Best Divorce Lawyer Chicago

Best Divorce Lawyer Chicago

If you’re moving toward a divorce, it’s time to consult with an accomplished divorce lawyer. The terms of your divorce will prove very important in you and your children’s future, which means your divorce needs your utmost attention and assistance from the very start. The surest way to move forward with purpose is with the best divorce lawyer in Chicago in your corner. 

The Terms of Your Divorce

Your divorce will be unique to you and your divorcing spouse, but the terms that you’ll need to negotiate are the same as they are for any other couple, including:

• Allocation of parental responsibilities
• The division of your marital property
• Child support 
• Spousal support or maintenance or alimony

Each of these terms (as applicable) will impact your future and should be given the careful legal attention it deserves. 

Parental Responsibilities

If you share children with your divorcing spouse, the allocation of parental responsibilities is naturally an important component of your divorce terms. Also referred to as child custody, parental responsibility breaks down into both decision-making and physical time, which is parenting time, with your child. Decision-making can be either sole or joint, and it relates to who will be making important decisions on your children’s behalf, including decisions about:

• Your children’s education
• Your children’s medical care
• Your children’s extracurriculars
• Your children’s religious upbringing

Similarly, parenting time will be established for each party taking many factors into consideration, including the best interests of the children, and it relates to whom the children live with and according to what schedule. The court always bases its decisions on the children’s best interests. 

Division of Marital Property

The property and assets that you and your spouse collect during your marriage are considered marital property, which is meant to be divided equitably in the event of divorce. Equitable in this context means fair given the circumstances of your marriage and divorce. The division of marital property tends to be a complex process that is made more complicated still when high assets, multiple properties, and/or business ownership is involved. Experienced divorce attorneys can look at the whole financial picture and help with creative solutions for division and allocation of the assets and debts acquired during a marriage.

Child Support

Both parents are responsible for supporting their children financially, and child support is the state’s tool for ensuring that this responsibility is shared by both parents in accordance with their financial means to pay. Illinois uses specific calculation guidelines in determining child support payments, but special circumstances can lead to a more individualized approach.  The court can order contributions to child-related expenses such as health care, education, schooling, extracurricular activities, and childcare.

Spousal Support

Spousal support, alimony or maintenance as it is known in Illinois, is the law’s way of balancing the financial discrepancy between someone who will experience a financial setback upon divorce and his or her ex who will have the financial means to help. Spousal maintenance is not a given, and the court will carefully consider many variables in its decision-making process. Certain factors such as income and duration of the marriage (among other factors) are key components to obtaining a maintenance, spousal support, alimony award.

Turn to One of the Best Divorce Lawyers in Chicago

The divorce lawyers at WARD FAMILY LAW, LLC in Chicago are experienced, capable attorneys who are committed to helping you obtain divorce terms that protect your rights and support you and your children’s brightest future. We’re here to help, so please don’t hesitate to contact us for more information today.