Five Common Mistakes to Avoid During Your Illinois Divorce 

 Posted on September 27, 2021 in Chicago divorce attorney

If you are getting divorced, you probably have many questions. How long will it take? How much will it cost? Will my relationship with my children be changed forever? While getting divorced is never easy or pleasant, planning wisely and thinking ahead will allow you to avoid many common mistakes that can prolong a divorce, make it more expensive, and increase hostilities between parents that can negatively impact their relationship with their children.

In this blog, we will look at some of the common mistakes people make in their Illinois divorce. Remember that a qualified, experienced divorce attorney is the best person to help you create a customized plan for your divorce so it will go as smoothly and quickly as possible.

Expecting Adversarial Litigation

Although many people think of divorce as taking place in a courtroom where spouses fight it out in front of a judge, modern divorces rarely take this route. Illinois strongly encourages (and can even mandate) mediation for couples so they can work through their differences together and create a mutually acceptable divorce agreement.

Mediation and collaborative divorce are excellent resources for divorcing couples. Although the two processes are not exactly the same, they share the same goals. The most important of these are minimizing conflict, allowing couples to have more control over their situation, and focusing on the children’s best interests.

Not Prioritizing and Compromising

The nature of divorce dictates that spouses will not get everything they want. Failing to establish reasonable priorities and recognizing that some things will have to be given up is a recipe for disaster when it comes to divorce. Although it is not easy, when spouses can be generous, flexible, and goal-oriented, the divorce will go much faster, and both partners are more likely to be satisfied with the outcome.

Financial Dishonesty

It may be natural for individuals to prioritize their own financial best interests, but when it comes to divorce, this can be a big mistake if it involves hiding assets or other kinds of financial dishonesty. Not only are the consequences serious, but failing to properly disclose financial information can lead to a longer, more expensive divorce requiring the assistance of outside experts such as forensic accountants.

Failing to Work With the Appropriate Professionals

Couples will have a more amicable and easy divorce if they work early and often with the appropriate professionals. Of course, this includes competent and experienced attorneys, but it also means hiring accounts, financial planners, and child psychologists when appropriate. Although spouses may fear that bringing in outside experts could raise the cost of a divorce, it often has the opposite effect by simplifying and speeding up complex procedures like asset division and creating a parenting plan.

Work with a DuPage County Divorce Attorney

Making costly mistakes during divorce is not inevitable. A skilled St. Charles divorce attorney can help you create a roadmap for divorce that avoids common pitfalls that cost people valuable time and money. At The Law Office of Matthew M. Williams, P.C., Mr. Williams will take into account your unique circumstances, advocate passionately for your rights, and help you work within your budget. Call our office today and schedule a confidential consultation at 630-409-8184.

Source:

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs4.asp?DocName=075000050HPt%2E+IV&ActID=2086&ChapterID=59&SeqStart=3900000&SeqEnd=5400000