Contested Divorce Lawyer in Palatine, IL

Experienced Divorce Attorney in Barrington, Rolling Meadows and Throughout the Chicago Suburbs

With the American divorce rate near 50 percent, there is a good chance that you or someone you know will need an experienced Illinois family law attorney to address issues related to the dissolution of a marriage. Divorcing your spouse can leave you stressed, upset, and frustrated. Many divorces are contentious, and they can become bitter legal battles. Sorting through the multitude of legal paperwork, financial documents, and other aspects of your ending marriage is difficult, particularly in a contested divorce.

Fortunately, you do not have to go through the divorce process alone. The Law Office of Nicholas W. Richardson, P.C. serves clients in Palatine, Schaumburg, Inverness, Chicago, Arlington Heights, Rolling Meadows, Glenview, Hoffman Estates, Bartlett, Streamwood, Libertyville, Barrington, Buffalo Grove, Wheeling, and other cities throughout Cook County, DuPage County, McHenry County, and Kane County. If you are considering ending your marriage, or if you are currently going through a contested divorce, contact Nicholas W. Richardson today for legal help.

What Is a Contested Divorce in Illinois?

A contested divorce is marriage dissolution in which issues are disputed between the spouses. Whenever a couple cannot agree on how to divide financial assets, share responsibilities for their children, or resolve a variety of other concerns related to the end of their marriage, the couple may require the court to decide for them. Divorcing spouses must always go to court and ask a judge to grant them a divorce, legally ending their marriage. In a contested divorce, since the spouses cannot or will not agree on how to divide their assets, debts, and/or parental responsibilities, the court assumes this responsibility and acts according to Illinois' law.

When a marriage dissolution case is contested, the divorce process may become more complicated, and multiple hearings may be needed to address issues that arise as a couple works to complete the process of ending their marriage. Either spouse may file petitions with the court seeking "temporary relief," and a judge may issue temporary orders detailing how certain matters will be handled while the divorce is ongoing. For example, temporary orders may address when each parent will spend parenting time with their children, whether one spouse will pay child support or spousal support prior to the finalization of the couple's divorce, and whether one or both spouses will maintain possession of the couple's home or other property. When temporary orders are issued, they will remain in effect until the divorce is completed, unless they are superseded by a new temporary order that is needed to address changes in the circumstances of the parties or their children during the divorce process.

If there are any issues that a couple cannot resolve by negotiating an agreement, a divorce trial may be held. Prior to a trial, the parties' attorneys will typically be required to attend a conference with the judge where they will detail the issues that still need to be addressed. The judge may provide suggestions on how certain issues may be resolved, and they will usually encourage the parties to reach a settlement prior to proceeding to a trial. If a trial will be necessary, each party's attorney will have the opportunity to present evidence, call and question witnesses, and make arguments. The judge will make the final decisions on all of the outstanding issues, and they will then issue a divorce judgment that will finalize the dissolution of the couple's marriage.

Contact an Experienced Barrington Contested Divorce Attorney

Divorce is never an easy situation, but the challenges associated with a contested divorce can be especially difficult. Working with the right attorney for your Illinois divorce is essential. Contact Attorney Nicholas W. Richardson for straightforward, honest legal advice in all of your family law matters, including contested divorce. Call 847.873.6741 today for a free initial consultation at The Law Office of Nicholas W. Richardson, P.C. Attorney Richardson proudly serves clients in DuPage County, Cook County, and throughout the Northwestern Suburbs.