Illinois Divorce Law Resources
The following information is a resource on Illinois divorce law, child support guidelines, and legal separation resources. You can find divorce lawyers and other professional services, separation and divorce forms, child support calculators, and support information. In addition to the resources listed below, you can find more help and information in our divorce article section.
ProfessionalsDivorce LawyersDivorce Mediators Financial Planners Accountants Business Valuation Counseling / Therapy Divorce & Parenting Services Private Investigators Background Checks Divorce SupportSupport GroupsDomestic ViolenceShelters and Hotlines |
Divorce PapersDivorce and Separation FormsOnline Divorce Divorce Form Preparation QDRO Preparation Family Law ResourcesIL Divorce LawChild Support Guidelines Child Support Calculator Child Support Enforcement |
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ILLINOIS DIVORCE LAWYERS
Robin Becker - Solutions First
1619 S Michigan Ave, First Floor
Chicago, IL 60613
Counties Served: Cook, Will, Lake, McHenry, Kane
Phone: (312) 386-1467
Fax: (312) 386-1485
Email:
Website: www.solfirst.com
At Solutions First, we distinguish ourselves from other Chicago area divorce and business law and mediation firms by putting our clients first, offering high quality legal services, and finding CLIENT-based legal solutions. We help all our divorce and business clients explore the law creatively, integrating mediation techniques when appropriate, and emphasizing aggressive courtroom strategies when they best serve the client’s needs. We help them understand the costs and benefits of going to court or mediating out of court and tell it to our clients “straight!” Whether we are in the courtroom or mediating, we strive always to blend professional decorum with understanding and empathy. We welcome all questions and inquiries. We serve clients of all ethnicities, religious affiliations, and sexual orientation.
Janet Boyle
Chicago, Arlington Heights Illinois
Janet E. Boyle & Associates is a firm committed to providing optimum representation in all areas of Family Law. Experience the difference. Offices in Chicago and Arlington Heights.
Jeff Brend
Levin & Brend
Chicago, Illinois Divorce Lawyer/CPA
Illinois divorce attorney and CPA Jeffrey Brend is uniquely qualified to see your divorce case from not one but three sides: family law, finance, and child advocacy.
Paul Chawla
The Chawla Group
Hinsdale, Illinois Divorce Lawyer
A compassionate attorney who's effective both in and out of court, T. Paul S. Chawla will get the job done for you.
Karen Covy
Chicago, Illinois Divorce Law
Karen Covy, Illinois divorce lawyer, author & speaker, has practiced divorce law in Illinois for more than twenty years, with the focus in family law the past twelve. She handles cases involving divorce, child custody, paternity, visitation, and family support.
Bob Downs
Chicago, Cook, DuPage, Lake & McHenry Counties
This Chicago firm handles all aspects of family law, including divorce, custody, support, domestic violence, paternity, and adoption. Downs Law Office can also help you with pre-marital agreements, estate planning, and guardianship.
Joy Feinberg
Feinberg & Barry P.C.
Chicago, Illinois Family Law Attorneys
After years of experience in family courts, we have developed "The Executive Divorce", a strategy for high-earning business professionals with more at risk in divorce proceedings.
Paul Feinstein
Chicago, IL
Chicago matrimonial attorney who has spoken and written about numerous matrimonial law subjects and is currently on the Board of Editors of The Matrimonial Strategist, a national publication. He handles a complete range of family law issues, including divorce, custody, antenuptial agreements and parentage.
Jay Frank
Aronberg Goldgehn Davis & Garmisa
Chicago full-service law firm, established over 100 years ago, serving clients in a responsive, personal manner while maintaining a stable firm environment. With access to top expertise and resources, we always keeps your divorce case moving toward the best resolution.
Fraser, Youra & Parikh, LLC
Kate K. Fraser
208 N. West Street, Suite 100
Waukegan, IL 60085
Counties Served: Lake and McHenry counties
Phone: 847-622-8900 extension 2
Fax: 847-622-8901
Email:
Website: www.fraseryouraandparikh.com/
Kate K. Fraser is an experienced, compassionate, dependable advocate. She has been practicing in Lake and McHenry Counties for 8 years, representing clients in all family matters, including divorce, parentage, child support, child custody, removal, college expenses, orders of protection and QDROs. The first consultation is always free.
