Curious about Hearings in Your Chicago Divorce? Learn All About the Hearing Process and How to Get Legal Representation for Your Chicago Divorce Court Hearings

For some individuals and soon-to-be-divorced residents in the Chicago area, the idea of going in front of a judge in a courtroom and pleading one’s case sounds like a daunting, challenging, and downright frightening experience. Indeed, with most of us being exposed to the courtroom process through only television and movies, the idea of standing up in the courtroom and speaking to the court seems more high-stakes than just your average public speaking engagement. There is no doubt that the idea of participating in a hearing in the Chicago divorce process can put a person who is seeking a divorce over the edge, and can discourage them from initiating the process. However, knowing the ins-and-outs of the Chicago divorce court hearing process, and where you can turn for legal help, can be a comforting first step in your Chicago divorce case. Accordingly, to help individuals in Chicago who are potentially facing a divorce court hearing, or who are interested in learning more about the divorce process, better understand the Chicago divorce process, we discuss the ins-and-outs of Chicago divorce hearings here.

Hearings in Your Chicago Divorce Case

At the outset, it is important for individuals in Chicago to understand what a court hearing is. Simply put, a hearing “…refers to any formal proceeding before a court. The term usually refers to a brief court session that resolves a specific question before a full court trial takes place, or to such specialized proceedings as administrative hearings. In a hearing, evidence and arguments will be presented to determine some issue of fact or both issues of fact and law.” Accordingly, there are a number of hearings that may be scheduled in your Chicago divorce case: the initial case management conference (a hearing to provide information to the judge in the case about the nature of the case, to set timelines in the case, and to set up a discovery schedule); preliminary hearings to request temporary orders for matters such as child custody and parenting time and spousal maintenance or alimony; case status hearings (usually held to resolve pending disputes regarding evidence or to handle pretrial motions); pretrial conferences, and, of course, if the parties are not able to settle or resolve the case, trial. In addition, after trial, the parties may have other issues that arise, and they may request the court for a post-divorce-decree hearing.

Getting Legal Help with Your Chicago Divorce Hearings

Of course, what hearings will be scheduled in your particular case will depend on the facts and issues in your case. As such, it is best to speak to an experienced Chicago divorce lawyer about your specific case to learn about your rights, options, and next steps. The experienced Chicago divorce lawyers at the law firm Arnoux Sharma Standeford, LLC are here to help individuals in Chicago with their challenging divorce cases, and can fight for you in court and can represent your interests at your Chicago divorce court hearings. Do not hesitate to speak to an experienced Chicago divorce lawyer about your case today. Contact Arnoux Sharma Standeford, LLC and consult with a lawyer about your case now.