Chicago Divorce FAQs

Even if you agree on absolutely everything, you may not have considered all the details. An experienced marital attorney can help you fill in the gaps in your understanding of what you need to resolve. Also, you need a clear, concise agreement to present to the court for approval. A court can reject your terms if they do not thoroughly address all the ancillary issues of your divorce or are too one-sided. If you are able to cooperate to a great degree, you might consider a collaborative divorce in which you work with a single attorney to finalize a settlement.

Yes. A petitioner can file citing irreconcilable differences in our state.

Mediation is an excellent way to arrive at a cost-effective agreement on issues such as child custody, child support, alimony, and property division. The more matters you can resolve through mediation, the fewer you have to try in court.

Grounds rarely affect ancillary issues in divorce proceedings. In fact, Illinois law prohibits the court from considering marital misconduct for issues such as child support and spousal maintenance. Infidelity does not affect child custody or parenting time allocations unless the conduct went beyond adultery to exposing the children to a blatantly immoral lifestyle. Under certain circumstances, cruelty, if proven, may influence the court in a child custody hearing. As for property claims, if your cheating spouse spent significant marital assets on a paramour, you could recoup that by showing dissipation of the marital estate.

Proving grounds requires substantive evidence that the court finds convincing. For example, suspicion of adultery is not enough; you must show a cheating spouse had the interest and the opportunity with firm evidence, such as phone records and hotel receipts.

Many times one spouse will be ordered to pay spousal maintenance to the other when they divorce. However, there are many important factors to consider and every situation is unique so it’s best to contact us to discuss this matter further.

Previously, Illinois recognized two types of custody: legal and physical. However, the state now refers to the concept of custody as parental responsibilities, and parents must agree to a parenting plan that details where the child will live, as well as allocating decision-making authority and parenting time (previously known as visitation). Parents who cannot work together to come to an agreement will have to accept a court’s ruling on the matter. We can help you work through these issues, which is why it’s best to contact our office if you have young children and are going through a divorce.

The cost of divorce can vary greatly depending on several factors, however, the fee for filing for divorce typically ranges from $100 – $400 in most places. However, each situation is unique, so please contact us for more details.

There are many factors that will play a role in determining how much child support will be awarded. For example, how many children need to be supported, what kind of health care is needed, and how much money both spouses currently earn. Because every situation is different, it is best to contact our office for more details.

Like all other assets, retirement funds can be part of a divorce settlement. No two situations are the same, so it’s best to contact us and explain your situation, which will allow us to better understand your case.

The timing of divorce is affected by several factors, but in most cases, a divorce will typically take up to six months. Some divorce cases can be finalized quicker, and many can take longer. Contact us, and we’ll discuss the most likely scenarios in your particular situation.

Even if you and your spouse have no disagreements with your divorce settlement, it is still a good idea to contact and retain a divorce attorney. Without any agreement on paper, either spouse could change his or her mind, which would leave no guarantee that the verbal agreement would be honored. Contact us to see why you should use our office in divorce.

The first step to begin divorce proceedings is to file for a divorce petition with the court. We can explain how the process works and help you do this.

If there is a disagreement in visitation rights or parenting time and one parent is not complying with the agreement, then the other parent can petition the court for help. Likewise, if you aren’t satisfied with the agreement, then you can also petition the court for a change. Every case is unique, and a lot of factors are involved, so contact us to learn more about these situations.

When the non-custodial parent refuses to pay child support, the custodial parent should contact an attorney for help. At Arami Law we will take the necessary legal steps in order to get the non-complying spouse to honor the court order.