Divorce (Dissolution of Marriage)

Back to Services
REQUEST A CONSULTATION

At Stern Mendez in Evanston, Chicago, Lake Forest and Oak Brook, we understand that you probably never thought you would need to hire a divorce lawyer. That’s why we take our responsibility so seriously to represent you in an Illinois divorce—and to guide you in understanding the divorce process.

When a marriage breaks down or the married couple is no longer happy, sometimes the best course of action is to divorce. Technically called a dissolution of marriage, divorce is the legal process that dissolves the bonds of matrimony by unwinding the couple’s intertwined finances and affairs. It also ends the many rights acquired by way of marriage.

Divorces can grow complicated and stressful, and it’s easy to lose sight of what is actually occurring. In simple terms, the legal process of divorce covers three things:

  1. Dividing What We Have
  2. Dividing What We’re Going to Get
  3. Parenting the Children

How are divorces resolved in Illinois?

While each divorce is as unique as the spouses in a marriage, all divorce proceedings generally involve some combination of:

Some cases may also be resolved amicably.

There is no “best” method for resolving a divorce. Ultimately, the path taken to finalize a divorce depends on the level of communication between the spouses and their contested issues. At Stern Mendez in Evanston, Chicago, Lake Forest and Oak Brook, we encourage amicable divorce resolutions whenever possible—but will fight vigorously in court if needed.

Contact Our Divorce Law Firm in Evanston, Chicago, Lake Forest and Oak Brook

For cases in Chicago, the North Shore, DuPage County and surrounding suburbs, we are happy to discuss your divorce case and provide our opinion on how your case should be resolved. Contact Stern Mendez for a free consultation at any time by calling (847) 868-9584. We can meet with you in our offices in Evanston, Chicago, Lake Forest and Oak Brook, or at another location.

Our Divorce (Dissolution of Marriage) Services

The process of divorce can be intimidating. At Stern Mendez in Evanston, Chicago, Lake Forest and Oak Brook, we are dedicated to supporting you and providing clarity throughout the process. That’s why we created this basic overview of the legal process of divorce in Chicago, Illinois and the other suburbs…

Learn More

During a divorce, it can sometimes be difficult to translate statute and laws into real world examples. This is especially true for maintenance, also known as alimony or spousal support. Figuring out the numbers and specifics during your divorce can add a lot of stress to an already emotional time….

Learn More

Here is a quick overview of the divorce litigation process in Illinois: You or your partner file a request asking the court to resolve an issue. Both of your lawyers will gather all the information necessary to settle the dispute, then present it before a judge. The judge then rules…

Learn More

Oftentimes, even if a couple has failed to reach a divorce agreement, they still are willing to communicate to resolve the case. In this instance, it is common for the parties and their attorneys to meet for a settlement conference and attempt to resolve the terms of the divorce out…

Learn More

The process of divorce does not need to be a drawn-out dispute between the divorcing partners. If a couple has reached an agreement on the terms of the divorce, or wishes to resolve their case amicably, they can avoid court and enter into an uncontested settlement. This is considered an…

Learn More

As with any divorce, there are many issues that need to be resolved before the dissolution of marriage. With an uncontested divorce, there should be extra care taken to make certain that no potential matter is glossed over for a quick settlement. Stern Mendez created a checklist of common issues…

Learn More

One of the issues facing a divorcing couple is deciding how their assets and property will be split after the divorce is final. The act of thoroughly and fairly dividing their property in a marital estate is known as property division. The division of property can often be one of…

Learn More

In many divorce cases, the issue of alimony or spousal support will arise. More formally, this is known as maintenance and is a sum of money paid from one spouse to the other. Maintenance is designed to help the lower-earning spouse maintain the standard of living he or she would have enjoyed if the marriage had not ended.

Learn More

Monetary issues can often add to the stress of divorce. A often contested issue is maintenance or alimony, which is a sum of money paid from one spouse to the other so the lower-earning spouse may maintain a standard of living he or she would have enjoyed if the marriage…

Learn More

The process of divorce in Illinois unwinds the couple’s intertwined finances and affairs, including:

  • Property and Debts — When a couple marries, they create a “marital estate” under which they jointly own debts and assets acquired during the marriage. Upon divorce, the couple divides up the estate. More >
  • Taxes — After divorce, a couple can no longer file their taxes jointly—so any outstanding tax liabilities need to be addressed and resolved.
  • Attorneys’ Fees — If one spouse is unable to pay the divorce attorney’s fees, or these fees were greater than could reasonably be expected, the court may order the other spouse to contribute.

A divorce judgment will also cover what you get after the divorce:

  • Maintenance (Alimony) — A payment from one spouse to the other; it’s intended to help the recipient-spouse maintain the same standard of living had the marriage not dissolved. More >
  • Child Support and Expenses — A payment made to the parent with the majority parenting time to assist with the financial burden of raising the couple’s and expenses for living costs. More >
  • Life Insurance — A life insurance policy may be used to insure a spouse’s financial obligation extending beyond the date of divorce.
  • Health Insurance — If one spouse has been providing health insurance coverage for the family, he or she may need to provide continuing coverage under COBRA.

If a couple has children, their divorce must address the issue of parental allocation, which includes:

  • Parental Decision-Making Authority — While parents can agree to divide decision-making authority as they see fit, courts typically divide parental authority for education, religion, medical and extracurricular activities. Thus a parent can share or have sole decision-making authority for each of those four areas. More >
  • Parenting Time — Also known as visitation, parenting time is how the time each parent spends with their children is divided. More >

All divorce proceedings generally involve some combination of out-of-court negotiations, in-court litigation and mediation:

  • Negotiated Divorce Settlements — Negotiations are discussions aimed at reaching a settlement. They occur at all stages of a case and allow the parties to bypass needless conflict. More >
  • Divorce Litigation — Litigation is the process of bringing an unresolved issue before a judge and requesting a ruling. The vast majority of cases do not proceed to trial. More >
  • Attorney-Assisted Mediation — Mediation involves bringing an unresolved issue before a trained mediator to assist with the negotiation and resolution of the matter. More >

Some cases may also be resolved amicably or through a collaborative divorce. There is no “best” method for resolving a divorce. Ultimately, the path taken to finalize a divorce depends on the level of communication between the spouses and their contested issues.

For a free consultation, call Stern Mendez at (847) 868-9584 or contact us.