The good news is there is nothing specific that you have to do to prepare for your divorce in Illinois. You can start the process whenever you are ready. There are several things you can do before getting started that can make the process smoother and help you get a better outcome.
First, if you have children and believe you and your spouse will not agree on decision-making or parenting time, you should start keeping track of parenting time and caretaking functions. For example, make sure to keep track of which days and times each of you has the children. Track attendance at doctor’s appointments, parent-teacher conferences, and extracurricular activities. Write down anything you see or hear that is concerning to you (be sure to include the date). This can be a comment from your kids or something you saw your spouse do or not do. As time passes, these things can be hard to remember, and you may need the evidence to present to the judge or a Guardian ad Litem. You can keep your records in whatever way works best for you. You can write them on a calendar, in a journal, or use the notes app on your phone.
Second, work on gathering all of your financial information. The following documents are very helpful if you have them:
- Most recent tax return
- Most recent W-2s
- Most recent paystubs (or other proof of income)
- Bank statements
- Retirement account statements
- Investment account statements
- Asset Appraisals
- Credit Card statements
- Mortgage balance
- Vehicle loan statements
- Any other debt statements
Recent statements work best to start with. If you don’t have access to them, don’t worry. They can be requested from the other party or subpoenaed.
Third, getting a copy of your credit report can be helpful if you are not familiar with your financial situation or if you have concerns about your spouse’s spending.
Finally, give some thought to what you want life to look like after divorce. Do you want to stay in your marital residence or move somewhere else? If you don’t currently work, do you need to start looking for a job? What parenting time schedule will work best for you and your kids? You don’t have to have all the answers, but you need to start thinking about them.
Whenever you are ready to get started, be sure to involve an attorney in the process. An experienced divorce attorney can help identify issues you have not even considered, help you obtain documents you need, and walk you through the entire process. If you are getting divorced in Madison, St. Clair, or Bond Counties in Illinois, Mitchell Highlander, LLC is happy to help guide you through the divorce process to get the results you deserve.
