Cook County Divorce Process

The divorce process in Cook County will depend on the specific circumstances. Factors such as the amount of assets a couple has, whether they can agree on how to settle the issues at hand, and whether they must enter litigation.

A well-versed divorce lawyer can help you understand what the process may look like for you. They can then guide you through the process and advocate for your rights to help make it as smooth as possible.

What to Expect in The Divorce Process

Divorce tends to be a complicated process because it is an emotional decision. When dealing with this emotional situation, it is very difficult to stay focused and objective. It is especially difficult because, once a decision has been made to enter into a divorce by one of the spouses, the other spouse cannot really fight it.

The process of seeking a divorce can also be long and complicated, especially when children are involved. In a divorce, mediation is primarily used for issues that relate to children. A mediator can help a couple come to an agreement about parenting time and decision making for the children. However, if they cannot reach an agreement, they may have to enter litigation and have their attorneys go to court on their behalf. When this happens, the judge will make the final decision on the issues.

Determining Assets

Assets and liabilities are essentially determined in the same way in any county in Illinois. When a lawyer is trying to determine the value of an asset, they are trying to determine the fair market value, which can be difficult.

A bank account would be relatively easy to determine as its value is whatever is in the account. However, a piece of property is only worth what is someone is willing to pay for it. Therefore, they need to use approximations to determine the value. The easiest way to do this is for the parties to agree on a value. If the parties cannot reach an agreement on what an asset is worth, they may have to seek expert opinions to determine the value of the asset. When they have a battle of experts, oftentimes the court will work to weigh the credibility of the experts and ultimately determine what the value is.

The Cost of Getting Divorced

The average cost of divorce in the United States in about $15,000 per person. However, the total cost is going to vary based upon what is at stake and whether the parties can agree. The more they fight, the more the divorce is going to cost. There are also court costs and fees for experts that could add up if the parties must enter litigation.

The marital estate is responsible for covering the cost of the divorce. Both parties should have equal access to funds, and if for some reason one party does not have access to funds and the other does, the party with the funds will often have to pay for the other person’s legal fees.

A Cook County Attorney Can Guide You through the Divorce Process

The idea of getting divorced can be daunting. It may seem impossible to completely divide a life you spent years building. However, a Cook County attorney can work with you to make the divorce process as smooth as possible. For the help you need, call Reidy Law Office LLC today.

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