Couples in Illinois often live together for many years without considering or pursuing marriage. Cohabitation without marriage may be preferable for many different reasons, including partners who come from very difficult cultures, couples who want to save the money and hassle of planning a wedding, or people for whom marriage is just not a priority. Although these reasons are legitimate, the truth is that marriage in Illinois gives partners rights and protections during divorce that do not exist for cohabitating couples, no matter how long they have been living together. 

Divorces involving spouses from two different countries may present the issue of dividing assets owned by one or both spouses in a location other than America. This can present a number of complications for an Illinois divorce because if a spouse is determined to hide international assets or lie about their value, it can be difficult to find or assess the exact value of an asset. Fortunately, attorneys with experience with dissolution of arranged marriages can help spouses who own complex assets overseas divide their assets fairly. 

Even in the most ideal circumstances, getting divorced is challenging and involves a thorough understanding of complex Illinois law. But when one or both spouses are active members of the United States Armed Forces and are deployed, divorce becomes more complicated because military divorce laws apply. If you or your spouse are an active member of the USAF, here are three ways a military deployment could affect your Illinois divorce. 

One common reason many Illinois couples pursue divorce is because of very different opinions regarding how their children should be raised. Unfortunately, after a divorce is finalized and a parenting agreement has been made, these issues often continue to be a problem because parents must continue to raise the children. When one parent has a laissez-faire attitude towards things like homework completion, the other parent may become increasingly frustrated by failing grades, notes from school, and constantly feeling like the “bad guy” for enforcing homework. If you are co-parenting in …

When a couple who shares children and owns property wants to get an Illinois divorce, they will need to draft a marital settlement agreement (MSA) before the divorce can be finalized. A marital settlement agreement, or divorce agreement, is the contract that details exactly how a married couple will divide their marital assets and debt and handle child-related issues. Once the MSA is drafted, a judge can approve it and include it in the Judgment of Dissolution, which is handed down when the marriage ends. So, do you need an MSA? And, if so, what does an MSA need to contain? Read on to find …

Spouses getting divorced in Illinois must manage the negotiation of their marital assets, including determining which assets are marital property and which are personally owned. While this sounds straightforward, in practice it can be a very difficult and contentious process. This is especially true for couples with a high net worth and complex assets, but even spouses who have inherited relatively small amounts may struggle with determining what is marital property and personal property.