illinois, familiarize yourself with Illinois’ laws.

Illinois Divorce Requirements

Illinois’ divorce laws include residency requirements and a required separation period before a couple’s divorce can be finalized. Specifically, Illinois imposes the following requirements on divorcing couples:

• To file for divorce in Illinois, an individual or his or her spouse must have lived in the state for at least 90 days;
• For a divorce to be finalized, a couple must live apart for at least six months. Previously, couples who divorced due to irreconcilable differences had to live separate and apart for two years before their divorces could be finalized, but this was changed when Illinois eliminated grounds for divorce;
• Divorces are handled by county circuit courts. An individual may file for divorce in the county where he or she lives or the county where his or her spouse lives; and
• In some cases, it is possible for a couple to file for a Joint Simplified Dissolution of Marriage, a more streamlined process.

Parts of a Divorce Settlement

When a divorce is finalized, the terms of the couple’s divorce is known as their divorce settlement. A divorce settlement can include one or all of the following, depending on the couple’s circumstances:

• A parenting plan. This is the agreement that states the time the couple’s children will spend with each parent after the divorce and each parent’s responsibilities to the children;
• A child support order. This is the money one parent pays to the other to help cover the costs of raising their children. It is calculated according to the individuals’ incomes and their parenting time schedule;
• A property division settlement. All of a couple’s marital assets and debts must be divided between them. They are divided according to the doctrine of equitable distribution, which means the court considers a set of factors to determine an appropriate breakdown of the debts and assets that is not necessarily a 50/50 split; and
• A spousal maintenance order. In some cases, the lesser earning spouse may receive payment from his or her former partner to prevent financial hardship following their divorce as he or she prepares to enter the workforce.

Work with an Experienced Homer Glen Divorce Lawyer

If you have determined that your marriage is over, speak with an experienced divorce lawyers about taking the next steps toward divorce. To learn more, contact our team at Law Office of Demetrios N Dalmares and Associates Ltd. today to set up your free consultation in our office.