Illinois Family Law

Illinois dropped the newspaper publication rule for adult name changes and cut the residency requirement to three months. Here is how it works now, and the free shortcut if you are in the middle of a divorce.

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

You bought the condo together during your engagement, so it must be marital property, right? Not necessarily. In Illinois, the date on the deed matters more than the date of the engagement, and how the property was titled, paid for, and treated after the marriage can decide who walks away with what.

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,

A step-by-step guide to obtaining an order of protection in Illinois: who qualifies, how to file (including online and after hours), the emergency hearing, and what happens next.

A clear outline of what judges actually look at when it comes to awarding parenting time and decision making.

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.

Most school-year parenting problems are visible in July — they just don't get handled until they're urgent. Here's what Illinois co-parents should review before the first day of school: whether the parenting plan matches reality, exchange logistics, school records access, extracurricular decisions and costs, and when it's time to modify the order instead of fighting it all year.

Is Illinois a no-fault state? How is child support calculated? Who gets the house? A Chicago family law attorney answers the Illinois family law questions we hear most.

If your co-parent took your child out of Illinois, the first response matters. Here is what to do, what not to do, and when emergency court relief may be necessary.

Illinois courts generally encourage meaningful parenting time with both parents. But when a parent’s conduct places a child’s physical, emotional, or mental well-being at risk, the court may impose restrictions. This article explains when parenting time restrictions may apply under Illinois law and what factors judges consider.

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.

Learn how Illinois divorce cases move efficiently when strategy, preparation, and realistic expectations are established early.

Emotional divorce litigation can drive up fees and delay resolution. In Illinois family law cases, a structured strategy usually works better than reactive conflict escalation.

Yes — Illinois judges can and do reject agreed divorce judgments. Learn the 5 most common reasons uncontested divorces get sent back, and how to avoid them.