What Kind of Professionals Can I Hire During a Collaborative Divorce in Illinois?

 Posted on May 24, 2021 in Collaborative Law

Many people who go into a divorce do so thinking that it will be a difficult and stressful process. While it is true that divorce has the potential for stress, it does not have to be as troublesome as people are led to believe. In Illinois, any couple has the option to choose what type of process they use to end their marriage. In recent years, collaborative divorce has risen in popularity. As the name suggests, a collaborative divorce is one in which both spouses work together to achieve the type of divorce resolution that they want. Instead of having a “me versus them” type of attitude, a collaborative divorce encourages spouses to be cooperative so they can both be content with the outcome.

Common Professionals in Collaborative Divorce

One of the ways in which a collaborative divorce is unique is the presence of more than just your attorneys. A collaborative divorce utilizes various professionals from an array of fields to provide advice and guidance on certain issues. Some of the most common specialists that couples hire are:

• Financial Planners: Financial issues are some of the biggest challenges in a divorce. A financial planner can help you understand the long-term consequences of decisions that you make during the divorce, as well as helping you understand what type of resources you will need to be financially comfortable after your divorce is completed.

• Forensic Accountants: In divorces that involve suspicion of hidden assets, a forensic accountant may be utilized. A forensic accountant will examine all of the financial records that are brought into the process, looking for discrepancies or anything that seems unusual. The forensic accountant can also find things like underreported income or dissipation of assets.

• Child Specialists: If there are children involved in the marriage, you may consider hiring a child specialist. These can often be child psychologists, counselors, custody evaluators, or other professionals. The role of the child specialist is to determine what the best interests of the child are and help the parents keep those in mind when making child-related decisions.

• Property Valuation Specialists: In divorces in which the value of certain property is contested, you may want to hire a property appraiser. For example, if you own a business, a business appraiser would be able to give you an honest and accurate value to assign the business.

Discuss Your Options With a Yorkville, IL Collaborative Divorce Lawyer

If you are looking to use the collaborative divorce process for your dissolution, you need to hire a Kendall County divorce attorney who is trained in collaborative law. At the Law Office of Matthew M. Williams, P.C., we have extensive experience helping couples throughout the collaborative divorce process. To schedule a time to discuss your case with Attorney Matthew M. Williams, call our office today at 630-409-8184.

Sources:

https://collaborativedivorceillinois.org/your-collaborative-divorce-team/

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=3804&ChapterID=59