Getting a divorce can be one of the most difficult things you will have to do in your life. Not only will you have to deal with the emotional fallout from this major life change, but you also have a slew of financial and legal issues to reconcile. Some of these issues are things that you may already have on your radar, such as spousal support or how you will divide savings accounts. Other issues that need to be dealt with may not be as prominent, but important nonetheless. Have you thought about what you will do with your retirement accounts? Do you know if receiving or paying spousal support will be worth it come tax time? These are the questions that a financial advisor can help you with.

What Is the Role of a Financial Advisor?

Many people think that the only professional they need during a divorce is a lawyer. While it is important that you and your spouse each have your own attorneys, it does not hurt to hire a financial advisor too. A financial advisor’s job is to look at your financial situation and advise you of your options when it comes to finance-related decisions during your divorce. Much like an attorney gives you legal advice based on your situation, a financial advisor will give you your best financial options during your divorce.

Divorce is a very emotional process. After all, you are leaving the person that you promised to spend your life with at one point. As much as divorce is an emotional process, it is also a complicated financial and legal process that can take quite a bit of time, sanity and even money to complete. One of the biggest stressors in marriage is money and it is not any different during a divorce. Depending on your circumstances and needs, your divorce could cost you anywhere from a couple of hundred dollars to upwards of $100,000. The cost of getting a divorce can differ for a number of reasons, some of which are in your control. Here are a few factors that can affect the cost of your Illinois divorce:

The Divorce Process You Choose

The type of divorce you decide to go with will greatly impact how much you end up paying for the process. In most cases, a litigated divorce will cost much more than other types of divorces. This is because a litigated divorce involves much more court time, attorney’s fees and court costs than other types of divorces. Other popular types of divorces, such as mediated or collaborative divorces, can cost less in the long run, depending on the level of cooperation between you and your spouse.

In the past, there was often only one route to take if you and your spouse wanted to get a divorce - that route was litigation. Different forms of alternative dispute resolution have been increasingly used to reach an agreement during a divorce. It is the general consensus that litigation is a last resort when going through a divorce and for good reason. Litigated divorces are often long and drawn out, in addition to being extremely costly and contentious. Because of this, two forms of alternative dispute resolution - collaborative and mediated divorces - have gained in popularity. Though the end goal is the same, these two types of divorce methods are quite different.

Divorce Mediation

In a mediated divorce, you and your spouse deal with one attorney who acts as an intermediary when settling issues during your divorce. Proponents of mediated divorces state that divorce mediation is more peaceful, can be accomplished quicker than other divorce methods and allow you to make your own decisions about your divorce, rather than having a judge make them.

cannot deny a divorce, there are ways they can prolong the process and make your life as difficult as possible. The following information provides insight on how to deal with a spouse who does not agree to a divorce.

My Spouse Will Not Respond to My Divorce Petition

In Illinois, the only acceptable reason to cite for divorce is irreconcilable differences, which can be cited by either spouse in the Petition For Dissolution of Marriage. The spouse who files the petition is referred to as the petitioner, while the other spouse is referred to as the respondent. Once the petition has been filed with the court, a hearing will be scheduled. It is the filing spouse’s responsibility to notify the other spouse of the petition and the hearing. Once the notice is served, the respondent has 30 days to respond to the notice and state whether or not he or she intends to contest the divorce.

It can be devastating to those who decide to get a divorce because of their spouse’s infidelity. Marital infidelity can cause feelings of sadness, hurt, anger, despair, and anguish, which can all cause the divorce process to be even more stressful and combative than your average divorce. If you are divorcing because of infidelity, you may be wondering whether or not your spouse’s adultery could give you an advantage in your divorce. While the answer is typically “no,” there are certain areas and aspects of your divorce that could be affected by a spouse’s infidelity.

Wasted Assets During an Affair

When it comes to asset and property division during a divorce, Illinois is considered an equitable division state. This means that each spouse will receive a share of the marital estate that is considered to be fair and just but does not always mean each spouse will receive half of everything. In regard to infidelity, the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (IMDMA) specifically states that the court, “shall divide the marital property without regard to marital misconduct in just proportions…” which means that a spouse's infidelity will not be a deciding factor at all.