Divorce Attorney Hoffman Estates

Divorce Attorney Hoffman Estates

The divorce rate has declined a bit since 2000. However, it is still about twice as high as it was a generation ago. In practical terms, this means that an increasing number of household in Cook County will need to rely on an experienced Hoffman Estates divorce attorney at one time or another. This representation could involve a marriage dissolution proceeding, a child custody dispute, or a modification action to a previous agreement or court order.

At Andrea Heckman Law, our diligent attorneys offer long-lasting and cost-effective solutions in all these areas. We are committed to the legal needs of Cook County families. We begin each case with a conversation. After we understand your needs and goals in a particular situation, we recommend a course of action. Then, we work that plan until we achieve the best possible results under the circumstances.

 Premarital Agreements

Since they resolve much thorny inheritance, property, and other matters in advance, premarital agreements streamline any future divorce proceedings. For the same reason, these pacts also strengthen your marriage.

With the exception of child support matters, premarital agreements can cover almost any subject. Many people draw up executory documents, like wills and trusts, to supplement their premarital agreements.

On the back end, a Hoffman Estates divorce attorney may be able to overturn an unfavorable premarital agreement. Sometimes, the pact is involuntary. Perhaps one spouse withheld critical information. Other times, the property division may be unconscionable. In other words, it is so one-sided that it shocks the consciousness.

Marriage Dissolution Proceedings in Hoffman Estates

Prior to 2016, the divorce process in Illinois often took years. The process was also quite unpredictable. There were a number of legal twists and turns. Furthermore, individual judges had a great deal of discretion in matters like the amount and duration of spousal support payments.

Some recent legal changes have altered the landscape. For example, lawmakers did away with the extended divorce waiting period. Now, if your marriage has ended, there is no reason to prolong the emotional pain. The foundations of divorce are different, as well. Illinois is now a pure no-fault state. Irreconcilable differences (no-fault divorce) are all you need to claim to file for divorce. Finally, new laws have imposed tight controls on things like alimony awards. Now, judges in Cook County usually reach the same decisions as judges in Lake County and elsewhere in Chicagoland.

The divorce procedure is much the same. After an interim hearing in which a judge makes important temporary decisions, there is usually a period of discovery before the parties resolve the case through mediation.

Cook County Modification and Enforcement Actions

Divorce decrees are known as snapshot orders. They resolve issues according to the facts and circumstances at that time. These facts and circumstances often change significantly. People relocate to nicer homes, get higher-paying jobs, and so on.

When circumstances materially and substantially change, your divorce decree probably needs legal modification. This modification helps everyone stay on the same page.

Legal modification is important at these times. Many parents try to work things out themselves, so they rely on informal side-agreements. Their intentions are good because it is good for parents to work out their own problems. But these side agreements are unenforceable in family court. Unless the judge alters the current orders, they remain in effect.

Connect With an Assertive Attorney

Many things about Illinois divorces are different, but other things have remained the same. For a free consultation with an experienced family law attorney in Hoffman Estates, contact Andrea Heckman Law. We routinely handle matters in Cook County and nearby jurisdictions.