Chicago Divorce Lawyer
Close to half of all marriages end in divorce. Despite how common divorce is, it’s no minor occurrence. It’s nothing to mess around with.
If you go online, you’ll find many options for handling your divorce on your own. However, this is not something you should do. Divorce is an often complicated issue with many elements.
When you hire a Chicago divorce lawyer from Birnbaum Gelfman Sharma & Arnoux, LLC, you get an experienced professional who will help you navigate the divorce process. Contact our office today to learn more.
- Alimony/Maintenance
- Child Custody
- Cohabitation Agreements
- Collaborative Divorce
- Contempt & Enforcement
- Divorce Appeals
- Divorce Litigation
- Divorce Mediation
- Divorce Process
- High Net Worth Divorce
- High Net Worth Divorce for Athletes
- High Net Worth Divorce for Professionals
- Investments & Business Interests
- Legal Separation
- Paternity
- Property Division
- Taxation & Divorce
- Uncontested Divorce
Filing for Divorce
If you plan to file for divorce in Illinois, there are a couple things to consider. First, there are residency requirements. You or your spouse must be a resident of Illinois for at least 90 days.
There must be grounds for divorce. In Illinois, this is typically known as irreconcilable differences. If you and your spouse have lived apart for at least six months before the divorce, then the requirement has been met. Otherwise, the judge will need proof and documentation that the marriage has broken down and all attempts to reconcile have failed.
Once you have met these requirements, then you will need to file divorce papers and send them to your spouse. Your spouse can then contest the divorce.
Contested vs. Uncontested Divorce
There are two main types of divorce: contested and uncontested. A contested divorce is when the parties cannot agree on one or more issues. This type of divorce is quite common, as it can be hard to agree on elements such as child custody and property division. Many people would rather take their case to court and have a judge decide.
However, this route is costly and time-consuming. Therefore, it’s best to work with your case and try to resolve all the outstanding issues. Dragging out the divorce process is not beneficial at all and can be especially damaging to any children involved. Plus, you and your spouse are in the best positions to make decisions. You both know your family dynamics better than anyone and should be able to make better decisions than the judge.
An uncontested divorce, on the other hand, is a lot easier for everyone involved. Both parties agree on everything and the process is much smoother. Both spouses review the documents and agree to all the terms. The judge then reviews the documents and if they approve, a final divorce decree is entered. The divorce is cheaper and less time-consuming. In fact, it’s possible for an uncontested divorce to be resolved in a month or so.
Contact Birnbaum Gelfman Sharma & Arnoux, LLC Today
Divorce is a major issue that comes with many repercussions. Ending a marriage can be highly challenging, stressful, and emotional.
Don’t handle a divorce on your own. Seek legal help from Birnbaum Gelfman Sharma & Arnoux, LLC. We’ll help you start a new life after your marriage ends. Contact a Chicago divorce lawyers today by calling (312) 863-2800 or filling out the online form.
