Glen Ellyn Divorce Attorneys Work for You

Our Glen Ellyn Divorce Lawyers Can Ease the Pain and the Process

Going through a divorce is emotional and stressful for all parties, but a Glen Ellyn Wolfe & Stec divorce attorney can relieve some of the anxiety and burdens involved. We know that divorce involves much more than just dividing up assets — it means making decisions and dealing with major changes that will affect you and your children into the future.

That’s why our compassionate divorce lawyers will be there for you to provide guidance and sensitively address all of your concerns throughout the entire process, in addition to handling the legal issues that arise. You can rely on our Glen Ellyn divorce lawyers to work diligently and fight to achieve the best results possible for your family, so you can put the stress behind you and go on with the rest of your life.

We offer a free, confidential consultation to discuss your individual divorce issues, so call Wolfe & Stec today at (630) 305-0222, even if you are just considering divorce.

Divorce Lawyers in Glen Ellyn Are There Throughout the Entire Process

One of the first questions clients have is how long the divorce process will take. While most people wish to get the divorce over quickly, the time it takes to get a divorce in Illinois varies greatly, depending on the individual situation. In uncomplicated cases, such as a short marriage without children, property, and assets, your divorce may be over quickly. However, in long-term, high-asset marriages, with complicated or contentious circumstances, a divorce can drag on for years. The main factor in determining your divorce timeframe is whether the divorce is uncontested or contested.

Uncontested Divorce

The quickest divorces are those when the divorce is uncontested and both spouses agree on the terms, including:

• How assets and property will be divided and debts will be repaid
• Child custody, visitation, and support arrangements
• Whether alimony will be paid
• What to do with the pets.

Some uncontested divorces take as little as two months to complete, as long as there is agreement on all the details and issues.

Contested Divorce

If there are any areas of disagreement, the divorce becomes a contested one and will take a lot longer to be finalized. Both sets of attorneys must negotiate the issues that you haven’t agreed upon, and if agreement cannot be had, your divorce will have to go to trial. If there is a lot of conflict regarding the terms and conditions of a divorce, it can take as long as two years or more to be finalized through the courts.

Our Divorce Attorneys in Glen Ellyn Can Help Settle Divorce Issues

Our Divorce Attorneys Fight for the Best Interests of You and Your Family

Illinois divorce laws are complicated, and making mistakes can be costly, so it can help to have an attorney on your side to fight for your interests and make sure everything is done properly from the start. Our Wolfe & Stec divorce attorneys in Glen Ellyn are aware that even in cases where spouses seem to agree on the issues, something can happen to make a once-cooperative spouse angry or jealous. They may suddenly become adversarial and even refuse to sign the divorce agreement.

Because of the potential for problems, it’s important to understand the process and issues involved in divorce, including:

• • Residency requirements: In lllinois, at least one of the divorcing spouses must be a resident of the state for 90 consecutive days before filing divorce paperwork.
  • The initial filing process: If the residency requirement is met, one spouse must file a petition for dissolution of marriage with the Circuit Court in the county in which you or your spouse live to start the divorce process. The other spouse will be served with the petition and will have 30 days to respond.
  • Grounds for divorce: In Illinois, you can file for divorce on “fault” or “no-fault” grounds. No-fault divorces are granted based on irreconcilable differences, without holding anyone to blame; these are the most common and generally are easier to resolve. Fault divorces may be granted for reasons that include:
    • mental or physical cruelty
    • adultery
    • excessive alcohol or drug use

How assets, debts, and property are divided: Illinois courts divide marital property based on “equitable distribution.” This means that the courts will decide on what is fair and equitable, and not necessarily split everything 50-50. For example, courts may award a larger portion of marital assets, including stocks and bank accounts, to the lower-earning spouse.

To determine what is equitable, all relevant factors will be considered, including:

• • how long the marriage lasted
  • whether there were prenuptial agreements in place
  • the age and earning capacity of the spouses
  • whether there are children who would benefit by remaining in the marital home
  • whether one spouse supported another so that spouse could get an advanced degree.
• Concerns with child custody, child support and visitation: As in every state, judges in Illinois consider the best interests of the children in making rulings by examining factors that include:
  • all sources of income, earning capacity, and assets of each parent
  • parents’ wishes
  • children’s wishes, if they are old enough
  • how children interact with each parent
  • mental and physical health of family members
  • whether domestic violence has been an issue.
• Concerns about spousal support: Spousal support may be awarded to grant a measure of independence to a financially dependent spouse, such as one who gave up their career to be a homemaker. There is a formula for determining the amount and length of spousal support awards, and the court must consider all relevant factors.
• What to do about retirement plans and taxes: Again, the courts will examine factors relevant to your individual situation and tax effects.

At Wolfe & Stec, we provide guidance throughout every stage of your divorce. Call our Glen Ellyn divorce lawyers at (630) 305-0222 to get immediate support.

Let Our Glen Ellyn Divorce Attorneys Help from the Start

When you contact a compassionate Glen Ellyn divorce lawyer from Wolfe & Stec, we understand the sensitivity of divorce issues and will never pressure you into making a decision you might not be ready for. We will listen carefully to you and answer your divorce questions based on your individual situation. When you are ready to go ahead, we will be there to handle all legal matters, negotiate on your behalf, and fight for your interests in court if necessary.

Don’t delay. Call us today for a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your divorce issues at (630) 305-0222.