During the divorce settlement process, it is important for each spouse to only agree to the terms they are comfortable with, agreeing to some issues and disagreeing on others is par for the course, as is responding with counter offers in an effort to find common ground where possible.
Initiating an Illinois Divorce
After securing an attorney to handle your divorce, the divorce officially begins when either you or your spouse files a dissolution of marriage petition with the court in the county where one or both parties reside marking the legal start date of the divorce. The spouse who files the petition or complaint is the plaintiff…Read More
Preparing for Your Initial Divorce Consultation
Experience Counts One of the first considerations is whether an attorney has experience handling family law cases similar to yours. It is certainly okay to ask how long an attorney has been in practice, how many cases they have handled, and whether they have had cases go to trial to gauge their courtroom experience. The…Read More
Filing for Divorce First
When marriages start to unravel, one or both spouses may begin to contemplate divorce but are hesitant to act because they fear they are being too hasty or perhaps neither one knows how to proceed. One question that pops up regularly among those seriously considering divorce is whether or not it is advantageous to be the first spouse to file for divorce. The answer is often yes, there can be potential advantages of filing first in a divorce.
Separating From Husband – Do I Need a Lawyer?
Sometimes couples will embark on a trial separation to decide whether divorce is the right decision or may just decide to leave the marital home knowing divorce is imminent. Before you separate or move out of the marital home, it is important to discuss your plans with a family law attorney. Even an initial consultation…Read More
How to Keep a Divorce Settlement on Track
If you and your spouse are divorcing and you cannot immediately agree on issues ranging from parenting time to the division of marital property, an experienced Illinois family law attorney can negotiate a divorce settlement on your behalf. There are a number of negotiation tips you may want to consider to help you reach an…Read More
Preparing for Illinois Divorce…Finances 101
How to Plan for Divorce Illinois The future is looking rosy for those contemplating divorce. Experts report that anecdotal evidence suggests an improving economy and a strong U.S. stock market are making the costs of getting a divorce more manageable compared to leaner years. If you are among those considering divorce in pursuit of an…Read More
Illinois Spousal Maintenance
In a formula created by the Illinois State Bar Association Family Law Section Council, spousal maintenance will be more consistent across the state. For divorcing couples with a combined income of less than $250,000, maintenance awards will equal 30 percent of the payor’s gross income minus 20 percent of the payee’s gross income, not to…Read More