Divorce Lawyer Joliet

If you have reached the conclusion that remaining in your marriage would be worse than ending it, then the time is now to start considering divorce. Divorce can be a stressful time for you, your spouse, and anyone else who the divorce affects, including your pets! The attorneys at Pinkston Law Group, P.C. provide compassionate and assertive representation to Joliet couples who want to move on with their lives separately. There are some significant choices to be made once you begin the divorce process in Illinois. 

Proving Irreconcilable Differences

Illinois requires that at least one spouse lives in the state for 90 days before filing for divorce. Additionally, Illinois requires that the spouses prove that their marriage is irretrievably broken. One way to prove that is to live apart for six months. Otherwise, the couple will need to convince the court that they are calling it quits for good.

Choosing a Type of Divorce

Not all divorces are like the ones you see dramatized on TV and in films. In other words, they are not “high conflict” divorces that avail themselves to dramatic portrayal. There are a number of ways to dissolve a marriage, such as the following:

• Mediation – Mediation involves one attorney representing the interests of fairness, but not any individual party. The mediator helps the couple resolve any differences so that they can move forward with an uncontested divorce.

• Litigation – This is the type of divorce you see dramatized on TV. Litigation involves high-conflict, accusations, and mistrust from both parties. Litigation takes longer, costs more, but is the only available option when the couple cannot solve their differences together.
• Collaborative/cooperative divorce – Somewhere between mediation and litigation is cooperative and collaborative divorce. Collaborative divorce is based on collaborative law, which is itself based on contract law. All parties agree to settle their differences cooperatively without making threats. Failure to abide by the agreement causes the collaborative process to break down. The divorce would then enter litigation. Cooperative divorce is similar, but there are fewer restrictions on angry outbursts and threats, so one comment made in anger would not cause the entire process to break down.

The Divorce Decree

At the end of your divorce, you will have a divorce decree. The divorce decree has the weight of the law behind it and both parties will be expected to abide by the terms of the agreement. Issues that will be settled in the divorce decree include:

• Property division and alimony
• Child custody and visitation schedules
• Child support payments
• Custody of pets

Talk to a Joliet Divorce Attorney Today

The Joliet divorce attorneys at Pinkston Law Group, P.C. have helped thousands of couples untie the knot and begin the next chapter of their lives. Call today to discuss your situation with a compassionate and seasoned divorce attorney and learn more about your options and the decisions you will need to make moving forward.