In Illinois, the legal term for divorce is “dissolution of marriage.” If both people agree on all of the issues relative to their divorce then it is an uncontested dissolution of marriage. In these cases, the Chicago divorce attorneys at WARD FAMILY LAW, LLC can help couples draft the legal documents and finalize the divorce with relative ease.
Of course, many times, couples disagree on at least one main topic in divorce proceedings, such as child custody or how to divide marital property. In these cases, the couple goes through a contested dissolution of marriage. The lawyers at WARD FAMILY LAW, LLC will negotiate fiercely, finesse settlement and proceed to litigation, when needed, in order to ensure a favorable outcome for our clients.
In 2016, Illinois law changed so that there is only one ground for divorce: irreconcilable differences. This makes it a no-fault divorce state. Neither party has to prove who is responsible for the downfall of the relationship. Instead, couples need to prove to the court that there are issues in the marriage that cannot be resolved and continuing to attempt a resolution would not be in the parties’ best interests while also living separate and apart for a period of six months.
In addition to proving irreconcilable differences, the couple must meet Illinois’ divorce residency requirements. Either or both spouses must have lived in Illinois for at least 90 days to obtain a divorce in the state.
Illinois is an “equitable division” state, which means that the courts must divide all marital property fairly in divorce cases. In some dissolutions of marriage, this means dividing the property 50/50, but not always. Some factors that the court considers include the duration of the marriage, the roles and contributions of the parties, and the overall marital estate.
It’s important to hire Chicago divorce attorneys who have significant experience obtaining the necessary information and documentation to properly advise clients of their options and then being prepared to argue these issues in front of a judge.
Perhaps one of the most contentious issues in any divorce that involves minor children is parenting time and decision-making. There are many points to consider and experienced attorneys are a key component to negotiating or fighting for the best interests of the children.
Choosing the right Chicago divorce attorneys can have a significant impact on your family and your financial future. Be sure you consult with attorneys first and hire someone you can trust to get the job done. Contact WARD FAMILY LAW, LLC today to set up a consultation.
I am writing a review because I think a lot of times people make the same mistake that I did at the beginning of my case. I had a wonderful talk with Jennifer before my case started and I was very comfortable with her demeanor and her explanations of the Chicago Divorce process. I decided to go with another lawyer because the retainer was a little lower. Big mistake. I didn’t really like the lawyer when we spoke but I was more focused on the money instead of the big picture. I felt like there was no communication during my…
My Husband, now ex, and I wanted a friendly, fast divorce. We had nothing to fight about and nothing really to divide. We thought that would make it easy but when we saw all the paperwork we knew that we needed help. It takes one piece of paper to get married and 100 pieces of paper to get divorced in Chicago!! Ward Family Law made the divorce a smooth process for us and got it done faster than we thought. If you want to be friends with your ex but still want the divorce then look no further and call…
I had a very complicated divorce with a lot of family-owned businesses and assets. Jennifer and her team of professionals help navigate the formal discovery and litigation process with great knowledge, strategy, and patience with all our questions. My family was very concerned about the impact and outcome and we are all pleased with the results. From the appraisers to the business valuators, Jennifer utilized the right people at the right time to shore up our case for the best settlement position at pre-trial. We were happy with the Judge's recommendations, we believe, based on all her hard work and…
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