My Husband Cheated on Me – Is that Grounds for a Legal Separation and Divorce in Chicago? Chicago’s No-Fault Divorce Laws Explained
It is undeniable that infidelity is one of the top reasons that people in Chicago and throughout the country ultimately separate and get a divorce. For some, an affair or one night stand comes out of the blue, but once is enough to start official divorce proceedings. For others, the trust in the marriage was broken long ago, and it was only a matter of time until the straw broke the camel’s back. Either way, cheating, infidelity, affairs, and broken trust are often too much for a marriage to withstand, and legal separation and dissolution of marriage are, for many individuals and couples, the next best steps.
When a married individual finds out that their spouse has been unfaithful, the next question that they may have is whether the infidelity is sufficient grounds to legally separate or get a divorce. The answer may surprise you. To help married individuals in Chicago better understand Chicago’s “no-fault” divorce system, we explain the answer here.
Grounds for Legal Separation and Divorce? Not Necessary in Chicago
It may surprise married individuals in Chicago to learn that the answer to the question “is infidelity sufficient grounds for a divorce in Chicago” is both yes and no. The answer is both yes and no because in Chicago, under Illinois divorce laws, no “grounds” are required to legally separate or get a divorce at all. Illinois is what is known as a “no-fault” divorce state, which means that a married individual need not plead any specific “grounds” for divorce when they seek to separate or divorce from their spouse. Instead, in Chicago, under Illinois marriage and divorce laws, a person seeking a dissolution of marriage need only plead that there are “irreconcilable differences” between the spouses in the marriage. In short, a person seeking a divorce in Chicago no longer needs to plead any specific reason for the divorce, under recent Illinois marriage and divorce laws.
Legal Help with Your Chicago Separation or Divorce
With the end of requiring grounds for divorce in Chicago, Chicago divorces are easier to obtain than they were in yesteryears, but the process is still complex and it can feel like an uphill battle to seek a divorce on one’s own. Indeed, no matter what reason a married person may have for seeking a divorce – infidelity, financial irresponsibility, abuse, addiction, falling out of love, or any other reason – it is always best to seek the counsel and representation of an experienced Chicago divorce lawyer. An experienced Chicago divorce lawyer will listen to the specific and unique facts of your marriage and divorce story, and can help fight for you in your individual interests in your Chicago divorce.
The experienced Chicago divorce lawyers at the law firm Birnbaum Gelfman Sharma & Arnoux, LLC offer a confidential consultation to learn about your unique Chicago legal separation or divorce case and to see if they can represent you and your interests in your Chicago legal separation or divorce. Contact the experienced Chicago divorce lawyers at Birnbaum Gelfman Sharma & Arnoux, LLC today and speak to an experienced lawyer about your rights and options.
