People who have decided to get divorced in Illinois might feel tempted to manage the process themselves. However, a marital breakup is far from a simple process to handle on one’s own. Here are a couple of situations where enlisting the expertise of an attorney is especially wise.
Dealing with children
If two divorcing individuals have minor children, their divorce can quickly become complicated. They will need to arrive at a child custody agreement as well as create a parenting schedule and plan. However, they may end up disagreeing about how to handle their children’s medical treatment, holidays or how the children will divide their time. In this situation, a family law attorney’s guidance is crucial for navigating conflict and misunderstandings to accomplish what is ultimately in the children’s best interest.
Dealing with property
During the divorce process, two individuals may also have to decide who will keep the marital home or whether to simply sell it and split the proceeds. Likewise, if they own rental homes, they must decide what to do about these assets moving forward. An attorney can help a divorcing individual to pursue the most personally favorable property division outcome given the circumstances surrounding the divorce.
The value of hiring an attorney
Most Illinois residents who embark on the divorce process do not fully understand how the court system operates. Unfortunately, this lack of understanding about court system terminology, forms and processes can cause an individual to make costly mistakes during the divorce process. However, an experienced family law attorney can help a divorcing individual to make informed decisions while pursuing a fair and comprehensive settlement with the other party. One’s attorney will also be prepared to litigate any divorce issues that cannot be resolved through negotiation, ensuring that his or her client’s rights are protected during each stage of the divorce proceeding and increasing the odds of achieving the best possible outcome.
