Uncontested Divorce Checklist


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 that should be addressed in most divorces. It is our hope the below Uncontested Divorce Checklist will assist you through the process of divorce in Evanston, Chicago and Illinois. This list is far from exhaustive, though it should provide you with a solid foundation to see if your divorce is truly uncontested.

Due to the complexity of custody and parenting issues in Illinois, this list is for couples without minor children. It is always advisable to hire an attorney when considering divorce. Please feel free to contact Stern Mendez in Evanston, Chicago, Lake Forest and Oak Brook with any questions you may have.

Uncontested Divorce Checklist

Alimony (Maintenance or Spousal Support)

  • Will you or your spouse pay the other alimony?
  • If so, how much and for how long?
  • Will the spouse paying maintenance take out a life insurance policy to secure his or her obligation?

Bank Accounts

  • Will you and your spouse keep the financial accounts in your own names?
  • Do you and your spouse know the value of each other’s individual bank accounts?
  • Will the joint account be divided equally?

Retirement Accounts

  • Will you and your spouse keep the retirement accounts in your own names?
  • Do you and your spouse know the value of each other’s retirement accounts?
  • Will the marital portion of the retirement accounts be divided equally?

Personal Property

  • Has all personal property been divided between you and your spouse, including marital property?
  • Are there any items of personal property that both you and your spouse want to keep?
  • Is there a plan for distributing the remaining personal property between you?

Real Estate

  • Do you and your spouse share ownership of any real estate?
  • Do you and your spouse know the current value of that real estate?
  • Who will keep the real estate?
  • How will the party giving up ownership be compensated?
  • If there is a mortgage, can it be refinanced to remove your or your spouse’s name?
  • If the real estate will be sold, how will the proceeds be divided?

Vehicles

  • Do you or your spouse own any cars or other vehicles?
  • Are the vehicles in your individual names, or are they owned jointly?
  • Who will keep which vehicle?
  • If there are liens on the vehicles, can they be refinanced to remove one spouse’s name?

Debts

  • Were any debts incurred during the marriage?
  • Are they still outstanding?
  • How will those outstanding debts be divided?
  • If you and your spouse will remain jointly liable, what will the payment plan look like?

Taxes

  • Do you and/or your spouse have any outstanding tax liabilities?
  • How will the tax liabilities be divided?

Health Insurance

  • Do you and your spouse each have your own health insurance policy?
  • If not, will one of you require COBRA?
  • How will the costs of COBRA be divided?

Contact a Divorce Lawyer in Evanston, Chicago, Lake Forest and Oak Brook

If you are unsure whether your divorce case can be considered uncontested, contact Stern Mendez. We are happy to review your case and provide our opinion.

Request a free consultation online or call us at (847) 868-9584. We can meet with you in our offices in Evanston, Chicago, Lake Forest and Oak Brook, or at another location.

Related 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
Our family law and estate planning firm is based in Evanston, Chicago, Lake Forest and Oak Brook. We serve clients across Cook County and the North Shore, as well as Lake, DuPage and Will Counties.

Testimonial

“Jason and Vanessa were very communicative throughout the entire process to answer any questions or concerns. I would greatly recommend them for any immigration matters!”

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