Domestic Relations In Illinois

This pamphlet is published to give general information about legal separation, dissolution of marriage (divorce) and rights in property. Domestic relations or family law is very complex and if you have questions regarding the contents of this pamphlet, ask your lawyer since it is not possible to put all information in this publication and the law continually changes.

What Is Dissolution Of Marriage?

A dissolution of marriage (formerly called divorce) is a court proceeding that terminates a marriage, divides marital property of a married couple and provides for maintenance, child custody and child support.

Must I Live In Illinois To Obtain A Dissolution Of Marriage?

One spouse must reside in the State of Illinois when suit is filed and for 90 days prior to the date the court enters a judgment of dissolution of marriage or legal separation.

What Are Grounds For Dissolution Of Marriage?

The grounds for dissolution of marriage in Illinois are any one of the following:

Beginning July 1, 1984, an additional basis for obtaining a dissolution is the so-called "no-fault" separation. The spouses must have lived separate and apart continuously for a period in excess of two years and irreconcilable differences must have caused an irretrievable breakdown of the marriage. The court must further determine that efforts of reconciliation have failed, and that future attempts at reconciliation would be impracticable and not in the best interests of the family. The court can grant a no-fault dissolution after a six-month separation of the parties if agreed to upon written stipulation.

What Happens In A Proceeding For Dissolution Of Marriage?

An action for dissolution is similar to other lawsuits. A petition alleging the reasons (grounds) for the dissolution is filed with the court by one spouse (who is called the plaintiff/petitioner). The petition is served on the other spouse (who is called the defendant/respondent) who must file an answer to the petitioner with the court within thirty days. If defendant/respondent cannot be found, notice of the suit is published in the local newspaper. If the defendant/respondent fails to answer within thirty days, the dissolution may proceed by default without the defendant/respondent having an opportunity to protect his or her rights.

If the defendant/respondent is in default, or if the parties have agreed to the terms of support, custody, and property division, a brief court hearing is held in which the plaintiff/petitioner testifies. If the dissolution is contested, the question of grounds is tried first and the defendant/respondent can offer proof in opposition to the dissolution.

If the judge finds that the plaintiff/petitioner has grounds for dissolution, a separate trial is held to determine any unresolved questions of support, custody, or property division. If the parties reach an agreement on these issues, the second trial is not required. The agreement is submitted to the court for approval and then becomes part of the dissolution judgment.

What Is Maintenance?

Maintenance (formerly called alimony) is a payment of money or property from one spouse to the other who lacks sufficient financial means to provide for his or her reasonable needs or who is unable to support himself or herself through appropriate employment. Maintenance may be paid in a lump sum at the time of dissolution or in installments following the dissolution for a fixed or indefinite period. Unless the parties agree otherwise, maintenance installments can be modified by the court at a later time if there is a substantial change in the financial circumstances of the parties. Unless agreed otherwise, future installments automatically terminate on the death of either party, or the remarriage of continuing cohabitation (of the recipient) with a member of the opposite sex.

The court looks at many factors in determining the need for maintenance and the appropriate amount. The policy of the law is to avoid maintenance unless necessary. Sometimes one spouse will be awarded more marital property so that maintenance can be avoided. In no case is maintenance awarded or property divided as a punishment for marital misconduct.

What Is Marital Property?

All property acquired during the marriage, including the house, bank accounts, insurance, and furnishings is considered marital property, regardless of which spouse holds title. All marital property is subject to division by the court though the division isn't necessarily equal. Certain exceptions, such as gifts or inheritance received individually by either spouse or property owned prior to marriage, are considered non-marital if they are kept separate from the marital property. The non-marital property is assigned to the spouse who owns it.

What Is A Legal Separation?

It is a court action for maintenance or child support brought by the party in need who is living physically separate and apart from the other spouse without fault. A judgment of legal separation does not require the same proof of marital misconduct as a dissolution, does not result in the termination of the marriage, and does not provide for the division of property. A judgment in this form does not allow either party to remarry until a dissolution is obtained.

How Is Child Custody Decided?

If a couple cannot agree as to who is to have custody of the children, the court will make that decision based on the best interests of the children. The spouse who does not have custody will have the right of visitation with the children at certain times agreed by the parties or ordered by the court. It is no longer presumed that young children will be better off with their mothers. Petitions for child custody can be filed even though there is no dissolution or separation action pending before the court.

What Is Joint Custody?

Joint custody is an agreement between the parents, with the approval by the court, which provides for both parents to have joint legal custody, which means joint decision-making concerning a child's education, medical attention, religious upbringing, and care. There may also be joint physical custody, which means a sharing of physical custody. Both types of joint custody arrangements require close cooperation between the parents to be successful.

Who Supports The Children?