Illinois Collaborative Lawyers
Chicago, Illinois Collaborative Law
A new form of alternative dispute resolution, Collaborative Practice allows you to divorce with dignity, respect, and cooperation.
Bernie Rinella
Rinella & Rinella Ltd.
Chicago, Illinois Divorce Law
One of the most well known firms in the United States devoted solely to family law. The attorneys practice in all areas of matrimonial law including dissolution, legal separation, negotiating/drafting premarital and post-nuptial agreements, judgment enforcement, and custody and support actions.
Sandra Rosenbloom
Sandra M. Rosenbloom Attorney at Law
Chicago, IL
Wakenight & Associates, P.C.
Oak Park/ Mokena/ Lombard
Cook, Dupage, and Will County Offices
Wakenight & Associates, P.C. A law firm DEDICATED to Divorce and Family Law! Eight Associate Attorneys. Three Law Offices: Oak Park, Mokena, and Lombard. One Passion.
Need a Divorce Lawyer?
LegalMatch allows you to present your case, and respond only to attorneys who want to help you. It's Free &
Confidential. You can post you legal issues with Legal Match and receive a reply from
qualified attorneys who can handle your case. Legal Match is a good
directory that empowers consumers to locate and thoroughly review the
experience, availability and price of pre-screened attorneys before deciding
whom to contact.
DIVORCE MEDIATORS
Brian James
CEL and Associates
Gerry Kessler
Kessler Mediation
Libertyville, Illinois Divorce Mediation
Jerald A. Kessler, IL Divorce Attorney and Mediator, servicing clients throughout the Chicago area, especially in Lake County and the North Shore Suburbs. Best known as a divorce mediator, but his services are highly sought for all kinds of conflict resolution, regardless of the nature of the case or legal area.
DIVORCE FORM PREPARATION
Have All of Your Documents Completed For You! This easy to use, accurate, and up-to-date on-line divorce service is a perfect "do it yourself (without a lawyer)" solution for any uncontested divorce (with or without children) that will be filed in the state of Illinois. You can get "Real Person" customer support by phone & e-mail, plus access to 40 downloadable books (valued at over $750). Start your divorce in Illinois today.
QDRO PREPARATION
QdroDesk - is an industry proven online service providing divorcing spouses with an instant, easy, accurate, and affordable method for obtaining Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (QDROs), the appropriate settlement agreement language, and processing instructions to divide a retirement account upon divorce. The service is a result that only 45 years of combined QDRO experience can provide. When combining this expertise with a smart question and answer technology, QdroDesk has easily become the ideal solution for QDRO preparation.
FINANCIAL PLANNERS
Nicole Brucker
Chicago, Illinois
Financial Divorce Advisors Providing guidance and emotional support to help you gain control of your financial future.
Marcia Kraus
Divorce Financial Strategies
Naperville, IL
As a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst, Certified Financial Planner, and Certified Public Accountant with a background in clinical psychology, Marcia B. Kraus is uniquely qualified to help you reach a financial settlement and achieve long-term security.
Nancy Leibman
Liebman Associates, Inc
Evanston, IL
Navigating through the Financial Maze Women’s Financial Security Through Collaborative Planning.
Cathleen Newman
F4 Financial
Lincolnshire, IL
A compassionate professional, Cathleen Belmonte Newman will help you get your financial house in order when you start your divorce process.
ACCOUNTANTS
Linda Forman
Evanston, IL
Chicago-based CPA Linda Forman will do everything it takes to get the best financial settlement between you and your ex.
BUSINESS VALUATION
Brandy Ruffalo
The Business Development Group
Schaumburg, IL
• Valuation • Taxes • Forensic Accounting • Portfolio Management • Investments • Insurance
COUNSELING AND THERAPY
Rory Gilbert, LCSW, CADC, Ltd.Office Locations:
|
899 Skokie Boulevard, Suite 204 Northbrook, Illinois 60062 Phone: 847 272-7089 |
1919 Midwest Road, Suite 100 Oak Brook, IL 60523 Phone: 630 571-8722 |
Counties Served: Cook and DuPage
Website: http://www.rorygilbert.net/
Email:
I help women (and men) who are struggling with problematic marriages or who are going through the pain of divorce. Although there are many exceptions to the rule, the genders tend to take on different roles within the marriage. Men place a premium on being in control which can lead to controlling and abusive behavior, or, paradoxically, to childish, little boy like behavior. Women, on the other hand, place an emphasis on being nurturing which, when things go awry, can lead to being taken advantage of and, in the extreme, victimization. They can also fall into the trap of acting like mothers to their husband which, when the husband is acting like a little boy, is a formula for trouble.
