The legalities of divorce are complex, and the emotional upheaval that tends to accompany divorce makes the matter more challenging still. Because protecting your finances and your parental rights is key, working with an experienced Minooka divorce attorney is well advised. 

Addressing Your Divorce Terms

You and your divorcing spouse will need to address the terms of divorce that apply in your situation, including:

• The division of your marital property
• Child custody arrangements
• Child support
• Alimony

For each term that applies, you will need to negotiate resolutions – with the skilled legal guidance of your respective divorce attorneys – that are acceptable to both of you. If there are any terms that you are unable to hammer out, you’ll turn to the court to make the necessary determinations.

The Division Of Your Marital Property

Any assets that you, your spouse, or both of you together came to own while you were a married couple are viewed as marital property. Upon divorce, these assets must be divided between you equitably – or fairly in relation to the circumstances involved. 

Your Child Custody Arrangements

In Illinois, child custody is dealt with in terms of parental responsibilities and parenting time. Parental responsibilities refer to how you and your ex will address decision-making authority regarding your children’s health and well-being, medical care, schooling, extracurricular activities, and religious upbringing.  Parenting time, on the other hand, settles the schedule by which you and your ex will divide your time with the kids. 

Child Support

You and your ex are both required to continue supporting your children financially, and child support helps to balance this financial support between you. Even if you and your children’s other parent have similar parenting time schedules, the higher earner will likely have the child support obligation. 

Alimony

The court grants alimony only in those divorces in which one spouse needs assistance supporting themself, and the other has the ability to help. Factors that influence alimony determinations include:

• The length of the marriage
• Each spouse’s earning potential
• Each spouse’s age and overall health
• The contributions each spouse made to the marital estate, including caring for the home and children
• Any contributions either spouse made to the other’s career and earning capacity
• Any spending down, hiding, or otherwise dissipating marital assets on the part of either spouse

Turn To An Experienced Minooka Divorce Attorney For The Help You Need

If you have been served with divorce papers or have come to the difficult determination that you need to pursue a divorce, don’t wait to reach out for professional legal counsel. The practiced Minooka divorce attorneys at Sabuco Beck, PC understand the challenges you are facing and are well positioned to skillfully pursue divorce terms that support your rights and work for you. We are on your side and here to help, so please don’t hesitate to contact us for more information about what we can do for you today.