Uncontested Divorce in Illinois

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  • Divorce after one visit to court? Yes!

    Someone asked me “How many times will I have to go to court to get divorce?”

    “Just once,” I said.

    People are interested in getting an uncontested divorce in Illinois because they know that otherwise, divorce can be destructive, and expensive.

    Uncontested Divorce Process

    With the process I use for an uncontested divorce, my clients only have to go to court once – at the “prove up,” where the divorce in finalized.

    In fact, because I recognize people are busy, I use an efficient system that doesn’t require any meetings prior to the prove up. You probably have better things to do than hang out with a divorce lawyer (and if you don’t, please get therapy).

    For an overview of the process I use, please see my article “Process for an Uncontested Divorce in Illinois.”

    Efficiency in the Illinois divorce process

    One reason I focus on efficiency is that my clients have better things to do than to meet for no reason, chit chat on the phone, and spend time mailing documents back and forth.

    I utilize cutting-edge technology, like cloud-based storage to exchange documents with my clients. I also allow clients to sign some documents online. And unlike some Chicago divorce lawyers, I’m more than happy to communicate via email, after business hours, and on weekends.

     

  • Illinois child support calculator: look no further

    As a Chicago divorce lawyer, who focuses on uncontested divorce in Illinois, I often deal with people wondering how to come to agreement regarding child support. Many times in an uncontested divorce, parents are cooperating and spend equal time with the children.

    However, where child support is desired, it can be useful to have an understanding what one would pay according to statutory guidelines.

    That’s why I created what I think is the best Illinois child support calculator. A brief internet search would yield many options for online child support calculators. However, you would equally quickly realize most of those options don’t come close to the comprehensive nature of the Uncontested Divorce in Illinois Child Support Calculator.

  • Child Support in an Uncontested Divorce

    As a Chicago uncontested divorce lawyer, I’m happy to help people work out their problems at minimal expense. If you’ve seen my article titled “What is an Uncontested Divorce in Illinois?,” you know that for an uncontested divorce people need to agree on every aspect of the divorce.

    When spouses have kids, child support is an issue, even in an uncontested divorce. While parties in an uncontested divorce can make any reasonable agreement (if the judge approves), sometimes people don’t know where to start when it comes to child support. This article provides basic information on child support in Illinois.

    What percentage of income is paid as child support?

    In Illinois, the “payor” of child support pays a percentage of his or her net income. The definition of “net income” is more complicated than simply “take home pay” – so the definition of net income is addressed below.

    According to Section 505 of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (the “IMDMA”)(750 ILCS 5/55), a child support payor should pay the following percentage of his or her net income according to the number of kids involved in that particular child support case: 

    • one child: 20% of net income
    • two: 28% of net income
    • three children: 32% of net income
    • four children: 40% of net income
    • five children: 45% of net income
    • six or more children: 50% of net income

     “Net Income” + Illinois Child Support Calculator

    Without getting too technical here, a super-simple definition of “net income” for the purposes of Illinois child support is this: take home pay, minus certain other expenses. That’s not a definition that would be used in court, but it just to give you an idea of what’s going on.

    In order to help people determine what the statutory guideline would be fore their child support payments, I think I developed what is the best online Illinois child support calculator. Why do I think it’s the best? As a Chicago divorce lawyer, I’ve reviewed many child support calculators, and it seems many aren’t even created or managed by lawyers, and they don’t properly take into account the various deductions necessary to arrive at “net income” for the purposes of child support in Illinois.

    Deviating from Illinois child support guidelines

     In an uncontested divorce, parties can deviate from statutory guidelines, but the should that a judge need to approve of every agreement presented in court. Generally, there has to be a very good reason for a substantial deviation from statutory child support guidelines, even in an uncontested divorce. If you would like to deviate from child support guidelines, contact me to get started.

    Getting started with our Uncontested Divorce

    If you would like to get started with your divorce, please contact me. Unlike so called “online divorce” websites, I’m an actual lawyer that tries to get you the best outcome I can. Unlike websites that aren’t run by lawyers, I actually relay on training and years of experience – I don’t just spit out an agreement based on questions you answer on a website.

     

     

  • FAQ: 90 Day Residency Rule for Divorce in Illinois

    FAQ: 90 Day Residency Rule for Divorce in Illinois

    This is an FAQ on who can file a divorce in Illinois. People wonder, “Can I get divorced in Illinois?” As an Illinois uncontested divorce lawyer, that’s one of the most common questions I get. The information in this FAQ applies to uncontested and contested divorces in Illinois.

    I want to start my divorce NOW!

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  • What is an Online Divorce?

    I see a lot of Google ads for something called an “online divorce.” And as a Chicago divorce lawyer you can contact here, I sometimes get inquiries from people asking me how to get an online divorce. I guess they want one because they think it is the cheapest way to get a divorce in Illinois.

    Here’s the problem – there is no such thing as an online divorce. This is true whether you want a divorce in Chicago, Evanston, Naperville, Schaumburg, Joliet, or anywhere else in Illinois.

    Those companies that purpose to offer online divorces do nothing more than ask you a few questions, feed your answers into a form, then spit out some paperwork. You never talk to a lawyer. That’s a dangerous way to get a divorce.

