Divorce Lawyers Chicago

Divorce Attorneys Serving Clients in Chicago

 Filing for divorce can be one of the most complicated and difficult choices you will have to make. Whether you are anticipating a relatively stress-free divorce in which you and your spouse agree to all terms or you are anticipating a contentious divorce that will require the court to make decisions about financial matters and child custody, you should be sure to have experienced counsel on your side. The dedicated Chicago divorce lawyers at our firm can discuss your case with you today and can get started on filing your petition for divorce.

Chicago Divorce Issues We Handle

At the Law Offices of George M. Sanders, P.C., we handle many different types of family law issues pertaining to divorce, including but not limited to the following:

• Filing a petition for the dissolution of marriage;
• Classifying marital and separate (non-marital) property;
• Valuing marital assets and debts;
• Complex property division;
• Dividing a business in a divorce;
• Spousal maintenance;
• Allocation of parental responsibilities;
• Creating a parenting plan;
• Child support under the “income shares” model;
• Modifying spousal maintenance orders; and
• Modifying child custody orders (also known as allocation judgments).

Filing a Petition for the Dissolution of Marriage

To get started on a divorce case, you will need to file a petition for the dissolution of marriage. Under the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (IMDMA), anyone filing for divorce in Chicago no longer needs to state grounds for divorce. While Illinois previously had fault-based grounds for divorce, it is now what is known as a ‘no-fault state’. As a no-fault state, a married couple can get divorced if the court finds that the couple has irreconcilable differences and that the marriage cannot be saved. 

How does the court determine whether there are irreconcilable differences such that a divorce should be granted? In situations in which the parties have lived separate and apart for a continuous period of at least six months, the court presumes that the requirement of irreconcilable differences has been met. 

Property Division in a Chicago Divorce

Illinois law divides marital property according to a theory of equitable distribution. This means that only marital property, including assets and debts that are property of the marriage, will be divided. When marital assets and debts are divided, the court divides them based on what is fair or equitable to both of the spouses. The court looks at a number of different factors in determining what kind of division or distribution is equitable under the circumstances of the case.

It is important to understand that separate or non-marital property is not divided in a divorce. Separate property typically includes all property acquired before the marriage, as well as gifts and inheritances acquired by only one of the parties during the marriage.

See Advice from a Chicago Divorce Lawyer

If you have questions about divorce or need assistance with your case, a Chicago divorce attorney can assist you. Contact the Law Offices of George M. Sanders, P.C. today.