The divorce process can be very complex and difficult for both parties. In some cases, spouses may not know where to begin as they prepare to end their marriage, and gaining a full understanding of the issues they will need to address can seem like a massive and complicated undertaking. These problems may be compounded by the emotional difficulties that a person may experience due to the end of a long-term relationship, the conflict between spouses, and concerns about how matters related to a couple’s children will be handled. In many cases, divorcing spouses can benefit by working with a divorce coach who can provide much-needed assistance as they go about the process of dissolving their marriage.

At Weiss-Kunz & Oliver, LLC, we provide our clients with high-quality legal representation during the divorce process, working to protect their rights and helping them reach a positive outcome to their cases. However, we understand that while we can assist with the legal aspects of a divorce, there are a variety of other issues that can affect our clients during this process, and receiving help from others can often be beneficial. We are happy to work alongside divorce coaches with our clients, taking a team approach to the divorce process and ensuring that a person will be prepared to move forward with their life once their marriage has been legally dissolved.

How a Divorce Coach Can Help With the Divorce Process

There are many issues that will need to be addressed as a couple goes about the process of ending their marriage. While an attorney can provide invaluable help with the legal aspects of this process, there are a variety of other concerns that may need to be addressed outside of the legal context. A divorce coach can help a person determine the best ways to approach these issues and proceed with the process of ending their marriage.

Many approaches can be taken during the divorce process. While some level of conflict is to be expected between divorcing spouses, this does not necessarily mean that dissolving a marriage will require long, drawn-out legal proceedings in court. In many cases, spouses can benefit by approaching divorce cooperatively, and this can make the process easier for their children or other family members as well. Mediation can provide an effective way of doing so, and by working together to create a divorce settlement, spouses can find solutions that will benefit both of them, allow them to complete their divorce more quickly and efficiently, and ensure that they will be able to move forward with their lives once the divorce process is complete.

In some cases, attorney-assisted mediation may be a good solution that will allow spouses to work out their differences while making sure their rights and interests will be protected. The attorneys of Weiss-Kunz & Oliver, LLC work with our clients to help them determine how to proceed with the mediation process. We advise divorcing spouses on the level of attorney involvement that may be appropriate in their situation while helping them understand the best steps they can take to resolve their disputes and complete the process of dissolving their marriage. Our goal is to help our clients reach a positive resolution that they can be happy with while avoiding conflict as much as possible and ensuring that they will be in a good position as they begin the next stage of their lives.

What Is Attorney-Assisted Mediation?

Traditionally, mediation will only involve the parties who need to settle a legal dispute and a neutral mediator who guides them through discussions and helps them make decisions about how to resolve the outstanding issues in their case. This can be a good solution in cases where the parties are willing to cooperate to reach mutually-beneficial agreements. Because divorce mediators are often attorneys or have knowledge of divorce laws, they can advise spouses of their rights and explain how the decisions they make will affect them. By working together along with the mediator, spouses can often negotiate a workable divorce settlement, and once they have created an agreed settlement, they will be able to attend a hearing and complete the process of legally dissolving their marriage.

Getting a divorce can be a very stressful process, and many people struggle with emotional issues related to the end of their marriages. This is understandable; ending a relationship that a person expected to last for the rest of their life can be difficult, no matter the circumstances. However, there are some cases where a divorce may involve more complex issues related to mental health. If either spouse has been diagnosed with a mental illness or is receiving treatment for psychological issues, this may affect how certain decisions are made during the divorce process. Divorcing parents may need to determine how these issues will affect decisions about child custody, and they may also need to address other mental health issues that affect their children.

In many cases, spouses are unsure about how to approach issues related to mental health during their divorce. This can be an especially important issue to deal with if a person is concerned about the safety of themselves or their children. The attorneys of Weiss-Kunz & Oliver, LLC can work with divorcing spouses to determine the best ways to address their concerns. We make sure our clients understand the laws that apply to them, the options for requesting any evaluations that may be necessary, and the protections that may be put in place. Our goal is to help divorcing spouses protect their rights and interests and create solutions that will allow them and their families to move forward successfully after they end their marriages.

Mental Health Evaluations in Child Custody Cases

While mental health issues will not always be a factor in divorce proceedings, they can be an important issue to address in cases where spouses will need to resolve child-related issues. The specific condition(s) that a parent has been diagnosed with, the types of treatment they are receiving, and their ability to make parenting decisions and provide the necessary care for children may affect the decisions made about the allocation of parental responsibilities and parenting time. 

Getting a divorce can be a complicated process. Regardless of the level of conflict between spouses, there will be multiple legal and financial issues that will need to be addressed. Even if a couple has agreed to work together to resolve these issues amicably, they may encounter a number of concerns that will affect their finances, their relationships with their children, and their ability to move forward after their marriage has been dissolved. These issues can become even more complicated in cases where a couple becomes involved in contentious disputes. Fortunately, divorcing couples have a number of options for resolving their issues and completing the divorce process, and in many cases, they can benefit by using mediation or collaborative law.

At Weiss-Kunz & Oliver, LLC, we work to ensure that our clients have the tools they need to complete the divorce process successfully. We provide guidance throughout the legal process, advising our clients on the issues that they will need to address and the ways they can protect their rights and resolve conflicts. We can help divorcing spouses determine whether mediation may be a good option for creating a divorce settlement or whether a collaborative divorce may be a beneficial method of resolving disputes and finalizing the end of their marriage. If an amicable resolution is not possible, we are fully prepared to provide representation during divorce litigation and advocate on our clients’ behalf in hearings and trials.

Contested Vs. Uncontested Divorce

The approach that may be taken during the divorce process will often depend on whether a case is contested or uncontested. In an uncontested divorce, a couple will agree to work together to resolve all divorce-related issues without proceeding with the litigation process and holding a divorce trial. During an uncontested divorce, a couple may encounter multiple types of disputes, but they will work to resolve these matters outside of court and create a divorce settlement.

If you are preparing to get married, you will have a lot to consider as you plan for your life together with your future spouse. When there are many different issues related to your wedding that you will need to address, as well as plans for changes to your life as you combine your finances and prepare to live together, the possibility of a divorce is likely to be the last thing on your mind. Even if the idea that your marriage may not last may be unthinkable, you should still consider this possibility and make plans for how you and your partner will handle matters if you do choose to get divorced in the future. You can do so by creating a prenuptial agreement, and even if divorce never becomes an issue, this type of agreement can benefit you and your spouse in other ways as well.

Prenuptial agreements in Illinois are governed by the Uniform Premarital Agreement Act. Illinois law uses the phrase "premarital agreement" but the term prenuptial agreement is still sometimes used informally. 

As you consider how to address legal and financial issues as you prepare to get married and determine the best ways to protect yourself, Weiss-Kunz & Oliver, LLC can provide invaluable legal help. We will make sure you understand your rights and options, and we will work with you to negotiate an agreement that will fit your unique situation. With our help, you can make sure both you and your partner fully understand the issues you plan to address, the decisions you make, and the benefits a prenuptial agreement can provide to you throughout your marriage.