Litigating a divorce can be a difficult process. Today, it is generally used only as a last resort if all attempts at negotiation or mediation have failed. Of course, there are some cases where attempting to resolve the divorce out of court does not make sense, such as if one spouse is refusing to cooperate with the divorce or has abused you. Some divorces involving high-value marital assets are also very likely to be resolved through litigation because there is so much at stake.

If you expect to go to court for a contested divorce, you may be quite nervous. Knowing what to expect during litigation can help keep you feeling calm and prepared. It is critical that you are represented by an aggressive and experienced attorney during a contested divorce. Hensley Sendek Law offers top-quality representation in and out of court. 

What to Expect in a Contested Divorce

When you go to divorce litigation, you are asking the court to make decisions about each issue in your divorce case. Rather than reaching an agreement, you and your spouse will each try to prove to the court that issues should be resolved in your favor. Hearings will be held. These hearings work like trials. Your attorneys will be able to introduce evidence and call witnesses. 

Being married to someone with a mental illness can be difficult. Certainly, people with mental illness can enjoy long and successful marriages if they are receiving the appropriate treatment. A combination of medication and therapy can help a person with mental illness become a good spouse, a good parent, and a good provider. However, if your spouse is not adequately addressing their mental health issues and they are affecting your relationship, a divorce may be in order.

Getting a mentally ill spouse to cooperate with divorce proceedings can be a challenge. They may resist divorce, particularly if they are dependent on you. It is important to be represented by an experienced attorney who can help you navigate the twists and turns your case may take. 

Helpful Advice for Ending Your Marriage to a Person With Mental Illness

When you have made the decision to divorce your mentally ill spouse, you can expect some unique challenges. You know your spouse and how their mental illness affects their behavior better than anyone, so you may already know how your spouse is likely to handle being served with divorce papers. Other tips include: 

If you rely on your spouse for financial support, divorce can be particularly stressful. Especially if you have been out of the workforce for some time or sacrificed a potential career to devote yourself to homemaking, you may be worried about how you will support yourself after getting a divorce. In Illinois, if you were financially dependent on your spouse you may be eligible to receive spousal maintenance payments, commonly called “alimony.” This is in addition to any child support you may also be entitled to receive.

The goal of spousal maintenance is to allow you to get the divorce you need without fear of extreme financial difficulty. If financial concerns are stopping you from pursuing a divorce, our lawyers may be able to help you get the support you need to begin a new life. 

When Will Illinois Courts Order Spousal Maintenance?

There are very few hard-and-fast rules when it comes to a court’s decision to award spousal maintenance. Rather, there are a number of factors the court will consider when deciding whether alimony is appropriate in your case. These factors include: 

You may think that uncontested divorce is only for amicable divorce situations, but this is not true at all. An uncontested divorce can be possible even if you and your spouse cannot stand to be around each other. You do not need to be on friendly or even speaking terms to avoid actual litigation during your divorce proceedings. There are many methods attorneys may use to facilitate a divorce settlement without going to court, some of which do not require you to speak to or see your ex at all.

Filing an uncontested divorce can save you quite a bit of time and money, as well as reduce distress for any children involved. In most situations, reaching a compromise is possible even if it takes a lot of help. An attorney can help you understand your options and determine whether an uncontested divorce is within reach for you and your spouse. 

Options for Reaching a Compromise Despite Conflict

When attorneys broach the idea of uncontested divorce with clients, a common objection is that they simply cannot be in the same room as their ex without a fight starting. The good news is that you can reach a fair compromise without ever seeing them using some methods. Strategies that can help spouses in conflict achieve uncontested divorce include: 

There are many complicated aspects to a divorce, including dividing shared marital assets, determining spousal support payments, and potentially agreeing upon child custody. These topics can be contested between partners, considering the critical nature of finding an equal balance between assets following a divorce. When one, or both, spouses are business owners, determining the value and ownership of the practice adds another layer of complications to a divorce proceeding. However, there is a way to uncomplicate the division of business assets in an Illinois divorce. Obtaining a business valuation is an excellent advantage if you are a business owner preparing for a divorce. 

What is a Business Valuation?

When a spouse undergoing a divorce owns a business, there may be complications in determining ownership. Typically, when a company is created before marriage, that business is considered solely owned by the individual that started the venture. However, if a business began after marriage or shared funds were used to help start up a company, that business could be considered a shared marital asset, leaving it open for division between spouses. 

A business valuation includes analyzing the company's financial value to understand the market value of that business. Usually, this is done by an accountant or divorce attorney skilled in this practice area. By obtaining a business valuation, the business owner may be able to protect the business as an asset during a divorce.