On average, Illinois divorce lawyers charge between $260 and $330 per hour. Average total costs for Illinois divorce lawyers are $11,000 to $14,000 but typically are significantly lower in cases with no contested issues.
Divorcing spouses must share the cost of attorney fees - even fees already paid. The Illinois Supreme Court holds that a financially strapped divorcing wife can require her husband's lawyer to turn over already-paid fees to help finance her own legal expenses.
Does It Matter Who Files First In An Illinois Divorce? There is no grand strategic advantage to filing for divorce before the other person files. The person who files first is labelled “the Petitioner” and the other party, whether they file or not, is labelled “The Respondent.”
Illinois Filing Fee This number only constitutes basic court fees, so while it is possible for an uncontested divorce to cost only $350, a more complicated case will pose additional expenses and cost considerably more.
Free legal help? Free legal help is also called civil legal aid. Legal aid lawyers provide advice and represent people who cannot afford a lawyer .
The spouse who applies for the divorce is known as the Petitioner and the other person is the Respondent. As they are the person applying for the divorce, the Petitioner will from the outset be responsible for the cost of the divorce. So, on average the Petitioner's costs will be higher than the Respondent's.
Divorce laws in Illinois allow either party to receive alimony payments (or spousal support/maintenance payments). The court determines the amount of alimony as well as the duration based on numerous factors. Fault and marital misconduct are not among them.
In Illinois, there is no mandatory waiting period for an uncontested divorce as long as you meet the residency requirements. A contested divorce usually has a waiting period of six months. Overall, finalizing a divorce in Illinois can take anywhere between 2 months and a year.
Property may be split 50/50 in divorce, but it doesn't have to be. The court will look at the factors listed above and decide how to split the marital estate. Some property will not get split, and if you own the non-marital property, it is all yours.
In 2016, Illinois abolished fault divorce, so spouses can no longer cite any of these fault grounds as the reason for their divorce. Fault may come into play, however, when courts are considering child custody and visitation matters.
The basic formula for alimony in Illinois is fairly simple: (33% of the payer's net income) – (25% of the recipient's net income) = the yearly maintenance paid. One condition to this is that the amount awarded cannot cause the receiving spouse to earn more than 40% of the couple's combined net income.
Yes, it is possible to file your own divorce and complete the process without the aid of an attorney.
Michelle Dahlquist concentrates her practice in complex family law matters and has extensive experience handling such issues. Ms. Dahlquist provides clients with an explanation of his/her legal rights and applicable law so that a client can make an informed decision on the relevant issue. She recognizes that each case presents different sets of facts and circumstances and that each person may choose to handle their respective issues in a different manner. While some cases may need to proceed to a contested trial, many cases settle amicably with skillful negotiation. Ms. Dahlquist is a Certified Guardian ad Litem with the...
Judith’s practice is focused in the areas of divorce, custody, paternity, and guardianship proceedings. She is an aggressive trial attorney and persuasive negotiator with extensive experience in negotiating and litigating divorce related issues including custody, visitation, maintenance, child support, the distribution of assets and liabilities, domestic violence and orders of protection.
As an experienced litigator with over 20 years of experience, I have extensive experience handling the following types of cases: divorce, child custody, visitation, child support, alimony (maintenance), property... Read More »
Dominick Dolci is a family law and criminal defense attorney in DuPage County, IL. Dominick acts as the Managing Partner at the Law Offices of Dolci & Weiland, with offices in Oakbrook Terrace, IL and Chicago, IL.
I have sat on the other client side of the lawyer-client table, which gives me a unique insight to the emotions that my clients experience. Divorce and child custody matters are never easy on the people involved . It is... Read More »
Contact us online or call us at 312-715-0870 to schedule a family law or Online divorce consultation in DuPage County today.
At Anderson & Boback, our mission is to aid families in solving their legal issues with the dedication you deserve. We pledge to provide honesty, integrity, and compassion delivered with outstanding customer service.
When a marriage has broken down to the point that divorce is unavoidable, the process of untangling a married life into two separate lives must begin. You might, at this point, be feeling a little anxious or overwhelmed by the extent of the work ahead.
The attorneys of Weiler & Lengle P.C. focus our practice exclusively on divorce and family law in the communities surrounding DuPage County, Illinois. As such, we work with many women and men who own or are partners in small businesses, professional practices, or closely-held corporations. Our clients often have a complex mix of income streams, marital property, and non-marital assets which require meticulous financial analysis in order to design an equitable settlement.
Many people are reluctant to contact a DuPage County divorce lawyer because they are afraid it might escalate an already tense home situation. But talking to an attorney does not mean you are determined to drag your spouse and family into court for a long, drawn-out divorce battle. Rather, speaking with a lawyer is simply the first step in getting some basic answers about how the law might apply to your situation. At SAM LAW OFFICE LLC, our job is not to push you into making a rash decision to get a divorce. Our role is to ensure you are informed of all of your legal options.
Divorce is not uncommon. Based on data from the Illinois Department of Health, roughly 2,300 DuPage County couples get divorced each year , but not every one of these divorces follows the same pattern. Some divorces are uncontested and can be settled without the need for extensive judicial intervention. Other divorces are more difficult. Whatever your situation, we are ready to help.
We take an honest and straightforward approach, ensuring that our clients understand their legal options and are prepared for success. Attorney Chantelle Porter is highly respected in the courts of DuPage County, and her experience as a guardian ad litem and former Public Defender provide her with the insight needed to address the complex legal issues that can arise in black family law cases.
Whether you are planning to end your marriage, need to protect your parental rights, or want to ensure that your children receive financial support, you need an attorney who understands the black experience and can advocate for your family's best interests throughout the legal process.
Paternity - If parents were unmarried at the time of a child's birth, the father will not be considered the child's legal parent until paternity is established. Parentage may be established voluntarily or through court proceedings and DNA testing. Legal paternity will protect fathers' rights to have a relationship with their children, and it will ensure that children can receive child support.
DCFS - In cases involving suspected child abuse or neglect, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services may conduct an investigation to determine if action needs to be taken to protect children. In these cases, it is essential to work with an attorney who can help protect the rights of parents and children and ensure that important family relationships can be maintained.
As is true for all married spouses, black couples must complete a variety of legal requirements in order to dissolve their marriage through divorce, including determining how to divide marital property and addressing matters related to child custody or spousal maintenance/alimony . Divorcing spouses may also need to address additional concerns, including determining how children from previous relationships or other family members who live in the household will be affected by a couple's divorce.
Family ties are strong in black families, and couples are often closely involved in their churches or surrounding communities. In order to preserve these important relationships, divorcing spouses may wish to work together to reach a resolution without the need for an extended battle in court.