Full Description

A divorce can be the most painful and expensive experience of your life. Whether you use a lawyer or not, protect yourself by getting all the information you need about divorce laws and your legal rights. Let File for Divorce in Illinois help you get control over this stressful time of your life.
Learn how to:
- File an Uncontested or Contested Divorce
- Protect Your Assets, Yourself and Your Children
- Save Money when Working with a Lawyer
- Negotiate Child Support and Visitation Agreements

Ready-to-Go forms with Step-by-Step Instructions

Essential documents you need to:
- End the Marriage and Start Fresh
- Resolve Property Disputes
- Calculate Child Support
- Develop a Visitation Schedule
- And much more . . .

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Table of Contents

Using Self-Help Law Books

Introduction -

Chapter 1: Marriage and Divorce in Illinois -
-Marriage
-Divorce
-Psychological and Social Issues of Divorce
-Counseling
-Financial Aspect of Divorce

Chapter 2: Annulments and Legal Separations -
-Annulment
-Legal Separation

Chapter 3: The Legal System -
-Research
-County Circuit Courts
-Ten Tips for Appearing in Court on a Divorce

Chapter 4: Attorneys -
-Needing an Attorney
-Finding an Attorney
-Attorney Checklist
-Understanding Costs
-What to Bring to Your First Meeting with an Attorney
-Checklist of Documents Needed for the First Meeting
-with an Attorney
-Family Law Attorneys
-Problems with Your Attorney

Chapter 5: Protecting Yourself and Your Children -
-Domestic Violence
-Child Abuse

Chapter 6: Divorce Basics -
-Grounds
-Contested
-Uncontested
-Collaborative Divorce
-Divorce Mediation
-Divorce Arbitration

Chapter 7: The Divorce Process -
-Steps to Getting a Divorce
-Summons
-Petition
-Appearance and Agreement
-Response to Your Petition
-Divorce Trial
-Disclosure Statements
-Simplified Divorce

Chapter 8: Divorce Forms -
-In General—Circuit Courts
-Forms on the Internet
-Court Filing
-Common Forms
-Generic Forms
-Checklists and Worksheets

Chapter 9: Marital Property -
-Marital Property
-Rules of Thumb on Marital Assets

Chapter 10: Maintenance -
-Maintenance, Spousal Support, or Alimony
-Terminating and Changing Maintenance

Chapter 11: Settlement Agreement -
-Marital Settlement Agreements
-How Courts View Marital Settlement Agreements
-Other Agreements that will Affect a Divorce

Chapter 12: Children and Divorce -
-Best Interest of the Child
-Emotions
-Children’s Bill of Rights
-Paternity

Chapter 13: Child Custody -
-Custody Agreements
-Factors Influencing Custody
-Expected Custody Changes
-Custody Laws
-Types of Custody
-Indiscretions of the Custodial Parent
-Fathers and Child Custody
-Custody Evaluations
-Child Abduction
-Counseling, Mediation, and Parenting Classes

Chapter 14: Child Visitation -
-The Court’s View
-The Child’s Wishes
-Joint Parenting Agreements
-Visitation Factors
-Things to Consider when Drafting a Visitation Schedule
-Visitation Schedules
-Changing Schedules
-Common Misconceptions

Chapter 15: Child Support -
-How Child Support is Calculated
-Factors Considered for Initial Support Order
-Medical Insurance for the Children
-Modification of Child Support
-College Expenses
-Support for Non-Minor Children
-Enforcement of Child Support

Chapter 16: Grandparents’ Rights After Divorce -
-The Law Affecting Grandparent Visitation
-Visitation
-Custody
-Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

Chapter 17: The Military Divorce -
-Selecting an Attorney
-USFSPA
-Survivor Benefit Plan Coverage

Chapter 18: Other Financial Matters to be Considered -
-Insurance
-Taxes
-Estate Planning
-Pensions
-Social Security

Chapter 19: Final Thoughts -

Glossary -
Appendix A: State of Illinois Judicial Circuit Courts -
Appendix B: Illinois Statutes -
Appendix C: Checklists and Worksheets -
Appendix D: Generic Forms -
Appendix E: Sample Agreements -
Index

Excerpt

Editorial Reviews

Customer Reviews

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