What Is Included in an Illinois Divorce Decree?

 Posted on December 00, 0000 in DuPage County divorce lawyer

Most people have heard of a divorce decree, but they may not know what it actually is. If you are going through a divorce, you probably know that getting your divorce decree is the last step in finalizing the process. There can be a lot of paperwork and forms involved in a divorce, but the divorce decree is perhaps the most important legal document of all. It is, therefore, best to have a skilled Illinois divorce lawyer guide you through the process to avoid any mistakes that could impact your future.

What Is a Divorce Decree?

A divorce decree is a legal document that formally declares and finalizes a divorce. The divorce decree contains information pertaining to the marital issues that have been decided on in the divorce. The contents of the divorce decree will vary depending on the couple, but most divorce decrees typically address the following topics:

• Spousal maintenance

• Property division

• Debt division

• Parenting time and allocation of parental responsibilities

• Child support and child-related expenses

Decisions about the amount and duration of support payments, plus how property, assets, and debt will be split are all put in writing in the document. Divorce decrees are not final and legally binding until both spouses, along with a judge, have signed the document.

Before You Sign the Decree

Once you sign the decree, your divorce is complete, and you are no longer legally married to your spouse. Once you have signed the decree, changing any of the terms in the document or fixing any errors is extremely difficult, and in many situations, it is impossible to do. This is why it is crucial that you read the divorce decree carefully before you sign it.

Check all the facts and figures that are written into your divorce decree. Make sure that the marital property allocated to you is correctly valued and that the wording about your property is clear and unquestionable. Be sure that the language surrounding parenting time and other child-related issues is also accurate.

Contact a DuPage County Divorce Lawyer

Regardless of the route you take to get there, a divorce decree is the final legal step in the divorce process. If you and your spouse are able to settle your divorce rather than litigate it, you will also have a marital settlement agreement along with your divorce decree, both of which should be drafted with the assistance of a knowledgeable Aurora divorce attorney. At the Law Office of Matthew M. Williams, P.C., we can guide you through the proceedings, and we will fight to make sure your rights are protected in your divorce. Schedule a consultation by calling our office today at 630-409-8184.

Sources:

https://www.mydomaine.com/understanding-your-final-decree-of-divorce-1103069