Chicago Divorce Litigation Lawyer
In an Illinois divorce, couples are mandated to attend mediation before their case can be settled in the courtroom. While it’s best to try to resolve these issues with mediation, sometimes it doesn’t work due to different personalities. One party may be seeking revenge, refusing to cooperate or negotiate at all.
This can make a divorce troublesome. Litigation may be the last resort, although it’s a costly and time-consuming option. It’s also a highly stressful and emotional situation, one that everyone wants to avoid at all costs. You may be concerned about your case becoming a nasty court battle.
If you do have to go to court, though, you need the right legal help on your side. You need someone who won’t back down. A Chicago divorce litigation lawyer from Birnbaum Gelfman Sharma & Arnoux, LLC can protect your legal rights and help you get the outcome you desire.
What is Divorce Litigation?
When a divorce is contested, meaning that the spouses cannot agree on one or more issues, and mediation cannot resolve the issues, then one spouse may file a divorce complaint with the court. This makes it so the court has to decide the outcome of the divorce and officially end the marriage. This is done through a particular set of legal procedures that the spouses and the court must do by certain deadlines.
A litigated divorce typically ends when the family court judge oversees a trial and makes decisions about the important aspects of a divorce. Although you can represent yourself in a litigated divorce, it’s often a good idea to hire a lawyer to provide advice, gather evidence, help you argue your case, and navigate the court system. You and your spouse will appear before a judge in the Illinois family court, along with your attorneys, if you hired one. While some cases are simple, they are often complex and may even involve business law. It may be necessary for your lawyer to call on industry experts to strengthen your case.
Once you start a litigated divorce, you don’t have to go through with it. You can settle the case at any time and convert the case into an uncontested divorce, which can result in a quicker resolution. Most spouses, however, don’t settle until right before trial.
Keep in mind that a litigated divorce can take a long time. To finalize a litigated divorce, you could be waiting a year or more. Complex cases may take several years to finalize and potentially cost $75,000 or more to litigate.
Contact Birnbaum Gelfman Sharma & Arnoux, LLC Today
Ideally, a divorce should be resolved with mediation. But when the parties cannot agree, litigation may be the only way.
You need aggressive representation on your side. Put your trust in the team at Birnbaum Gelfman Sharma & Arnoux, LLC and get results. To schedule a consultation with a Chicago divorce litigation lawyer, call (312) 863-2800 or fill out the online form.