When counseling women going through a divorce, the first order of business is to help them recover from this painful process. When a sufficient amount of healing has occurred, we can then turn our attention to their patterns of interaction that contributed to the problems. Often the goal is for women to maintain their nurturing qualities while developing the ability to be emotionally (and physically) self-protective. Sometimes when a woman becomes empowered, reconciliation becomes a possibility. Regardless of whether or not the marriage ends in divorce or new life is breathed into it, the goal is for the woman to develop the means of being in relationships in which she is respected and safe and secure.
Johanna Nauraine
Premarital, Marital, and Divorce Therapy
30 N. Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60602
Phone:773-655-7051
Serving: Cook County
CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT
Illinois Child Support Enforcement - This is the official state website for child support enforcement. The site contains information about child support in general, online customer service, how to apply for services, and automatic payment disbursement.
Child Support In Illinois ~ A not-for-profit organization for Custodial Parents dealing with paternity, child support and medical support issues in Illinois.
DIVORCE AND PARENTING SERVICES
Center for Divorce Education
1005 East State Street, Suite G
Athens, OH 45701
Phone: 740-594-2526
Email:
Online parenting education to keep children out of the middle of divorce.
Christian Divorce Services
1217 Hilltop Ave
Fayetteville, NC 28305
Phone: 614-774-3766
Email:
We have locations in every state. When reconciliation has failed, we provide Christian legal alternatives consistent with 1Cor 6: 1-8. Please Contact Michael Wayland at our central office for a referral to a local office.
PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS
There are currently no private investigators for this state
BACKGROUND CHECKS
Instant Background Report - Find out date of birth and marital status, address history and aliases, criminal and court records, sex offender searches, property records, general public records, business registration and property resources. Find out the truth about anyone!
DIVORCE SUPPORT GROUPS
The Lilac Tree
Providing information sessions, support groups, workshops & free referrals
1215 Church St., 2nd Floor
Evanston, IL 60201
Phone: 847-328-0313
Email:
Our mission is to provide education, support and guidance to women in the divorce process so that they and their children can move confidently towards independence.
Divorce Care can help you locate a divorce support group in your area. There are thousands of DivorceCare support groups throughout the USA and Canada, and many groups meeting internationally as well.
Partners in Prevention provides consulting and psychological services to
domestic abuse survivors before, during and post divorce. Additionally, we serve
as consulting experts in both civil and criminal domestic violence cases. We
also offer continuing medical and nursing education in domestic abuse assessment
and clinical management to healthcare professionals. You can contact us at:
13918 E. Mississippi Ave
Aurora, CO 80012
Phone: 720-222-1058
Economic Empowerment For Women - BreakFreee.org is a non-profit organization offering free, unbiased, access to financial information and education to low to middle income women. Key features of the website include: Financial issues for divorcees, financial calculators, and a database of Frequently Asked Questions where you can submit questions and receive unbiased answers from financial planners.
60 West Olsen Road #3500
Thousand Oaks, CA 91360
Phone: 888-372-4155
Email:
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RESOURCES
Domestic Violence ResourcesShelters and Hotlines
Coalition Against Domestic Violence - Illinois Chapter
ILLINOIS DIVORCE LAWS
Divorce Laws and Compiled Statutes for IllinoisLegal Aspects of Divorce - General Overview
RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS AND WHERE TO FILE: To file for a dissolution of marriage in the state of Illinois, one of the spouses needs to be a resident of this State or stationed in this State while a member of the armed services, for 90 days preceding the commencement of the action or the making of the finding. The proceedings shall be had in circuit court of the county where the plaintiff or defendant resides. [Based on Illinois Compiled Statutes 750 - Chapter 5 - Sections: 104 and 401]
LEGAL GROUNDS FOR DIVORCE:
No Fault: Irretrievable breakdown of the marriage based on
- Living separate and apart for a continuous period of 2 years or more and the court determines that future attempts at reconciliation would be impracticable and not in the best interest of the family
- A judge can limit the period of separation to 6 months in certain situations as evidenced by testimony or affidavits of the spouses.