    Many people ask me  . . .

    Do I need a lawyer to get divorced?

    The answer is no. But then again, you don’t really need a pilot to fly a plane – if you like living on the wild side. Look, no one wants to spend money  to pay anyone to do anything. That’s common sense. But if you use a so-called “online divorce” company to help you prepare paperwork so that you can represent yourself in a divorce, you could be doing something that will negatively impact you for year to come.

    Have you ever done a brake job on a car? No? Well next time your brakes squeak, do yourself a favor and take the car to a mechanic. Next time you need a divorce, find a divorce lawyer.

    It might just help you . . .

    Avoid problems with a divorce in Illinois

    Even when highly intelligent clients tell me that they have worked out everything with their spouses, it never fails that upon further prompting from me, they learn that they have not actually discussed all relevant issues with their spouse. Or sometimes, they learn they have barely touched on issues that must be discussed in much greater detail.

    Here are a few examples of how a lawyer can help you avoid problems:

    • Child custody: Instead of guessing at the implications of joint legal custody versus sole legal custody, a lawyer can explain it to you and talk over your options
    • Child visitation: A lawyer can help you avoid agreeing to something that will likely be problematic in the future.
    • Dividing assets and debts: If you don’t cover all your bases, it could cost you big money in the future. A lawyer can help you make sure you don’t get stuck with debt you don’t want, for example
    • Dealing with a house: Sometimes people getting a divorce don’t know how to handle the marital home. A lawyer can help draft an agreement that protects against unexpected liability.

     

  • Process for an Uncontested Divorce in Illinois

    You may have heard that an uncontested divorce in Illinois is likely the best way to end your marriage. But as a Chicago divorce lawyer, I know the process can seem daunting. So this article is meant to explain the process of an uncontested divorce in Illinois.

    Uncontested divorce process:

    1. Meeting with a divorce lawyer: As your divorce lawyer, I will interview you and determine the relevant information. Meeting in person is often not necessary. Most information-gathering can be done on the phone, or online.
    2. Drafting the paperwork: As your divorce lawyer, I draft all the paperwork and forms. This include a petition for dissolution (what start’s the process), a marital settlement agreement (MSA), a joint parenting agreement (JPA) (if necessary), and a judgement for dissolution (the court order that says you are divorced). I also prepare numerous court forms that must be properly executed and filed.
    3. Reviewing paperwork: You review the documents I draft. Once you approve, your spouse reviews the documents, and signs where necessary.
    4. Filing paperwork: With the the process I used, all the paper work is filed at once, for a streamlined process.
    5. Finalizing the divorce: An uncontested divorce is finalized through a court appearance called a “prove up.” A prove up is essentially a chance for the important elements of the agreement to be put on the record, and for the judge to ask any questions he or she deems necessary. The person who filed for divorce must be there, the other person need not be there. With the process I use, the prove up is the only time my uncontested divorce clients go to court.

    Finding a lawyer for an uncontested divorce:

    You can contact me here. I will promptly contact you. If I cannot handle your divorce, I may be able to assist you in providing a referral for an Illinois divorce lawyer that can handle your case.

    My goal is to serve clients in the following areas: Cook County: Chicago, Naperville, Evanston, Schaumburg, Skokie, etc; Lake County: Highland Park, Highwood, Waukegan; DuPage County: Elmhurst, Wheaton; Kane County: St. Charles, Geneva; Will County: Joliet; Champaign County: Champaign, Urbana; Sangamon County: Springfield; Madison County: Edwardsville.

     

     

  • What is an Uncontested Divorce in Illinois?

    An uncontested divorce in Illinois is the least costly and most stress-free way to get divorced.

    As a Chicago divorce lawyer, I always try to steer clients in the most peaceful route possible. Check out the below overview, and see my other article “Process for an Uncontested Divorce in Illinois” for a succinct overview.

    Uncontested divorces involve agreement

    For an uncontested divorce in Illinois, spouses will have to reach agreement in the following areas:

    Child custody: Will parents share “joint legal custody,” so that they are both legal guardians? Where will the children live?

    Child support: How much child support will be paid? And to who?

    Dividing marital property – assets and debts: How will the marriage’s assets be divided? Who gets what? Should some of it be sold, and the proceeds distributed? Who gets the house? Who gets the debt?

    Spousal maintenance (alimony): How much alimony should be paid, if any, and for how long?

    Starting an uncontested divorce in Illinois

    Even if your marriage has taken on a certain amount of acrimony, you and your spouse might be able to come to agreement for the benefit of everyone involved. In the end, an uncontested divorce is about pragmatics: putting the past behind you and moving ahead as quickly as possible.

    You can contact me here. If I cannot handle your divorce, I may be able to assist you in providing a referral for an Illinois divorce lawyer that can handle your case. My goal is to serve clients in the following areas: Cook County: Chicago, Naperville, Evanston, Schaumburg, Skokie, etc; Lake County: Highland Park, Highwood, Waukegan; DuPage County: Elmhurst, Wheaton; Kane County: St. Charles, Geneva; Will County: Joliet; Champaign County: Champaign, Urbana; Sangamon County: Springfield; Madison County: Edwardsville.