The Illinois Divorce Process

In Illinois one must be a resident of Illinois for at least ninety (90) days to meet the jurisdictional requirements of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act.

The legal process of a divorce begins with filing a petition for dissolution of marriage and service of summons, and becomes final when a judgment for dissolution of marriage is entered. A judgment for dissolution of marriage is entered by the parties when they have reached a marital settlement agreement or by the judge in the event the matter proceeds to a trial.

Summons

A summons is a legal notice to the person of the legal action that is pending against them.

Petition for Dissolution of Marriage

The petition for dissolution of marriage must set forth the following legal requirements: the name, age, occupation, address and length of residence in Illinois for each party; the grounds for a divorce; the date of the marriage and where the marriage was registered; the names, ages and addresses of any children; and the specific relief requested by the Petitioner. Please be advised that every case is unique and accordingly, every petition for dissolution of marriage is different since no case is exactly alike.

Grounds for Divorce in Illinois

Effective January 1, 2016, fault-based grounds for a divorce were eliminated. Now, parties can obtain a divorce if the court finds that irreconcilable differences have caused the irretrievable breakdown of the marriage and efforts and reconciliation have failed or that future attempts at reconciliation would be impracticable and not in the best interest of the family.

The requirements of irreconcilable differences are satisfied by showing the spouses have lived separate and apart for a continuous period in excess of 6 months. The courts have agreed that the requirement to live separate and apart is satisfied when the spouses have not cohabitated for 6 months, even though they have continued to reside in the same house. The grounds for a divorce have no bearing on the disposition of the marital property. As such, for this reason Illinois is considered a “no fault” state since it makes no difference in the outcome what grounds are used or who the offending party is. Typically, the most litigated issues in a divorce include: property distribution (who gets what property), child custody, visitation, child support and maintenance.

Please note that the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act is undergoing a significant overhaul in 2015. A bill has been recently passed by the Illinois Assembly General which will eliminate legal grounds for a divorce and replace the 2 year separation period with a 6 month waiting period.

Judgment of Dissolution

The legal process of a divorce becomes final when a judgment for dissolution of marriage is entered. A judgment for dissolution of marriage is entered by the parties when they have reached a marital settlement agreement or by the judge in the event the matter proceeds to a trial.

There are many benefits to entering into a settlement agreement rather than having your case decided by a judge. Entering into a settlement agreement enables both parties to control the final outcome of the divorce since they are the ones making the decision. Moreover, reaching a settlement agreement ensures predictability of the final outcome, reduces acrimony and saves money.

Complying with the Divorce Judgment

Once a judgment of dissolution of marriage is entered it is extremely important that you review the judgment and understand all of the terms and conditions contained therein. For The Law Office of J. Patrick Nelson, PC's clients, within thirty days of entry of the judgment of dissolution we will schedule a consultation in order to review the terms of the judgment of the dissolution of marriage and to ensure compliance with the terms and conditions contained therein.

Learn More or Request a Complimentary Consultation

Read more below about discovery during divorce litigation, temporary court orders pending the outcome of a divorce, and the enforcement or modification of divorce orders.

If you or your spouse has filed — or are considering filing — for divorce, The Law Office of J. Patrick Nelson, PC welcomes you to learn about our divorce practice and to contact us for a complimentary initial consultation. We have decades of experience advising individuals facing divorce, including divorce involving complex or high asset property disputes and contested child custody matters. You do not have to face the divorce process alone.