Cook County Dissolution of Marriage Attorneys

Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act

The laws governing divorce in Cook County are established under the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act. Not only does the Act stipulate the process by which a spouse may get a divorce, but it also provides general rules for the division of marital property, spousal support/maintenance, child custody, and support, as well as how to deal with attorney fees. In order to get to this point, however, a spouse must start at step one.

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Petition for Dissolution of Marriage

There are a variety of reasons why a couple decides to divorce, but once the decision is made, the process begins with Dissolution of Marriage. One spouse must file a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage and serve a copy to the other spouse. This petition covers a wide range of information, but most importantly, it requires that the filing spouse establish the grounds of the divorce, which, in Illinois, may be no-fault or fault.

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Fault vs. No Fault

In a no-fault Petition for Dissolution of Marriage, the spouses agree that the failure of their marriage is due to "irreconcilable differences." In a fault-based Petition for Dissolution of Marriage, the spouse who filed the petition must prove that the other spouse is at-fault in at least one of the nine allowable grounds under Illinois law. These include:

1. Bigamy;
2. Adultery;
3. Impotence;
4. Alcoholism;
5. Drug addiction;
6. Abandonment;
7. Felony conviction;
8. Mental or physical cruelty/abuse; and/or
9. Transmission of a sexually transmitted infection to petitioner from the other spouse.

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Helping You Take the Right Steps

Dissolving your marriage is a highly complicated and emotional process that ultimately has significant implications for your future happiness. In order to make sure that your divorce is handled in your best interests, it is important to choose a Cook County family law attorney that considers those interests a priority.

At Nottage and Ward, LLP, our dedicated dissolution of marriage lawyers in Cook County have been successfully helping Illinois residents get through their divorce, whether contentious or amicable, for many years. We know the law and we know how important it is to reach a divorce settlement that safeguards the emotional and financial future of you and your family. If you are considering divorce, contact us today to learn more about your legal rights and options at (312) 332-2915.

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Additional Information

• Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act

Cook County Divorce Resource Center

• Bankruptcy in Divorce
• Child Custody
• Collaborative Law
• Dissolution of Marriage
• Family Law
• Maintenance
• Preparing for Divorce