Lombard

Experienced Family Law Attorneys Assisting People in Lombard

Lombard is a scenic mid-sized village in DuPage County known for its yearly lilac festival. Lombard is home to around 40,000 residents and 17,000 households. Over half of the households are made up of married couples, but only about 30 percent of the households have minor children. The people living in Lombard are relatively young, and the median age of Lombard residents is 39. It is not uncommon for young married couples to decide to divorce. In cases in which the divorce is amicable, it can be a relatively straightforward process. If you need an attorney’s assistance in filing for a divorce or with any other family law issue, you should meet with a Lombard divorce lawyer to discuss your case. The attorneys at Kollias P.C. will explain your options and help you determine which actions may be appropriate.

Divorce Under Illinois Law

Under Illinois law, a divorce is pursued by filing a petition for dissolution of marriage. The law requires that a party seeking a divorce prove that either the party or the party’s estranged spouse lived in Illinois for at least 90 days prior to the filing of the petition. The law also requires that the petition contain information regarding each party and their marriage. It must address whether there were any children born of the marriage and whether there are any agreements between the parties regarding maintenance or support.

The petition is not required to assign fault to the party’s estranged spouse for the breakdown of the marriage. Instead, recent changes in Illinois law have eliminated fault-based grounds for seeking a divorce, leaving irreconcilable differences as the sole basis for a divorce. Thus, a petition for dissolution of marriage must allege that the parties’ differences are irreconcilable and have caused an irretrievable breakdown of the marriage, and it would not be beneficial to the parties to reconcile. If you are considering pursuing a divorce, you can retain a divorce attorney in the Lombard area to assist you with the petition.

Joint Simplified Dissolution

If the parties seeking a divorce have been married for eight years and do not have children together, they may be able to obtain a joint simplified dissolution of their marriage. In addition to the requirements that must be met when filing a petition for dissolution of marriage, other requirements must be met before the court will grant a joint simplified dissolution. These requirements are primarily set in place to protect the parties financially. First, the parties must show that they do not depend on each other for support, or waive their right to support. Additionally, each party must waive their right to maintenance.

Parties seeking a joint simplified dissolution are required to disclose their assets and liabilities to each other, and they must produce their tax returns for each year of the marriage. They must also prove that neither party holds any property interest and that any retirement benefits held by either party are held in individual accounts with a combined value that is less than $10,000. A Lombard divorce attorney can assist you with meeting these requirements. Lastly, the parties must show that the fair market value of their marital property is less than $50,000, and their combined and individual incomes are below certain amounts. Any assets worth more than $100 and any debts must be divided via a written agreement. A capable family law attorney can advise you on whether you may be able to obtain a joint simplified dissolution.

Meet With an Experienced Family Law Attorney

Deciding whether to seek a divorce or dealing with any other family law issue can be both confusing and emotionally taxing. If you are faced with a family law dispute, you should meet with an experienced attorney to discuss your options for handling your case. The attorneys at Kollias P.C. have the knowledge and experience needed to guide you in the right direction and help you seek your desired outcome in a respectful manner. We can be reached at (630) 912-8700 or through the online form to set up a meeting with a divorce lawyer in the Lombard area.