If you want to end our marriage and you are reading this article, you might already be aware that an uncontested divorce in Illinois is the most affordable and quickest way to get divorced.
As an uncontested divorce lawyer in Chicago, I put together the following 7 tips to help you through the process. If you are ready to started your uncontested divorce, contact me here.
1) Recognize the Two Divorces
While divorce is a legal process, it is also an emotional one.
I can help you with the legal process of getting divorced. To learn a bit more about this, see my article “Process for an Uncontested Divorce in Illinois.” Or. for an overview of the issues involved, see my article “What is an Uncontested Divorce in Illinois?”
For the emotional divorce, you may want to work with a therapist Most of my clients don’t require a therapist, but it can be productive for some.
2) Recognize the Benefits of an Uncontested Divorce
An uncontested divorce is a cooperative process. Both spouses sign the necessary documents, communicate, and reach an agreement as to property settlement, alimony, child custody, and child support.
Cooperation is key so the more cooperative and communicative you can be, the better.
Here are the benefits of an uncontested divorce:
- Less stress and expedited healing
- Faster final divorce decree
- More control over your property settlement, alimony agreement, custody arrangement, and child support terms
- Lower legal fees
- Easier on the children
3) Understand the Uncontested Divorce Process
You will feel so much more comfortable when you know what to expect during the divorce process. Below describes considerations for the uncontested divorce process:
- Gather your financial information: This can be done prior to obtaining a lawyer. But most of my clients do it after they retain me, since I help them understand what is needed.
- Engage the legal process: This will be the primary responsibility of your attorney
4) Understand the Prove-Up
The “prove-up” is where the divorce is finalized.
Relax: The Hearing is a Formality Only
The uncontested divorce hearing is a formality only. The hard work is over.
You have already negotiated a Settlement Agreement with your spouse and appearing in court is just a hoop to jump through to obtain the final decree.
5) Review the Terms of Your Settlement Agreement
Your lawyer should discuss the terms of the settlement agreement with you in the course of drafting the settlement agreement, and afterwards.
I often talk with my clients before the
6) What the Uncontested Divorce Hearing is Not
The uncontested divorce hearing is not a time to air dirty laundry about your spouse or your divorce. It’s a process to obtain a final judgment of divorce only. The court is not in the slightest interested in what’s happened in the past is no longer legally relevant.
7) What to Do After the Divorce is Finalized
Keep your divorce decree, Settlement Agreement, and other important papers in a safe place such as a fire safe. Keep them forever, but maintain a copy in a handy place for more regular ease of reference. You should make a list of all of your post-divorce administrative to-dos, such as changing your Last Will and Testament, beneficiary designations on life insurance, change title ownerships to vehicles, divide accounts as per the terms of the final agreement, etc. While there may be some clean-up work to accomplish, at this point, you’ve made it. Congratulations!
Finding an Uncontested Divorce Lawyer
As an uncontested divorce lawyer in Chicago, I can help people get an affordable divorce in Illinois. If you are ready to started your uncontested divorce, contact me here.
I practice in the following counties, and others:
- Cook County
- DuPage County
- Lake County
- Will County
- Kane County
- Kendall County
I practice in the following cities, and others:
- Chicago
- Evanston
- Skokie
- Schaumburg
- Naperville
- Aurora
- Elmhurst
- Oak Park
- Joliet
- Geneva