How Can I Get a Quick Divorce in Illinois?

The question, “how can I get a quick divorce in Illinois?” comes down to how well you can agree on the issues that tie you together. If your divorce is a process by which the two of you can end the relationship in a positive way and move forward, chances are your divorce will finalize sooner. If there are many points that neither side can agree on, then the process could take much longer.

Wolfe & Stec, Ltd. can provide you help with your divorce. We’ve worked on divorces where the spouses end the relationship quickly and relatively painlessly. We’ve helped clients with divorces that became legal and emotional battlegrounds that last. Divorce can be difficult, but it doesn’t need to be that way.

As much as you may want your divorce to be over so you can move on with your life, don’t sacrifice your legal rights for the sake of speed. The more complicated your life, the more you may want to slow down. If there’s a family-owned business, children, pensions, a house, investments, or one of you is compensated in a complex way (like with stock options), rushing to a divorce can be a mistake. There may be tax problems, depending on how issues are handled.

How Long Do You Have to Wait for a Divorce in Illinois?

We can help you through the process. You will know your rights and the issues you face. If it’s right for you, we may be able to help you get a divorce in a few months time. The time it may take you to get a divorce depends on many issues. It could take months or years if it’s decided at a trial and the decision is appealed.

What is the Fastest Way to Get a Divorce in Illinois?

If you want the process to move quickly, you want an uncontested divorce (or “dissolution of marriage” in Illinois). This means both of you agree on all the important issues, including:

• Division of marital property
• Division of marital debts
• Child custody and visitation schedule
• Child support
• Medical insurance for minor children, if any
• Spousal maintenance or alimony.

Agreements speed up the divorce, because if there are disagreements, resolving them will take time. You could try a mediator to end the disputes. A mediator is a neutral third party experienced in divorce settlements who may be an attorney or retired judge. The last resort to get a divorce is through a trial, the most time, money, and energy consuming option.

You or your spouse must live in the state for at least 90 days before filing. What is the fastest way to get a divorce in Illinois? You may be able to use a special form of an uncontested divorce known as a “joint simplified dissolution.” It may work for you if you have a low income, no kids, and no house. The two of you may qualify if all of the following are true:

• You meet the 90-day residency requirement.
• The form will be filled out together.
• The duration of the marriage is less than eight years.
• You have no children and none are expected.
• You’ve lived separate and apart from each other for the last six months.
• You don’t own a house.
• You have less than $10,000 in marital property.
• You earn less than $20,000 individually.
• Your combined income is less than $35,000 a year.
• You’re waiving alimony.
• You agree to a “no contest” divorce due to your irreconcilable differences.

The key to speed is mutual agreement. Do the two of you still have a positive relationship? Can you talk about these issues without getting emotional or heated? If so, you should discuss what you want and need in a divorce agreement. Before starting, schedule an appointment with Wolfe & Stec. Learn about what each of you may be entitled to and your legal rights. Don’t negotiate away anything you’re entitled to keep or have.

Even if negotiations go very well and you write a tentative agreement, make sure your spouse knows this is pending a review with our office. Don’t formally agree to anything without getting the pros and cons of a draft agreement. You may have overlooked something important, or you may have mistakenly put yourself in a bad position. Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide divorce terms, but you at least should get legal counsel so you can make informed decisions.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Divorce in Illinois? The Better Prepared You Are, the Less Time It May Take.

Before you start negotiating, do your homework. Here are a few of the things you need to think about:

• What are all your assets and debts? Collect all the forms and paperwork you have that establish who owns and owes what.
• Who will pay for what debts? Who will get what assets?
• Do you have assets one of you owned before the marriage? Has one of you inherited anything during the marriage? If so, these assets may not be marital property subject to division, but their increased value during the marriage may be.
• How are you and or your spouse compensated for your work?
• Has one of you not worked, or worked less, and cared for children to benefit the other spouse?
• Has one of you financially supported the other while he or she earned an education that resulted in a higher income?
• Do one or both of you own a business? If so, what’s it worth?
• If you have health insurance, who provides it? How much does it cost?
• If you have children, how much will it cost to support them? Who will they live with and on what schedule? Do you want to share custody?
• If you own a home, do you want to sell it, and the two of you will live elsewhere? Does one of you want the home? If so, how will the other one be paid for their share of the equity in the house?
• Does one or both of you want alimony?

These are a few things to think about so you can make well-grounded decisions when it comes to child custody, child support, alimony, and asset and debt division. Depending on your circumstances, there may be many other issues that need to be considered. When reaching a divorce agreement, it’s rare that the spouses split everything evenly. There’s give and take, so each of you will probably get more of one thing and less of something else.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Divorce in Illinois? Our Attorneys Can Help Move the Process Along.

How long do you have to wait for a divorce in Illinois? Divorce law is complicated and changing. The circumstances of each divorce are different, so how long your wait could be varies. It makes sense to seek legal counsel to represent your interests, so you can quickly get a divorce while you protect your interests.

The skilled DuPage County divorce lawyers at Wolfe & Stec, Ltd., can advise and guide you through every step in the process. We can file the divorce and do what needs to be done so it can be finalized and you can start a new chapter in your life. For your initial consultation with an experienced and compassionate Woodridge divorce lawyer, contact us online or call 630-305-0222. We handle cases throughout Illinois.