Mokena Divorce Attorneys

There are a lot of reasons why couples divorce. Some divorce because of infidelity, substance abuse, or one partner’s criminal activity. Other couples divorce because the pressures their children, their careers, and other external factors put on their marriages become too much to bear, driving the couple apart. No matter what drives a couple apart, divorce is a better choice than remaining in an unhappy, unhealthy marriage.

If you and your spouse have no chance of reconciling and rebuilding your marriage, it is time to take steps toward divorce. One of the first steps to take is to learn about the divorce process. This will make it feel less intimidating and make it easier for you to discuss your divorce with your lawyer and your spouse.

What to Know Before you File for Divorce

Before you file for divorce in Illinois, familiarize yourself with the state’s rules and required processes. These include:

• Divorces are handled in county circuit courts. You can file your divorce petition with the circuit court of the county where you live, or the county where your spouse lives;
• To file for divorce in Illinois, you or your spouse must have lived in the state for at least 90 days;
• Your divorce cannot be finalized until you and your spouse have lived apart for at least six months; and
• In Illinois, all divorces are no fault divorces. You cannot cite a reason for your divorce other than irreconcilable differences.

Legal Orders in your Divorce Settlement

A divorce settlement is comprised of a few different legal orders. These include:

• A property division order. This is the order that states how your marital assets and debts are to be divided;
• A parenting plan. A parenting plan has two parts: parental responsibilities, which outlines each parent’s legal responsibilities regarding the children, and a parenting time schedule, the schedule your children will follow for spending time in each parent’s household;
• A child support order. This is the money one parent pays to the other to help cover the costs of providing for their child; and
• A spousal maintenance order. When one partner sacrifices his or her career advancement by choosing to work part time or not at all to care for the couple’s home and family, that partner may seek spousal maintenance from the other after their divorce.

Obviously, a divorce settlement does not have to include all of these orders. If you do not have children, yours will not include a parenting plan or child support order. If you have a prenuptial agreement in place that lays out how you want your property to be divided in the event of your divorce, your property division order will follow its guidelines.

Work with an Experienced Mokena Divorce Lawyer

When you know your marriage is over, the best person to speak with about the situation is an experienced divorce lawyer. Contact our team at Demetrios N. Dalmares & Associates, Ltd. today to schedule your free legal consultation in our office to learn more about the divorce process and what you can expect from it.