Extra, Extra, Read All About It! Divorce Rates are Down in Illinois

Individuals who are married and unmarried alike may be surprised to hear the recent news that divorce rates in Illinois are significantly lower than previous years. According to local news reports and U.S. Census data, fewer couples may be formally dissolving their marriages statewide. However, that trend, which has resulted in an overall 28% decline in the divorce rate in Illinois between 2012 and 2022, does not necessarily mean every marriage should, or even can, stay intact. Indeed, in Chicago, just like anywhere, many spouses feel the strain of irreconcilable differences, financial pressures, or incompatibility, and decide it is time to end the marriage. If you are in Chicago and ready to get divorced, you need strong legal support to protect your rights in what can become a complicated process. Here we explain some of the basics of the Chicago divorce process, and where to get legal help now.

Understanding the Basics of the Chicago Divorce Process

To initiate a divorce in Chicago, one spouse must file a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage in court. The petition must include basic information about the marriage, residence, children (if any), and the relief sought (for example, child support, custody, division of property, or maintenance). The other spouse is then served (formally given notice of the divorce), and they can file a response or counter-petition.

If the spouses agree on all issues, the case may proceed as an uncontested or default divorce, often with little to no court hearings. But, as in most cases in Chicago, if disagreement arises, the case then becomes contested. In a contested Chicago divorce case, the process may then involve discovery (the formally exchanging financial documents, interrogatories, requests for production under the court rules), mediation or alternative dispute resolution, temporary hearings for support or custody, and then a full-blown trial if settlement cannot be reached. The court will ultimately issue a Judgment for Dissolution of Marriage (the final order in the case) resolving all remaining disputes.

The Role of a Chicago Divorce Lawyer in Your Chicago Divorce Case

Throughout the Chicago divorce process, issues such as child custody (allocation of parental responsibilities and parenting time), child support, spousal maintenance (alimony), and distribution of marital property are among the main contested areas. The Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act governs how these matters must be treated under Illinois law, including factors the court considers when awarding maintenance or dividing property. An experienced Chicago divorce lawyer can help advocate for your interests in court and fight to get you what is fair and what is due to you under Illinois divorce laws.

Finding an Experienced Chicago Divorce Lawyer

If you are in the Chicago area and you need legal help with your Chicago divorce case, contact the experienced Chicago divorce lawyers at the law firm Arnoux Sharma Standeford, LLC. Contact Arnoux Sharma Standeford, LLC today and speak with a lawyer about your case now.

Source:

wcia.com/news/illinois-news/divorce-rates-significantly-lower-in-illinois-census-bureau-says/