Each parent owes a duty to support the children even after a dissolution. The non-custodial parent usually will be required to pay certain sums of money to their custodial parent to be used to support the children. A parent's duty of support terminates when a child reaches 18. However, when a child is in school or is disabled the court may order parents to provide support beyond age 18. The court can also order child support from the estate of a deceased parent and can require the parents to pay for college expenses.

Who Pays The Attorney's Fees And Court Costs?

The dissolution order may contain provisions concerning payment of attorney's fees and costs. The court may order each party to pay his or her own attorney's fees and costs or may order one party to pay all or part of the spouse's fees and costs. The decision of the court is based on the respective financial resources and needs of the parties. Each of the parties is responsible for any fee arrangement made with his or her own attorney. It is advisable that the client discuss fees with the attorney at the outset of the case, including questions of hourly rates, court costs, the fee responsibility of the other spouse, and the effect of reconciliation or termination of the attorney's services.

What Is A Settlement Agreement?

As part of the dissolution of marriage proceedings, the spouses may enter into an oral or written property agreement concerning disposition of property, maintenance, support, custody and visitation of their children. Unless the court finds the agreement extremely unfair or that the provisions made for the children are not in their best interests, the property agreement will become a part of the court's judgment of dissolution of marriage. The property agreement is considered a contract that is legally binding on the parties once it is approved by the court.

How May A Person Protect Property Or Children During A Proceeding For Dissolution?

After a petition for dissolution has been filed with the court, a court may order either party to pay temporary maintenance or child support until the proceedings are completed. Additionally, under appropriate circumstances, a court may grant a temporary restraining order or injunction prohibiting either or both parties from concealing or disposing of property, from abusing the other party, or from removing the children from the home or the state. To obtain these temporary orders, the party must file a petition with the court with an affidavit reciting the facts necessitating the temporary relief.

Before or after a petition for dissolution has been filed, a separate petition for order of protection from domestic violence may be filed and an order of protection served on the other spouse.

What Is An Order Of Protection For Domestic Violence?

With or without the filing of a petition for dissolution, an abused party may apply to the court for an order of protection for herself or himself, on behalf of a minor child, or on behalf of a physically or mentally handicapped person. Upon a finding of abuse, the court shall have the power to order the defendant not to strike or harass the plaintiff or family members, to grant possession of the household, to prohibit the defendant from taking or destroying personal property, and to grant other relief. The order shall be valid for a fixed time not to exceed one year.

May A Person Prevent The Spouse From Entering The Marital Home?

Usually both spouses have the right to live in the property owned or rented by them. If, however, either spouse or the children are endangered by the presence of both spouses, a court may temporarily evict one spouse. To obtain such an order, a petition must be filed with the court and a hearing must be held. The petition for temporary eviction may be filed with the court even if the parties are not in the process of obtaining a dissolution.

May The Provisions Of An Order Of Dissolution Be Changed After The Dissolution?

Provisions relating to property cannot be changed, but either party may petition the court for an order increasing or decreasing maintenance (alimony) or child support. To obtain such a modification, the petitioning party must prove at a court hearing that a substantial change in circumstances relative to financial need and ability to pay has occurred since the original judgment or last modification order. The court considers the individual facts of each case to determine whether a substantial change in circumstances has occurred and whether the change justifies a support modification. The parties can agree in writing that maintenance provisions cannot be changed

The court may change the custody or visitation provisions if it is in the best interest of the children. A petition may not be filed within two years of the last custody order unless a serious danger exists. No change will be made by the court unless clear and convincing evidence proves that a change is necessary to serve the children's best interest.

What If One Spouse Refuses To Comply With The Provisions Of A Dissolution Judgment?

Like any other judicial order, a judgment for dissolution will be enforced by the court. Persons who willfully refuse to comply may be sent to jail for contempt of court or fined. With regard to maintenance and child support an order of withholding may be obtained and direct payments received from the employer.

What Is An Order For Withholding?

Beginning January 1, 1984, the court is required to enter an order of withholding of periodic payments for support of a child or maintenance of a spouse. This order will be dormant until the paying spouse falls behind the equivalent of one month in payments. At that time, if the delinquency is not corrected, an employer will be obligated to withhold the amount of support from the paying spouse's paycheck and send that amount to the spouse or the collecting agent for disbursement. The withholding is superior to any prior or subsequent garnishments, wage assignments or any other claims of creditors.

May A Wife Use Her Former Name After A Dissolution?

If a wife wants to resume her maiden name or former name, the court will restore that name in the dissolution judgment. If, however, the wife wants to continue using her married name, she may do 

© Copyright, Illinois State Bar Association, 1996
The information on this web site does not constitute legal advice. The law is constantly changing, and we make no warranty of the accuracy of information on this site or any site to which we link.