Divorce Attorneys Near Me

Divorce Attorneys Near Me

If divorce is on your mind, there is probably a very good reason for that. Perhaps you are considering divorce, or maybe your spouse has served you with divorce papers. Whatever your situation is, consulting with an experienced divorce attorney near you early in the process is the best course of action. An important point to keep in mind here is that, if you are considering divorce, discussing the matter with a well-informed divorce attorney does not increase your chances of ultimately seeking a divorce. In fact, a better understanding of what divorce entails will help you make a fully educated decision regarding the future of your marriage. However, if you have been served with divorce papers then there is a limited timeframe that you have to file the necessary and appropriate paperwork with the court to ensure that a default is not obtained against you.

Your Parental Responsibilities and Parenting Time

If you and your divorcing spouse share children, parental responsibilities which includes both decision-making and parenting time are primary concerns. Parental responsibilities includes two facets: decision-making refers to who will be making those major parenting determinations moving forward, and parenting time refers to how you and your ex will be dividing your time with the kids. 

The parenting concerns that pertain to the decision-making aspect of parental responsibilities include:

• Where your kids go to school and other related educational matters 
• The medical care, treatment, and protocol your kids receive 
• The extracurricular activities your kids participate in
• The religious education and participation that your kids receive

Parenting time, on the other hand, sets the schedule for when your kids are with you and when they are with their other parent. 

Child Support

Like every other state, Illinois requires both parents to provide financial support for their children, and child support coupled with contributions to other child-related expenses are the tools that are used. While a variety of diverse factors go into the child support calculation process, the two primary matters include:

• How many overnights the children are with you and how many they spend with your ex
• Your income in relation to your ex’s, which is the Shared Incomes Model
• What percentage each of you will be contributing to or providing for through health insurance coverage and costs, extracurricular activities, and educational costs

The Division of Marital Assets

Throughout your marriage, you and your spouse acquired assets and may have taken on debt. These assets – as offset by any debt – amount to your marital property, which must be divided between you in a manner that is considered fair – or equitable – given the circumstances that are involved. Any separate property that either of you brought into the marriage with you will remain yours alone if you were able to keep it separate throughout your marriage, which can be exceptionally challenging. You need to consult with a seasoned divorce attorney to determine the marital versus non-marital nature of any assets along with the reasonable allocation to expect in a divorce.

Maintenance / Alimony

Maintenance, which is also known as alimony and spousal support, takes into consideration the income of each party along with the duration of the marriage to determine whether or not a party is entitled to maintenance in Illinois.  Other factors also come into play, such as whether or not a party is also paying child support, the needs of the party, among many other considerations that a divorce attorney can explain as it is unique to each case.

An Experienced Illinois Divorce Attorney Near You Is Standing by to Help

The accomplished Illinois divorce attorneys at WARD FAMILY LAW, LLC, take immense pride in their proven ability to help protect the parental and financial rights of clients like you. Your divorce case is important, so please don’t wait to contact us for more information today.