Fault Grounds: A dissolution of marriage may also be granted on the following grounds:
- natural impotence;
- bigamy;
- adultery;
- desertion for the space of one year, including any period during which litigation may have pended between the spouses for dissolution of marriage or legal separation;
- habitual drunkenness or drug addiction for the space of 2 years;
- attempting to take the life of the other by poison or other means showing malice, or extreme and repeated physical or mental cruelty;
- conviction of a felony or other infamous crime;
- or the respondent has infected the other with a sexually transmitted disease. [Based on Illinois Compiled Statutes 750 - Chapter 5 - Section: 401]
LEGAL SEPARATION: Any person living separate and apart from his or her spouse without fault may petition for reasonable support and maintenance while they so live apart. Such action shall be brought in the circuit court of the county in which the respondent resides or in which the parties last resided together as husband and wife. Proceedings are the same as for a dissolution of marriage. A proceeding or judgment for legal separation shall not bar either party from instituting an action for dissolution of marriage, and if the party so moving has met the requirements of Section 401, a judgment for dissolution shall be granted. [Based on Illinois Compiled Statutes 750 - Chapter 5 - Section: 402]
MEDIATION OR COUNSELING REQUIREMENTS: If the court concludes that there is a prospect of reconciliation, the court, at the request of either party, or on its own motion, may order a conciliation conference.
In an action for dissolution of marriage involving minor children, or in a post-judgment proceeding involving minor children, the court may on its own motion order the parents to attend an educational program concerning the effects of dissolution of marriage on the children, if the court finds that it would be in the best interests of the minor children. [Based on Illinois Compiled Statutes 750 - Chapter 5 - Section: 404 and 401.1]
PROPERTY DISTRIBUTION: Illinois is an equitable distribution state, meaning that marital property shall be divided equitably, not necessarily equally. For purposes of distribution of property, all property acquired by either spouse after the marriage and before a judgment of dissolution of marriage is presumed to be marital property, regardless of whether title is held individually or by the spouses in some form of co-ownership such as joint tenancy, tenancy in common, tenancy by the entirety, or community property. Marital property shall be divided, without regard to marital misconduct, considering all relevant factors, including:
- the contribution of each party to the acquisition, preservation, or increase or decrease in value of the marital or non-marital property, including the contribution of a spouse as a homemaker or to the family unit;
- the dissipation by each party of the marital or non-marital property;
- the value of the property assigned to each spouse;
- the duration of the marriage;
- the relevant economic circumstances of each spouse when the division of property is to become effective, including the desirability of awarding the family home, or the right to live therein for reasonable periods, to the spouse having custody of the children;
- any obligations and rights arising from a prior marriage of either party;
- any antenuptial agreement of the parties;
- the age, health, station, occupation, amount and sources of income, vocational skills, employability, estate, liabilities, and needs of each of the parties;
- the custodial provisions for any children;
- whether the apportionment is in lieu of or in addition to maintenance;
- the reasonable opportunity of each spouse for future acquisition of capital assets and income; and
- the tax consequences of the property division upon the respective economic circumstances of the parties
"Non-marital property" is considered: (1) property acquired by gift, legacy or descent; (2) property acquired in exchange for property acquired before the marriage or in exchange for property acquired by gift, legacy or descent; (3) property acquired by a spouse after a judgment of legal separation; (4) property excluded by valid agreement of the parties; (5) any judgment or property obtained by judgment awarded to a spouse from the other spouse; (6) property acquired before the marriage; (7) the increase in value of property acquired by a method listed in paragraphs (1) through (6) of this subsection, irrespective of whether the increase results from a contribution of marital property, non-marital property, the personal effort of a spouse, or otherwise, subject to the right of reimbursement; and (8) income from property acquired by a method listed in paragraphs (1) through (7) of this subsection if the income is not attributable to the personal effort of a spouse. [Based on Illinois Compiled Statutes 750 - Chapter 5 - Section: 503]
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ALIMONY/MAINTENANCE/SPOUSAL SUPPORT: The court may grant a
temporary or permanent maintenance award for either spouse in amounts and for
periods of time as the court deems just, without regard to marital misconduct,
