Do you want to pay a flat fee for a lawyer to represent you in an uncontested divorce in Illinois? You’ve found the right place, and you can call 224-300-0529 to get started now. Or, check out this article to learn more about an uncontested divorce in Illinois with a flat fee.
With this FAQ on flat-fee uncontested divorce representation, I hope to answer many of your questions about affordable and quick flat-fee divorce representation in Illinois.
Do you offer a flat fee?
I do offer a flat fee for an uncontested divorce. They reason I can do that is because unlike a divorce that entails fighting, an uncontested divorce is by agreement, and therefore, the work required is predictable.
What does the flat fee cover?
The flat fee covers the preparation of all documents, including but not necessarily limited to the following:
- Judgment for dissolution
- Marital settlement agreement
- Joint parenting agreement
- Certificate of agreement
- Appearance of respondent
The flat fee also covers the following services:
- Reviewing the agreement of the parties and giving feedback
- Counseling via phone or in person
- Answering questions via email
- Filing the case and scheduling the “prove up” to finalize the divorce
- Appearing in court for the prove up to finalize the divorce
What doesn’t the flat fee cover?
The flat fee does not cover any contested matters. Those include trying to get the court to force the party to do anything, or defending my client against anything the other party is trying to get the court to force my client to do.
For example, if you agree on everything except spousal maintenance (aka alimony), then the divorce cannot be concluded until there is resolution on that issue.
When can’t I get a flat fee?
If you are not in total agreement with your spouse, you are not eligible for an uncontested divorce in Illinois with a flat fee. That’s because the divorce cannot be finalized without total agreement (or a trial, which you probably don’t want).
To understand a bit more about the definition of an “uncontested divorce,” you might read my article, “Contested versus uncontested divorce: The differences.”
In what Illinois counties do you work?
I can practice in any county in Illinois. The primary counties in which I practice are as follows:
- Cook
- Champaign
- DuPage
- Grundy
- Kane
- Kendall
- Lake
- McHenry
- Will
Does the flat fee vary?
The flat fee does vary. It varies for a couple reasons:
- By location: Different counties have different fees to file the case and for the other party to enter an “appearance.” Therefore, my flat fee might vary based upon location. Furthermore, different counties have different requirements and therefore different steps must be taken for an uncontested divorce in that county.
- By complexity: While I do offer a flat fee for uncontested divorces, the flat fee can vary based on the complexity of the divorce. For example, a divorce without kids and no real estate is less complex than one with kids and real estate. One thing to keep in mind is that you might still be able to get an uncontested divorce for a flat fee even if your divorce is a bit more complex. If you have high net worth but want an affordable divorce, you might want to read my article, “High-net worth people: uncontested divorce is possible.”
Do I have to pay at once?
You can pay all the fees at once if you’d like and can afford it. However, with the system I do offer payment plans so that we can get started with your divorce without full payment having been made.