How do I Seek Pet Custody in My Divorce?

Going through a divorce is never easy, and many Chicago residents who file for divorce have particular concerns about pet ownership and pet custody. Illinois is one of only a handful of states that has a law concerning pet custody. While pet ownership or pet custody does not rise to the same level as the allocation of parental responsibilities for children under Illinois law, the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (IMDMA) also makes clear that pets are not[...]

Will the Court Divide My Inheritance if I File for Divorce?

When you are thinking about divorce and learning more about property division in Illinois, we know that you are likely to have many questions. One common set of questions we often receive concerns the classification of marital property for purposes of distribution. For example, are there any kinds of property acquired after the date of the marriage that can be classified as separate property? Or, for instance, are there situations in which property acquired by one of the spouses many[...]

Should I File for Divorce or Seek an Annulment?

Couples in Cook County who no longer want to be married sometimes want to know whether they should seek a divorce or an annulment. People often think that an annulment is preferable to a divorce for different reasons; sometimes those reasons are based on the person’s religion, but a preference for an annulment can also arise from concerns about the social stigma of divorce. Can a person choose whether to get an annulment or a divorce? In short, anyone who[...]

What is the Difference Between Separation and Divorce?

If you are having problems in your marriage, you might be thinking about filing for divorce in Chicago. At the same time, you may have heard about the possibility of separation—and legal separation, specifically—as an alternative to divorce. Is it possible to become legally separated? In short, the answer is yes: One of the parties in a married couple can seek a legal separation. However, it is important to understand how a legal separation differs from a physical separation and,[...]

How to Have a Friendly Divorce

Is it possible to have a friendly divorce in Chicago? In other words, do spouses actually come to a joint agreement to end their marriage on terms that are favorable to both parties? While most divorces involve at least some contentious issues, spouses often are able to resolve these matters so that they can still have an uncontested divorce. In other cases, even when the parties disagree about certain terms pertaining to property division, for example, it may still be[...]