Uncontested Divorce in Illinois

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  • High-net worth people: uncontested divorce is possible

    I’ve noticed many high-net-worth people think they need a price divorce lawyer for their divorce – even if its uncontested.

    Even if you are a high-net worth person, you can get divorced with an affordable uncontested divorce.

    The process can be easier than you might think; to understand what I mean, check out my article “Divorce after one visit to court? Yes!”

    Expensive = Better?

    An expensive lawyer is not always better, even if you have substantial assets, own a business, and have other serious financial concerns. How do I know this? I have review their work.

    For instance, I currently have a client that previously hired a very expense and renowned firm for his divorce. I review his marital settlement agreement (MSA) and his joint parenting agreement (JPA). It was terrible. It was hard to understand, contained very ambiguous provisions, and didn’t seem to anticipate obvious contingencies that would occur. Now, years later, he is back in court.

    Does paying more make you feel better?

    Luxury goods are sometimes priced high simply to create the impression that they are worth more.  It’s marketing.

    And lawyer’s aren’t immune to using marketing strategy in their pricing.

    Do you want to meet a lawyer in fancy office downtown? Would you a front-desk attended to offer you coffee, or tea? If so, I can recommend various firms in Chicago where you will likely be very happy. Some even have original artwork on the walls.

    However, given that the work of expensive lawyers is often no better than that of more affordable lawyers, it seems that hiring an expensive lawyer will guarantee you one thing: that you will pay more. Such is particularly true in the case of an uncontested divorce

    Don’t get me wrong. There are some excellent, very expensive lawyers in Chicago ans elsewhere. If you can afford to pay an attorney $700 per hour, I can recommend someone to you.

    Otherwise, you may wish to get an affordable uncontested divorce. If you divorce involves financial issues such as business of pension valuation, those tasks are normally handled by experts, regardless of the attorney.

    What types of people get an uncontested divorce?

    Numerous of my uncontested divorce clients have assets well-over a million dollars. Millionaires get uncontested divorces in Chicago, and elsewhere in Illinois. In DuPage County. In Lake County. In Will County. And everywhere else.

    Many of my clients are professionals who could choose to hire many other lawyers, but don’t.

    Some own businesses, multiple rental properties, and vacation homes.

     Starting a high-net worth uncontested divorce

    Unlike many lawyers handling uncontested divorces for a flat fee, I take pride in counseling my clients and approaching matters strategically. When you hire me to handle your uncontested divorce, I will be available to you. Please be wary of attorneys who push you off onto paralegals who know nothing about your case.

     

  • Same Sex Divorce in Illinois

    Gay marriage is legal in Illinois . . . almost.

    Same sex couples have been fighting for the right to marry for decades.  An unfortunate result of same-sex marriage will undoubtedly be same-sex divorce.

    If you are a same-sex couple and are in need of a divorce lawyer, contact me at 312-554-5433. or online. And check out some of these thoughts on same-sex divorce.

    Lack of same-sex divorced people

    One aspect of divorce that may be hard for those in same-sex marriages is that, at least for a while, there will not be a large community of people divorced after a same-sex marriage.

    Greater non-marital property accumulated

    Since gay people have only recently obtained the right to marry, many are getting married later in life than their heterosexual peers. And that means that they will have accumulated more property prior to getting married.

    Non-marital property is not divided upon divorce. Marital property is. When people come to a marriage with greater non-marital property, interesting issues can develop. For instance, after a short-term marriage, a couple may not have acquired much marital property at all. However, one party may have been wealthy prior to the marriage. Such a situation can lead to challenges in the areas of spousal maintenance (alimony) and the division of marital property.

    Dealing with other people in the process

    When getting divorced you will have to deal with various other people. For example: judges, mediators, child representatives (lawyer’s appointed to represent children), psychologists (who may be appointed to evaluate a custody situation), and others.

    Surely not everyone employed in those positions is straight. I know several judges who are gay, for example. However, the majority of people involved in the process are seemingly straight. Many of them, particularly the older crowd, may have had limited interaction with same-sex couples. Therefore, a lawyer for a person seeking a same-sex divorce should be sensitive to that dynamic and be ready to deal with it.

    Find a lawyer for same-sex divorce

    If you are a same-sex couple and would like a divorce lawyer who is sensitive to your needs, contact me at 312-554-5433. or online. You might want to read my article titled, “Process for Same-Sex Uncontested Divorce in Illinois.” And if you would like a humorous look back at the marriage equality movement, check out the post “Gay Marriage: Could this happen to us?“, from Chicago divorce lawyer Marie Fahnert.

     

  • Divorce Mediation: What? When? Why?

    Maybe you want an amicable divorce in Illinois but  you can’t quite reach an agreement with your spouse. If so, perhaps you should consider divorce mediation.

    If you want an uncontested divorce but can’t quite reach an agreement, I can mediate your divorce. And as an uncontested divorce lawyer in Illinois, I know what needs to be done.

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  • Contested versus uncontested divorce: The differences

    As an uncontested divorce lawyer in Illinois counties of Cook, Lake, DuPage, Will, and others, often people call me asking “What is the difference between contested and uncontested divorce?” If you want an affordable and fast divorce, it is crucial that you understand the answer to that question.

    There are two types of divorce available in most states: contested and uncontested divorce.

    Contested Divorce

    In a contested divorce the spouses don’t agree, and instead, litigate. Contested divorce is fairly commonplace, though many contested cases settle without a trial.  There are various hot-button issues in contested divorce:

    • child custody
    • child support
    • property division
    • asset distribution
    • debt allocation
    • alimony
    • temporary spousal support

    Uncontested Divorce

    An uncontested divorce is sometimes referred to as an “amicable” or “no-fault” divorce .

