Attorneys for a Contested Divorce in Fulton County IL
Brave Law specializes in all aspects of family law, including legal services for a contested divorce in Fulton County IL. Give us a call now at 309-228-9254 for a consultation with one of our experienced divorce attorneys.
The divorce process becomes contested when parties fail to come to an agreement on one or more issues concerning the marriage dissolution. Typical disagreements include marital debts, division of property, or pets. The first step of a contested divorce involves mediation. If that doesn’t solve the disagreement, then parties can plead their cases in front of a judge. Therefore, you should retain the services of the experienced Brave Law divorce attorneys if you believe your divorce will become contested by your spouse.
To request a consultation, contact us today. Without experienced legal representation, contested divorce processes can linger on for years without a resolution. Thus, you will not receive the closure to you need to move on with the rest of your life. If you want assistance with making your contested divorce go as smoothly and quickly as possible, then discuss your case with Brave Law.
The Process for Contested Divorce in Fulton County IL
Illinois law allows for a no-fault divorce. That means it is easy to establish grounds for a divorce. Under state law, one party only needs to prove that “irreconcilable differences have caused the irretrievable breakdown of the marriage.” The easiest way to prove the marriage is irretrievably broken is by living separately and apart for 6 months. If both parties come to agreement on all matters, then an uncontested divorce can get finalized. However, disagreements between the parties will result in a contested divorce. To initiate the contested divorce process, one of the parties must file for it. For help with a contested divorce in Fulton County IL, consult with Brave Law attorneys.
A Petition for Dissolution of the Marriage
A divorce begins when a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage gets filed by an attorney for one of the parties. The court calls the party who files it the petitioner, and the other party is the respondent. Once a spouse files this petition, they must serve the other party with the divorce papers. This is done in person, by certified mail, by a special process server, or with the assistance of the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office. The receiving party then gets 30 days to respond to the petition. They can either acknowledge the petition or file a counter-petition. As a result, a counter-petition allows the respondent to make additional allegations. After the response, a party or their attorney may request a hearing. For help with filing, contact Brave Law divorce attorneys about your contested divorce in Fulton County IL.
Divorce Trials
If no settlements are reached between the parties, the final step is a trial for the contested divorce in Fulton County IL. Before the trial begins, parties can outline unresolved issues in a pre-trial conference. At this point, the judge can make suggestions on how to make a settlement. If the parties continue to disagree, a divorce trial will commence. Each party’s lawyer can make arguments, present evidence, and call witnesses during the trial process. The judge then considers the arguments and comes to a decision on the outstanding issues. Finally, the judge announces a ruling, and the divorce is ready for closing.
How Long Is the Contested Divorce Process?
On average, you can expect to spend 1 year before concluding a contested divorce in Fulton County IL. That time estimate includes a 6-month separation in the relationship to prove the grounds for a contested divorce. The faster parties can agree the faster the case ends. The time frame also depends on the court’s schedule. If the Fulton County Courthouse gets booked up, you can expect delays between court dates to get the case in a front of a judge.
Schedule a Consultation Now
Let Brave Law attorneys advise you and protect your best interests during the process for a contested divorce in Fulton County IL. To request a consultation, you can contact us online. In addition, you can call 309-228-9254 to discuss your case. You can find our local law office at 156 North Adams Street in Lewiston IL.
