BLOG

Deciding to file for divorce in Chicago is rarely just a legal issue. It often involves finances, children, housing, property, emotional stress, and the challenge of setting up two separate households. Before you file, think about what you want your life to look like both during and after the divorce. Filing can start deadlines, require financial disclosures, raise parenting questions, and bring court involvement that may affect important parts of your life.  Illinois law offers a framework for...   Read more ...  

A common question during a Chicago divorce is whether you will receive spousal support or alimony after your marriage ends. In Illinois, this support is called maintenance, and it is not automatically given just because one spouse earns more. The court first looks at both spouses’ financial situations and several legal factors to decide if maintenance is appropriate.  Only then does the court decide the amount and duration. If you left your job, worked less to care for children, supported you...   Read more ...  

Divorce after age 50 has become increasingly common, even as divorce rates have declined among some younger age groups. Researchers often refer to divorce among adults 50 and older as “gray divorce,” and recent research indicates that nearly 40% of people getting divorced in the United States are now age 50 or older.  For couples in Chicago who have been married for decades, ending a marriage at this stage of life presents concerns that may be very different from those facing younger spouse...   Read more ...  

Divorce changes your family, but it does not have to weaken your relationship with your child. Many parents worry about keeping that bond strong after a marriage ends. Illinois law puts the child’s best interests first when deciding on parenting time and responsibilities. How you talk to your child, work with the other parent, and follow court orders can affect both your family and your divorce case. We encourage you to look past the current conflict and make choices that protect your long-ter...   Read more ...  

Personal growth can be a good thing, but it can also change a marriage in unexpected ways. In Chicago, we often meet people who never thought they would face conflict, distance, or resentment in their marriage, but later realize that one or both partners have changed. Maybe a spouse goes back to school, starts a new career, becomes more independent, sets new financial goals, focuses on sobriety, heals from trauma, or wants different things for parenting and family life. These changes do not alwa...   Read more ...  

Many spouses in Chicago realize their marriage is not working long before anyone files for divorce. Even when the relationship feels over, taking the legal step to end it can seem overwhelming and uncertain. People often put off divorce because they worry about money, children, housing, retirement accounts, military benefits, family expectations, or the fear of starting over. While waiting might feel safer at first, it can lead to legal and financial problems if assets change, debts grow, or par...   Read more ...