An Overview of Evanston Divorce Law

Divorce is a legal process.  It formally dissolves the marital bonds and, in most cases, follows the same basic pattern.  A judge may skip some proceedings, such as mediation, when the case will not benefit from them, but most of the steps are straightforward.

Illinois divorce laws require that one spouse is either a resident of the state or was stationed in the state as a part of his or her military duty for at least 90 days prior to filing for divorce in Evanston.  One spouse must reside in the county where the divorce is filed, although it does not matter if he or she actually files in that county.

How to file an Evanston divorce

The process begins when one spouse files a petition with the clerk of the circuit court and requests the dissolution of his or her marriage.  The clerk issues documents to the respondent spouse, and informs him or her of the proceedings.  He or she can then respond, and dispute the cause of the divorce or any information the filing contains.

The respondent spouse has a limited time to respond.  If he or she does not respond by the deadline, the judge may proceed with the case as an uncontested divorce.  An uncontested divorce does not require the court to make any decisions about marital issues.

If the respondent responds to the divorce papers and disputes any information, it is considered a contested divorce.  Spouses frequently contest the following matters:

Mediation guidance from Evanston divorce lawyers

The court can order divorcing spouses to attend counseling to attempt a separation as it sees fit.  It may also order a conciliation conference, for the following reasons:

• The possibility of a reconciliation
• A request from either party
• The possibility of mediation resolving disputed issues

Also, if the divorce involves minor children, the court may order the couple to attend a program about the effects of divorce on children.

If mediation or collaborative efforts fail, the case proceeds to court.  A judge will then reach a decision on how the spouses will handle the marital issues, and they are bound by his or her order.

Litigated divorces can be costly and time-consuming.  M. Gordon Scott encourages you and your spouse to resolve your issues by means of negotiation, mediation, or collaborative proceedings.

Discuss your concerns with a divorce lawyer in Evanston

Attorney M. Scott Gordon puts his experience and skills to work by promoting a strategy tailored to your case.  We work hard to reach resolutions that are in your family’s best interests, in Evanston and the following locations:

• Glenview
• Niles
• Northbrook
• Skokie

Speak with a compassionate Evanston divorce law firm online, or call (847) 329-0101.