Divorce Lawyer Chicago

Divorce Lawyer Chicago

If you need a divorce – or have been served with divorce papers – you need the professional legal guidance of an experienced divorce lawyer in Chicago in your corner. The terms of your divorce will guide your financial future and your parental rights, which makes affording the process the careful attention it requires paramount. 

What Divorce Means for You

Your divorce journey will be unique to you, but you and your divorcing spouse will need to address the same basic divorce terms – as applicable – that other divorcing couples do, including:

• Parental responsibilities which is both decision-making and parenting time – or what you may think of as your child custody arrangements
• Child Support
• The division of your marital property
• Alimony, which is known as maintenance in Illinois
• The designation of your non-marital property
• Valuation of assets
• Allocation of debts

You, your divorcing spouse, and your respective divorce attorneys have a range of options when it comes to negotiating mutually agreeable term resolutions, including all the following:

• Negotiations between yourselves
• Negotiations between your divorce attorneys
• Mediation 

If terms remain that you’re unable to resolve, you will likely need the court’s intervention on those matters.

Parental Responsibilities: Decision-Making

Parental responsibilities includes decision making and parenting time to address the matter of making primary decisions like the following on behalf of your children:

• Decisions related to education
• Decisions related to health care
• Decisions related to religious upbringing
• Decisions related to extracurriculars

Decision-making can be sole or joint – with some hybrid approaches within these two options. 

Parenting Time

Parenting time determines how you and your ex will divide your time with your shared children.  Illinois courts are motivated to maximize the amount of time children spend with each parent, which is generally considered in their best interest.

Child Support

Child support balances the financial support for children between both parents. While a range of factors play a role in the state’s calculation process, each parent’s overall earnings and amount of parenting time are afforded the most weight. 

The Division of Marital Property

Property that you come to own while you are married is characterized as marital property, and in the event of divorce, it must be divided between you fairly – in relation to an array of primary factors. Any assets that either of you owned at the time of your marriage and kept strictly separate throughout your marriage remains that spouse’s separate property, but there is considerable room for complications in this arena. 

Alimony, which is known as Maintenance

Alimony (which is known as maintenance in Illinois) is reserved for those divorces in which one spouse is left without the resources to continue supporting themself at or near the same standard of living – while the other has the financial ability to help. 

It’s Time to Consult with an Experienced Divorce Lawyer in Chicago

The accomplished divorce lawyers at WARD FAMILY LAW, LLC, are committed to harnessing their uniquely impressive experience and legal insight in fierce pursuit of your case’s most favorable resolution and in focused support of your parental and financial rights. Learn more by contacting us today.