Illinois Divorce Lawyers Serving Clients in Chicago

Divorce is never easy, even when the parties generally agree to the terms of property distribution, maintenance, and parental responsibilities. Indeed, divorce is often one of the most difficult experiences in a person’s life, and it is important to have a dedicated Chicago divorce lawyer on your side throughout the process. At Arami Law, we advocate tirelessly for our clients and work to ensure that you have the emotional support you need at every stage of your divorce. We know that having experienced counsel on your side can make a difference in negotiations with the other party and when it comes time to go before the court.

Illinois divorce law, or the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (750 ILCS 5/), recently underwent a number of significant changes. Most notably, there are no longer fault-based grounds for divorce in the state. It is important for anyone thinking about filing for divorce in Chicago to understand the new process for seeking a dissolution of marriage.

Divorce Issues We Handle

At Arami Law, we regularly assist clients with a wide variety of divorce matters, including but not limited to:

• Filing for divorce;
• Property distribution;
• Spousal maintenance;
• Enforcing or contesting a prenuptial agreement;
• Child support; and
• Allocation of parental responsibilities.

No-Fault Divorce in Illinois

Beginning on January 1, 2016, Illinois became a “no-fault” divorce state. This means that all fault-based grounds for divorce have been removed from the statute. If there are no longer fault-based grounds for divorce, what does a person have to do in order to file for divorce in Chicago?

Under 750 ILCS 5/401, the only “ground” on which to file for divorce is by alleging that “irreconcilable differences have caused the irretrievable breakdown of the marriage.” A judgment of dissolution of marriage can then be issued if the court “determines that efforts at reconciliation have failed or that future attempts at reconciliation would be impracticable and not in the best interests of the family.”

How do you prove irreconcilable differences? The statute explains that there is “an irrebuttable presumption that the requirement of irreconcilable differences has been met” once the parties live separate and apart for a continuous period of at least six (6) months before the court enters a judgment of dissolution.

Requirements for a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage

To be eligible for a divorce in Illinois, at least one party must be a resident of the state. In filing a petition for dissolution of marriage, the party seeking a divorce must provide the following information:

• Age, occupation, and residence of each party (including length of residence in Illinois);
• Date of marriage and place of marriage registration;
• Whether a petition for dissolution of marriage is pending in another county in Illinois or in another state;
• Proof that at least one party is a resident of the state, and that irreconcilable differences caused the irretrievable breakdown of the marriage;
• Names, ages, and addresses of all living children from the marriage;
• Existing arrangements concerning support, spousal maintenance, and/or the allocation of parental responsibilities.

Contact a Chicago Divorce Lawyer

Divorces in Illinois can be uncontested, meaning that the parties generally agree to the terms, or contested, meaning that the parties cannot reach an agreement. In both situations, it is important to have an experienced divorce lawyer in Chicago on your side to advocate for your rights. Contact Arami Law today to get started on your case.