My Spouse Cheated on Me! Will that Help Me in My Chicago Divorce?

There is no doubt that people in Chicago get divorced for a number of different reasons. For some people, a divorce has been a long time coming, and one spouse just needed to get through the holidays and the kids’ graduations in order to call it quits. For others, an incident that happens in the marriage is so traumatic and damaging, that the marriage just simply cannot survive afterwards. One such case that crops up in some Chicago divorces is the case in which one spouse has been unfaithful to the other. In these cases, where one spouse has “cheated” on the other, the spouse that has been cheated on may wonder if they should start gathering evidence about the affair to use as ammo in their soon-to-be initiated divorce. But what impact does the fact that one spouse has been unfaithful have on a Chicago divorce case, and what can individuals in Chicago do if they suspect (or know) that their current spouse is cheating on them? We answer those questions here.

The Impact of “Adultery” in Chicago Divorce Cases in 2025

To answer the question whether one spouse’s cheating may have an impact on divorce proceedings in 2025, we have to look back at how things were in Chicago in the past. In the past, in order to get a divorce in Chicago, under Illinois marriage and divorce laws, a person would have to show that there were “grounds” sufficient for the court to issue an order of dissolution of marriage. Grounds for getting a divorce under the former “at-fault” divorce laws could include things like financial waste, gambling, abandonment of the marriage, abuse and domestic violence, and, of course, cheating or adultery. However, times have changed and Illinois marriage and divorce laws no longer require a person who is seeking a divorce in Chicago to prove any grounds in order to get an order of divorce. In fact, under current Illinois “no-fault” divorce laws, a person seeking a divorce need only plead that the marriage is “irretrievably broken,” in order to initiate divorce proceedings in Chicago.

Speaking with a Lawyer about Your Chicago Divorce Case

It is important, however, for individuals in Chicago to know that the fact that one spouse cheated on the other may have some bearing on divorce proceedings. For example, if the affair was damaging to the couple’s children, then there may be an impact on some determinations in the divorce. Of course, to determine the full extent of what impact an affair may have on your Chicago divorce, and to learn more about your rights and options, it is best to speak with an experienced Chicago divorce lawyer about your case.

The experienced Chicago divorce lawyers at the law firm Arnoux Sharma Standeford, LLC are here to help individuals and couples in Chicago with their complex Chicago divorce issues. Contact Arnoux Sharma Standeford, LLC today and speak with a lawyer about your case now.