The Next Steps: What Happens After I File My Chicago Divorce Case?
There is no doubt that for many individuals in Chicago who are seeking a divorce, the actual filing of the Petition for Divorce (or Petition for Dissolution of Marriage) is a very big step. Once the Petition for Divorce has been filed, however, many individuals in Chicago who are seeking a divorce may wonder what comes next in the Chicago divorce process. The truth of the matter is that few Chicago divorce cases are simple, and there are a number of steps that must be taken and rules and laws that must be followed for a Chicago divorce to go smoothly, and ultimately be granted by a Chicago judge. To help individuals who are going through the Chicago divorce process, or who may soon be initiating it, better understand the typical steps in a Chicago divorce case, here we discuss some of the steps that happen in most divorce cases after a person seeking a divorce files their Petition for Divorce in Chicago.
Service of Process and Your Chicago Divorce Case
One of the things that individuals in Chicago may not know is that serving the divorce paperwork, including the Petition of Divorce, Summons, is critical to getting divorced in Chicago. Once your paperwork is accepted by the court and the filing fee is paid (or waived), you must serve the other party (your soon-to-be ex) with official notice of the case. Service of process generally means giving your spouse a copy of the petition and a court summons. In Chicago, and in most divorce cases across the country, this is typically done by a private process server. After service is completed, your spouse has a limited time to file a response to the Petition of Divorce with the court.
The Discovery Process in Chicago Divorce Cases
If your soon-to-be ex-spouse agrees with the divorce and the terms of the divorce, you may be able to negotiate an agreement quickly. However, in many cases, a divorcing couple may not see eye-to-eye, and divorce litigation must commence. Part of divorce litigation is the discovery phase. In this phase, parties exchange information, primarily about financial information.
Mediation and Trial in a Chicago Divorce Case
Many divorce cases (even those where one party is initially unwilling to come to the table) in Chicago are resolved by mediation, and not by trial. Mediation is a private negotiation process, where the parties come together and communicate through a third-party mediator to try to resolve their case. If your soon-to-be ex-spouse does not want to attend mediation, you will likely be on the trial track. At trial, each side will present their own testimony and evidence, and the judge (not the parties, as in mediation), will make the decisions about the key issues in the divorce.
Getting Legal Help with Your Chicago Divorce
Of course, there are a number of other steps in between, after, and even before filing your Petition for Divorce in Chicago, including potentially attending status hearings, changing your name, dividing up retirement accounts, and other steps required to really and truly (and finally) finalize your divorce. An experienced Chicago divorce lawyer can walk you through these difficult steps, ensuring that your divorce case goes as smoothly as possible.
If you are in the Chicago area and you need legal help, contact the experienced Chicago divorce lawyers at the law firm Arnoux Sharma Standeford, LLC. Contact Arnoux Sharma Standeford, LLC and consult with a lawyer about your case now.