    In truth, spouses need not be amicable in an uncontested divorce. They can even hate each other. They just need to agree on all the issues involving divorce.

    In contrast to a contested divorce that can take years to complete, an uncontested divorce can be very quick. Some of my have taken less than one month.

    Most married people who want to get divorced probably would prefer uncontested divorce because of its speed, simplicity, convenience, privacy, and inexpensiveness. The efficiency and cost savings of uncontested divorces are the major advantages highlighted by most divorcing couples.

    Starting your unc0ntested divorce

    You might also check out my articles “When is the right time to get divorced?” and “Divorce after one visit to court? Yes!“

  • When is the right time to get divorced?

    “What is the best time to get divorced?”, you ask. Well there is no exact right answer, there is something to the thinking that the longer you stay in a bad situation the worse it will get.

    As in Illinois divorce lawyer, I run into people getting divorced because of the following reasons. You can email me or call me at 312-554-5433 if you need to start your uncontested divorce. And consider the below when thinking about the right to time get divorced.

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  • Military Divorce in Illioins: FAQ

    If you are in the military and want t a divorce in Illinois, you can contact me to get started with the divorce process. Many people on active duty service face challenges others don’t. And I find they are particularly interested in a fast and affordable. divorce.

    As a lawyer who helps members of the military divorce in Illinois, I’ve put together these frequently asked questions (FAQ) on Illinois military divorce. You might also check out some articles I wrote on the Illinois uncontested divorce process.

    Non-military may also find some of this information useful. (more…)

  • Uncontested Divorce Parenting Agreement: right of first refusal

    If you are interested in an uncontested divorce in Illinois, you know you have to agree on child custody and visitation if you have kids.

    One important aspect of a parenting agreement is addressing the “right of first refusal.” As an divorce lawyer in Evanston, Schaumburg, Libertyville and elsewhere in Illinois, I know what agreeing on time with the kids is often the major problem in coming to an agreement. If you are ready to get started with your uncontested divorce, contact me here to get started with your Illinois divorce. (more…)

  • Lake County Divorce: Waukegan court efficient, quick

    If you need a Lake County uncontested divorce lawyer, you an contact me and we can quickly get started on your case.  Contact me online or call 312-543-5433 to get started now. My goal will be to help you make your uncontested divorce affordable and quick.

    Because I am a Lake County divorce lawyer, I can assist clients from the following communities:

    • Highland Park
    • Deerfield
    • Libertyville
    • Lake Zurich
    • Mundelein

    Lake County divorce court location

    The Lake County County Courthouse is at  18 N County St., Waukegan, IL.

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    Depending upon where you live, that may or may not be convenient. If you don’t want to drive, you can take the Union Pacific North Line which stops right down the street.

    How many times do I have to go to court?

    Divorce isn’t normally associated with good news. But one bit of good news is this: with the process I used for uncontested divorce in Lake County, you only have to appear in court once – on the very last day to get it finalized.

    Meeting your divorce lawyer

    Meeting isn’t really necessary and just drives up costs. With the process I use, meeting before we go to court is unnecessarily.  I look at it this way: you have many better things to do than meet with a lawyer. And for me to keep my fees affordable, I try not to have unnecessary meetings. If you choose a lawyer who insists on a meeting, it is highly likely that that lawyer will charge a fee commensurate with having a meeting – even if the consultation is supposedly free.

    Is there a flat fee?

    Yes. My flat fee is very affordable. However, it does vary based on whether or not you have kids, or house, for example. The good news is that when you pay my flat fee, you don’t have to pay any other court fees – I pay those.

    How fast is an uncontested divorce?

    A divorce in Lake County can take a bit over a month, or longer if you have kids and must take the parenting class (most parents are required to do so). All in all, that’s pretty fast. Normally, the greatest delay is caused by the spouses reviewing that documents.  The quicker the documents are approved, the quicker I can file the case and get a court date.

     

     

  • Champaign County Divorce: Quick, with flat fee lawyer

    If you are looking for a quick and affordable uncontested divorce in Champaign County, and want a flat-fee lawyer, I can help you with your case.

    Divorce can be expensive, aggravating, and damaging. Or, it can be amicable, affordable, empowering, and quick. As lawyer who represents who can represent clients in a Champaign County uncontested divorce, I know which one you would prefer. And unlike some lawyer’s my clients have complaint to me about, I won’t try to stoke hostilities in order to cause litigation and a giant legal bill.

    How much does it cost?

    Cost is often the primary concern in a divorce. With the system I use, there is only one cost, and that’s my flat fee.

    There are court costs, but I pay those out of the flat fee. For your information however, in Champaign County there is a fee to file (for you), and a fee to answer (for your spouse); those fees are $215 and $115, respectively. But like I said, I pay all those fees for you. Click here to see the Champaign County Clerk of Court Fee Schedule.

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  • Fastest Uncontested Divorce in Illinois: 5 Tips

    Do you want to have the fastest uncontested divorce in Illinois? As an Illinois uncontested divorce lawyer, I can understand why. Divorce is not enjoyable and you want to move on with life.

    Here are my top 5 tips for an fast and affordable amicable divorce. You may also want to check out my article “Amicable divorce, meet affordable lawyer.”

    Tip 1: Enter Divorce Reality

    Uncontested divorce can be made more difficult when one party, or both, don’t have a realistic understanding of the process, or the law. One spouse may want a totally outsized portion of the assets, for example. Problems develop when one spouse wants something that a judge would be unlikely to order.

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