Getting a divorce is already fraught with anxiety. Learning more about the actual process of dissolving your marriage in Illinois can make it easier to understand what's happening -- and what needs to happen next -- before you can proceed. Let's talk about some of the basics.
How do you get a divorce in Illinois?
How to live with your spouse when you can't stand each other
Your marriage is definitely over -- but you and your spouse are currently stuck living together. Economic and physical concerns, along with worries about leaving the children, can keep couples living together uncomfortably long after a marriage sours. You may hope to one day have a much more balanced or friendly relationship with your spouse -- but that's not where you're at today.
First month of the year consistently means more splits
If the holiday season meant some soul searching and the decision to end the marriage for some couples in Illinois, they are not alone. January, known as 'divorce month", has consistently meant a rise in divorce filings for a few years.
Parents can't always refuse visitation rights
As long as it reasonable to do so, both parents are allowed to maintain a relationship with their children after a divorce. This is generally true even if the parents don't like each other or don't like the fact that they have to share a son or daughter with another person. Custodial parents generally cannot interfere with a visitation schedule because they don't approve of a noncustodial parent's lifestyle.
Ron Perlman cites "irreconcilable differences" in divorce filing
Illinois fans of 69-year-old actor Ron Perlman may have heard that he and his wife of nearly 40 years are divorcing. They have two adult children, a son and a daughter. The filing was made by Perlman's attorney on his behalf and cited "irreconcilable differences" as the reason. Perlman's wife is a jewelry designer.
Settlement reached in slain state senator's divorce case
Those entering into divorce cases in Bloomington may be looking forward to a swift resolution to their proceedings. At the same time, they might also be prepared to battle relentlessly over certain aspects of their cases (such as asset division). Such disagreements can cause divorce cases to linger on for months or even years, which often causes any negative feelings that may have existed between a divorcing couple to fester and grow to the point that both become so bitter and beholden to their claims that neither becomes willing to give an inch to the other.
Amicable split between reality TV stars turns ugly
It may not come as a surprise to many in Bloomington to learn that divorce proceedings can often become heated. After all, the parties involved may have spent years building up the emotion they felt for each other. When circumstances then precipitate into a divorce, those emotions often do not diminish; they simply go from good to bad. Suddenly, normally rational people may become so caught up in the affairs of another that they may be provoked into actions that they would not otherwise consider.
How do you have a friendly divorce?
Couples seeking divorce in Illinois are almost sure to face some emotional challenges. If the divorce becomes contentious, that makes the proceedings much harder, both mentally and financially. An article in Psychology Today provides some tips for a collaborative divorce.
Divorce and your financial future
Illinois residents who have made the hard choice to get divorced must wrestle with many challenging steps through the process of reaching a final settlement. For families with children, certainly determining when each parent will have time with the kids may be one of the hardest elements of a divorce. When it comes time to focus on financial matters and how to split assets, emotions may run high as well especially when the topic of how to split debt arises.
Taxes and alimony agreements and modifications
This tax season is the first year that residents in Illinois will be filing returns based on a majorly revised tax code. The new Tax Cuts and Jobs Act has taken full effect and for divorcing or divorced couples, this law has ushered in some significant changes that you should be aware of.
