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First Things to Do When You’ve Chosen Divorce

By Nottage and Ward on April 24, 2023

Getting a divorce can be agonizing for everyone involved, especially the two spouses and their children. Whether you saw it coming for a while, or if your partner made a sudden decision that caught you totally off guard, divorce is an emotional process.

As soon as you know that you’re headed for a divorce, it’s important to find a good Chicago divorce attorney right away. The decisions you make now will affect you and your children for the rest of your life. You’ll want to have an attorney by your side who will help protect you, your children, and your financial security.

Ending a Relationship

Divorce will have a huge impact on your life. Three major issues commonly associated with divorce are:

1. Ending a relationship
2. Dividing assets
3. Custody and child allocation

You’ve invested so much of yourself in this relationship, and getting a divorce is going to hurt.  And it can be frightening to set out on a new course, even when you know it’s time for the relationship to end.

Once the divorce process is set in motion, life is going to start coming at you fast. And you’ll have to begin making important decisions right away. For example, is one spouse going to continue living in your current home? This may be the best way to allow your children to keep on attending the same schools.

Dealing with the emotional impact of a divorce can be challenging, especially when you’re trying to shield your children from as much harm as possible.

It’s important to practice self-care when going through a stressful time. It may be helpful to visit the gym or just get outside and go for a walk. You might also want to schedule some time with friends to relax and get away from it all.

Protecting Your Financial Future

One of the most difficult and emotional aspects of divorce is property division. The things you’ve collected over the years mean a lot to you, and there are many possessions that you don’t want to part with.

The ideal situation is for two spouses to sit down and work things out amicably, but this isn’t always possible. That’s why it’s crucial to find a divorce attorney who’s ready to fight for what’s important to you.

Marital property includes anything acquired by either spouse during the course of the marriage. Gifts given to one spouse, inheritance, and premarital assets are not considered marital property in Illinois.

Illinois is one of 41 states that relies on equitable distribution of property. Instead of evenly splitting marital property, the state takes several factors into account when dividing marital property, including the duration of the marriage and each spouse’s age, occupation, and sources of income.

There are several important financial issues to consider when getting a divorce. Your Chicago divorce attorney will provide thoughtful advice and support regarding issues related to the distribution of marital property, including:

• Assets discovery
• Property valuation
• Tax obligations
• A family business
• Pensions
• Stocks and bonds
• Your family home

Child Allocation in Illinois

Nothing is more important than your children. It’s not surprising that custody battles are often contentious. Coming up with the right parenting plan is crucial for your child’s well-being and emotional development.

There are many serious decisions to be made when creating a parenting plan, including where the children will live, how custody will be allocated, and how much time children will be spending with each parent.

Illinois law requires divorcing parents to have a parenting plan. If parents are unable to agree, a judge will determine custody and visitation arrangements.

Illinois offers mediation as an alternative to adversarial litigation, and many divorcing parents find it to be a helpful way to resolve custody disputes and other issues. If mediation fails, parents will have to litigate their case in court.

A judge will take the following issues under consideration when creating a parenting plan:

• The child’s best interest
• Mental health issues
• The wishes of parents and children
• Any history or threats of domestic violence
• The child’s relationship to their local community and school
• Family relations with parents and siblings

Protecting Children and Families for Over 35 Years

Nottage and Ward, LLP focuses exclusively on divorce and family law. We’ll guide you through this delicate time and help you find a better tomorrow.

Our firm is rated by Super Lawyers. Call (312) 332-2915 to schedule a consultation today.