Chicago Divorce Lawyer

Cost depends on the number of contested issues, because each disputed issue requires its own discovery, negotiation, and potentially its own hearing — an uncontested divorce with a complete agreement resolves in a fraction of the attorney hours a contested case requires.Cost depends on financial complexity, because a business, a retirement account with unusual terms, or a real estate portfolio typically needs a professional valuation before a fair settlement number even exists — that expert cost sits alongside attorney fees, not instead of them.Cost depends on the level of cooperation between spouses, because attorney hours are driven substantially by hearings, motions, and negotiation cycles. Two spouses who exchange financial disclosure promptly and negotiate in good faith spend measurably less than two spouses litigating every temporary order.Cost depends on whether a Guardian ad Litem or custody evaluation becomes necessary, since those fees are separate from attorney fees and are typically split between the parties in a contested parenting dispute.Cost depends on baseline court fees, independent of everything else. Cook County's filing fee for the initial petition currently runs roughly $300 to $400, with smaller fees for a response or service — these apply regardless of how simple or complex the underlying case is.Realistic ranges: For a straightforward Cook County uncontested divorce, LaRocque Law's attorney fees typically run $4,000 to $6,000, in addition to the court filing fee. Contested Illinois divorces vary far more widely — commonly cited figures for the Chicago area run from roughly $10,000 to $25,000 or more, with cases involving business valuation, forensic accounting, or extended litigation exceeding that range. Because these figures depend heavily on the specific issues in dispute, treat them as an orientation point rather than a quote — the reliable number comes from a conversation about your actual situation.

An uncontested Cook County divorce with a complete settlement agreement can finalize within 4 to 8 weeks of filing once all documents are ready, including roughly 3 to 4 weeks to get a prove-up hearing scheduled. Contested divorces take substantially longer — with complex litigation taking years and cases that reach trial or involve complex assets can run beyond that.Consultation and assessment timeline: An initial conversation is typically scheduled within days. A full strategy discussion follows once you've engaged the firm and shared your financial and family picture.Filing and residency timeline: You can file as soon as you meet Illinois's 90-day residency threshold, but the court can't finalize the divorce until that period has been satisfied.Uncontested case timeline: Once both spouses sign a complete settlement agreement (and parenting plan, if applicable), the case moves at the pace of the court's calendar. In Cook County, that's typically 3 to 4 weeks to get a prove-up hearing scheduled once the paperwork is complete — and in some represented, uncontested cases, parties can prove up by affidavit without appearing at all.Contested case timeline: 12 to 24 months is typical, driven by discovery, mandatory mediation on any contested parenting issue, and court scheduling. Contested parenting matters specifically are subject to an Illinois Supreme Court time standard expecting resolution within about 18 months of service, absent good cause for delay.Post-decree timeline: An uncontested modification, where the other party agrees, can resolve within weeks. A contested modification requiring a hearing can take several months.

An uncontested divorce in Cook County, where both spouses agree on the major terms, can cost somewhere around $4,000 to $6,000 in attorney fees plus a $300 to $400 court filing fee. Contested divorces cost more because fees track the number of disputed issues and hours worked, not a flat rate — figures in the $10,000 to $25,000-plus range are common once parenting disputes, business valuation, or contested discovery are involved.

No — Illinois removed "custody" from its statutes in 2016. Courts now allocate two separate things: parenting time (the physical schedule) and parental responsibilities (decision-making authority over education, healthcare, religion, and activities). Plenty of people still search using "custody," and that's fine — it's just no longer the operative legal term, and understanding the actual framework matters once a case is underway.

A legal separation formalizes support and living arrangements without ending the marriage, while a divorce (dissolution of marriage) legally ends it. Legal separation is used far less often in Illinois than in some states, largely because it doesn't resolve property division the way a divorce does. Most couples who no longer want to be married proceed directly to dissolution rather than separating first.

Yes. Illinois is a no-fault state, and a spouse's refusal doesn't prevent a divorce — it makes the case contested rather than uncontested. A court can grant a dissolution based on irreconcilable differences even over one spouse's objection; the disagreement affects the process and timeline, not whether the divorce can happen.

It depends on the stage. Many routine Cook County status hearings happen over Zoom, and some represented, uncontested cases can prove up by affidavit without appearing at all. Contested hearings and trial generally require appearing in person. Your attorney should be able to tell you which category any specific court date falls into before you plan around it.

Neither spouse is automatically required to move out simply because a divorce has been filed. Whether it makes sense to stay or go depends on the circumstances — safety, finances, and the parenting arrangement all factor in — and a temporary order addressing occupancy of the home can be requested if the situation calls for it.

One attorney can't represent both spouses in a divorce — that's a conflict of interest under Illinois rules, even in an amicable case. A neutral mediator is different: they help facilitate agreement on disputed issues without representing either side, but they can't give legal advice to either spouse, so many couples pair mediation with independent counsel for each party.

Illinois uses an income shares model, meaning both parents' incomes are combined to determine a total support obligation, which is then divided proportionally based on each parent's share of that combined income and their parenting time. Health insurance costs and additional child-related expenses are typically factored in separately, on top of the base calculation.

The case proceeds as contested only on that specific issue. Illinois courts and local rules allow parties to document what's already resolved while litigating or mediating the remaining dispute — you don't have to relitigate settled issues just because one item, like a single asset, is still unresolved.