in gross or for fixed or indefinite periods of time, and the maintenance may be
paid from the income or property of the other spouse after consideration of all
relevant factors, including:
- the income and property of each party, including marital property apportioned and non-marital property assigned to the party seeking maintenance;
- the needs of each party;
- the present and future earning capacity of each party;
- any impairment of the present and future earning capacity of the party seeking maintenance due to that party devoting time to domestic duties or having forgone or delayed education, training, employment, or career opportunities due to the marriage;
- the time necessary to enable the party seeking maintenance to acquire appropriate education, training, and employment, and whether that party is able to support himself or herself through appropriate employment or is the custodian of a child making it appropriate that the custodian not seek employment;
- the standard of living established during the marriage;
- the duration of the marriage;
- the age and the physical and emotional condition of both parties;
- the tax consequences of the property division upon the respective economic circumstances of the parties;
- contributions and services by the party seeking maintenance to the education, training, career or career potential, or license of the other spouse;
- any valid agreement of the parties; and
- any other factor that the court expressly finds to be just and equitable.
[Based on Illinois Compiled Statutes 750 - Chapter 5 - Section: 504]
SPOUSE'S NAME: Upon request by a wife whose marriage is dissolved or declared invalid, the court shall order her maiden name or a former name restored. [Based on Illinois Compiled Statutes 750 - Chapter 5 - Section: 413]
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CHILD CUSTODY: The court shall determine custody in accordance with
the best interest of the child. The court shall consider all relevant factors
including:
- the wishes of the child's parent or parents as to his custody;
- the wishes of the child as to his custodian;
- the interaction and interrelationship of the child with his parent or parents, his siblings and any other person who may significantly affect the child's best interest;
- the child's adjustment to his home, school and community;
- the mental and physical health of all individuals involved;
- the physical violence or threat of physical violence by the child's potential custodian, whether directed against the child or directed against another person;
- the occurrence of ongoing or repeated abuse, whether directed against the child or directed against another person; and
- the willingness and ability of each parent to facilitate and encourage a close and continuing relationship between the other parent and the child.
- whether one of the parents is a sex offender.
The court may enter an order of joint custody if it determines that such an arrangement would be in the best interests of the child, taking into account the following: (1) the ability of the parents to cooperate effectively and consistently in matters that directly affect the joint parenting of the child. "Ability of the parents to cooperate" means the parents' capacity to substantially comply with a Joint Parenting Order. The court shall not consider the inability of the parents to cooperate effectively and consistently in matters that do not directly affect the joint parenting of the child; (2) The residential circumstances of each parent; and (3) all other factors which may be relevant to the best interest of the child. Nothing within this section shall imply or presume that joint custody shall necessarily mean equal parenting time. The physical residence of the child in joint custodial situations shall be determined by: (1) express agreement of the parties; or (2) order of the court under the standards of this Section. [Based on Illinois Compiled Statutes 750 - Chapter 5 - Section: 602]
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CHILD SUPPORT: Illinois uses the income percentage model to calculate
child support using the following guidelines:
| Number
of Children 1 |
Percent
of Supporting |
The term "child" shall include any child under age 18 and any child under age 19 who is still attending high school. After the age of 19, child support terminates in unless there is an agreement to extend the support. The above guidelines shall be applied in each case unless the court makes a finding that application of the guidelines would be inappropriate, after considering the best interests of the child in light of evidence including but not limited to one or more of the following relevant factors: (a) the financial resources and needs of the child; (b) the financial resources and needs of the custodial parent; (c) the standard of living the child would have enjoyed had the marriage not been dissolved; (d) the physical and emotional condition of the child, and his educational needs; and (e) the financial resources and needs of the non-custodial parent. [Based on Illinois Compiled Statutes 750 - Chapter 5 - Section: 505] » Return to top