Can I Still Get a Divorce in Illinois During the COVID-19 Pandemic?

 Posted on August 11, 2020 in Divorce

The coronavirus pandemic has changed life as we knew it forever. Even the simplest of everyday tasks that we used to take for granted, like going to the grocery store or attending school have become too risky for some. After the lockdown in mid-March, the country has since been slowly opening back up, causing much stress and frustration by many. For those who are going through a divorce or who are thinking about getting a divorce, you may be concerned with how the pandemic will affect your divorce case. Illinois court operations were significantly reduced for the past couple of months, but the caseload has been increasing by the day, with all Illinois courthouses now open. Although your divorce may look a little different than what you were expecting, it is still possible to legally end your marriage during the pandemic.

New Court Procedures

In response to the pandemic, the Kane County courts have developed a set of health and safety protocols to follow. These rules were created and put into place to allow the courts of the 16th Judicial Circuit to reopen and include:

• Requiring every person who enters the courthouses to wear a mask or face covering (court staff, judges, attorneys, and law enforcement personnel)

• Limiting the number of people inside of the courthouse at any given time

• Taking the temperature of each person who enters the courthouse with a no-contact thermometer

• Asking each person who enters the courthouse health questions related to COVID-19 exposure or illness

• Not offering childcare at any court locations until further notice

• Enforcing marked social distancing measures in seating and pathways

• Staggering court-call times to allow for proper social distancing

Using Remote Options for Divorce Cases

One of the biggest changes that you will likely see is that some of the portions of your divorce may end up being conducted remotely, rather than in-person, which is how it is traditionally done. If you and your spouse are amicable and you just need to submit your divorce agreement for approval by the judge, you can complete this through the use of Zoom. Similarly, at the judge’s discretion, most other portions of the divorce will likely be conducted remotely, such as the pretrial conference, the trial, and the prove-up.

Contact an Aurora Divorce Attorney Today

In this day and age, it feels like everything is changing constantly. At the Law Office of Matthew M. Williams, P.C., we understand how stressful going through a divorce can be. Divorce can turn your life upside down and mixed with a global health crisis, it can seem overwhelming. Discussing your case with a skilled Kane County divorce lawyer is the first step to ensuring you are following all the proper procedures and rules during this time. To schedule a private consultation, call our office today at 630-409-8184.

Sources:

https://www.illinois16thjudicialcircuit.org/Documents/Kane%20courts%20reopen%20PR%205-27.pdf

https://www.illinois16thjudicialcircuit.org/Documents/localCourtRules/Family%20Admin%20Order%20eff%207-27.pdf