Tips for Making Your Illinois Divorce Process Move Faster
No matter how amicable your divorce may be, the process of getting divorced is unpleasant. Very few divorce cases are resolved quickly, and in the most complex or high-conflict cases, divorces can drag on for years. A protracted divorce in Illinois will take its toll on everyone and everything involved – spouses, children, relatives, bank accounts.
Some things are out of your control during divorce: You may have to wait longer than you want for a court appointment to be available, or for the discovery process to finish. Fortunately, you are not totally helpless when it comes to speeding up the process. Here are a few things you can do to make your divorce move more quickly.
Reach Agreement Before the Divorce Begins
Illinois is a no-fault divorce state, meaning that a couple only needs to cite irreconcilable differences as grounds for divorce. But if one spouse denies that there are irreconcilable differences, or does not agree that a divorce is necessary, there is a mandatory six-month waiting period of living “separate and apart.” In order to bypass this six-month waiting period, both spouses must agree to get divorced. Try to talk to your partner and reach an agreement that divorce is in your best interests before either party begins divorce proceedings.
Be Willing to Compromise
Compromising with your spouse, even when it is very difficult, will make the divorce process go much more smoothly. Nobody “wins” in a divorce; there must always be some conciliation from both parties. Entering divorce proceedings with an attitude of compromise will make marital asset division and parental responsibility negotiations move much more quickly. Being willing to compromise does not mean you are going to be taken advantage of; having a competent divorce attorney on your side will help you make sure of that.
Prepare Yourself
A divorce that is going to trial begins with a process known as “discovery,” wherein spouses collect and divulge information regarding their financial situation and other relevant matters. Collecting financial documents before the divorce proceedings begin will help speed up the divorce considerably. If you are going to make a case that your spouse has dissipated marital assets, you should collect evidence of that as well. The more you can prepare yourself, the faster your case will be.
Speak with an Arlington Heights Divorce Attorney
Possibly the most important factor in determining whether your divorce goes smoothly is having an experienced Cook County, Illinois divorce attorney on your side. To learn more about what the divorce attorneys with A. Traub & Associates can do for you, call us at 847-749-4182 and make an appointment for a confidential consultation.
Source:
https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs4.asp?DocName=075000050HPt%2E+IV&ActID=2086&ChapterID=59&SeqStart=3900000&SeqEnd=5400000