5 Common Mistakes To Avoid in an Illinois Divorce

 Posted on October 25,2023 in Divorce

Taking appropriate steps to ensure you are ready for divorce proceedings is a smart approach. There are also several mistakes you should avoid in hopes of keeping the process simpler than it would be otherwise. A skilled divorce attorney can provide much-needed guidance on handling divorce proceedings while avoiding a few common pitfalls.

Hiding Assets

Make sure that you are entirely forthcoming with your assets and their evaluation. Hiding property, accounts, or other assets during a divorce can come to haunt you. Everything will likely be discovered during proceedings, so you can save yourself some hardship by being transparent upfront. The same can be said for the opposing spouse. If you feel they may be hiding assets or are not being entirely truthful with their information, you can hire an investigator to dig up the dirt on your behalf.

Making Blanket Assumptions

To set the record straight, nobody truly wins in a divorce. Do not set yourself up for failure by assuming that divorce is a competition with one winner and one loser. According to Illinois law, the entire process is set up to be fair and equitable. This means you should also not assume you will receive half of everything. A judge will examine many factors when determining how to split the property between spouses.

Failing to Consider Priorities

There are many priorities to focus on. If applicable, you have yourself, your soon-to-be ex-spouse, and your children. Prioritization is a major part of preparing for the divorce process. Figure out which marital assets are most important to you. Which assets are more important to your spouse? Which assets would be in children’s best interests to hold onto? The family home is usually the biggest point of contention in property division decisions. If possible, attempt to figure everything out with your spouse before a court gets involved.

Not Being Open to Compromise

You will need to be able to compromise if you have any hopes of making it out of a divorce with as minimal stress as possible. You may feel that certain things would be better left in your care, but the reality is that it may not be up to you. You are not likely to get everything you want in a divorce. Ensure you are okay with maybe not getting that retirement account if it means keeping the house. Think of what is truly best for you and your children and focus on keeping things civil with the other spouse.

Allowing Yourself to Become Overstressed

Divorce is stressful, no matter which way you look at it. However, you cannot become so stressed that it affects other aspects of your life, including your health. Continue working, paying your bills, bonding with your children, and enjoying your life. Limit the difficulties that a divorce may bring by taking a proactive approach and setting yourself up for the future.

Contact a Kendall County, IL Divorce Lawyer

Divorce has many pitfalls, but if you are willing to do what is necessary, you can avoid them. You should contact an experienced Yorkville, IL divorce attorney for an easier time handling the process. The The Law Office of Matthew M. Williams, P.C. is ready to take your case and provide the answers to any legal questions you may have. Contact the office at 630-409-8184 to discuss how best to prepare for the divorce process.