Child Support & Maintenance

Less scandal, more spreadsheet. Why prenups went mainstream, and why deciding your own terms beats taking the state's.

Summary A contested divorce in Illinois starts when spouses cannot agree on every divorce issue. These issues may include parenting time, support, property division, and money matters. These cases can involve discovery, temporary orders, negotiation, mediation, and trial. Good prep, clear plans, and solid financial and parenting records help protect long-term interests and keep the case on track. When spouses cannot agree on divorce terms, the case is contested. In Illinois,

Wondering what maintenance would actually look like in your divorce? Here's how Illinois spousal maintenance calculators work, what goes into the formula, and why the number they give you is a starting point — not an answer.

Illinois just lowered the shared-parenting threshold from 146 overnights to 110 and replaced the all-or-nothing cliff with graduated adjustments. The new law also counts daytime parenting, changes the rules for low-income and incarcerated parents, and requires annual income disclosure. Here's what changes January 1, 2027 — and why existing orders don't update automatically.

Your court order was written for a moment in time. If that moment has passed — new job, new city, new circumstances — Illinois law may allow you to modify it.

Talking about a prenuptial agreement doesn't mean you're planning for the marriage to fail. It means you want to protect against uncertainty.