How to Prepare for an Illinois Divorce

 Posted on April 07, 2023 in Chicago divorce attorney

Getting divorced can be a challenging time in many people’s lives. It is essential to be prepared for the many difficult aspects of divorce. The more prepared you are the swifter and easier the divorce process will be. It is in your best interest to work alongside an experienced divorce attorney and to have things prepared before you begin the divorce process.

What Kind of Divorce Do You Want?

There are a few different types of divorce processes that couples can go through.In Illinois, divorce is recognized as:

• Uncontested divorce
• Contested divorce
• Mediated divorce
• Collaborative divorce
• Joint simplified dissolution

Each divorce process has advantages and disadvantages; depending on a person's circumstances, some divorces will not be available. It is vital to do research before settling on a divorce process.

Get Together Documents

Divorces require lots of paperwork, and having all your paperwork in order is essential. Here are some documents that you should gather together:

• Tax returns
• Banks statements
• Wills
• Pay stubs
• Credit card statements
• Appraisals
• Any other financial documents that may be important

Ensuring you have all the essential documents necessary for your divorce will help your attorney in his or her ability to negotiate your divorce agreement more efficiently.

Lists of Assets

When deciding on the disposition of assets within a marriage, each person must be aware of what assets belong to who. Knowing which assets are marital and non-marital will be extremely important when deciding which assets belong to who. Creating a list of all the assets and how the parties want them to be divided can be helpful.

Lists of Expenses

It will be essential to work out your household budget. Along with assets come liabilities. These liabilities will be decided on during the divorce, so it is best to work through them before they become problematic later. These liabilities include:

• Car payments
• Mortgages
• Student loans
• Living expenses
• Any other expenses that occurred during the marriage

Income Information

You should be aware of how much your partner makes financially when divorce becomes an option. This comes in handy regarding matters such as child support or spousal maintenance.

Credit History

Having copies of your credit report is essential when going through a divorce to make financial decisions during your divorce. Keeping track of your credit report history is also good to ensure your spouse is not making unnecessary charges using marital money.

Save Money

When deciding to get a divorce, it is crucial to start saving up money to be sure that you can afford all of the costs and fees associated with divorce. Consider opening a separate bank account if you currently have a joint bank account.

Contact a Kane County Divorce Lawyer

At the The Law Office of Matthew M. Williams, P.C., we understand how difficult it can be to decide to get a divorce. With an experienced divorce attorney, we can work with you to ensure you have all the information you need during this difficult time. Contact an Aurora divorce attorney today at 630-409-8184 and arrange an initial consultation. You do not need to go through this alone.

Source:

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs5.asp?ActID=2086&ChapterID=59