A Chicago couple has been married for 30 years. Their last child recently graduated from college and finally moved out of their home. They were excited to begin their lives as empty nesters, but the reality of their situation turned out much differently. They found themselves stuck at home, hanging around each other 24 hours a day without any distractions. All of the little things they do not like about each other have become glaringly apparent.
The husband has realized that for 30 years, he has been subject to his wife’s verbal abuse. The stress of adjusting to a new lifestyle has made the verbal abuse much worse. He has finally decided that he is tired of the cruel taunts and abuse from his wife. She is a just mean person, he is tired of making excuses, and it is time to cut the cord and file for divorce.
Divorces Have Increased
Like the man above, many Illinois residents have decided that enough is enough. They are tired of enduring marriages that should have ended long ago and they are ready to begin their new, independent lives. While most Illinois courts are not yet open for business, except for emergencies, divorce proceedings are still happening online. Through a virtual divorce, people can finalize their divorce without leaving their homes.
During this process, one of the spouses files the petition for the divorce online. The judge will decide if he or she should conduct depositions. Eventually, the court proceedings will happen virtually. Each judge has quite a bit of discretion to decide how to conduct the hearing.
Divorce filings are on the rise. Many married couples have been shaken up by the coronavirus shutdowns. They are reevaluating their lives and deciding whether or not they want to keep living in such an unhappy situation. While it can be dangerous to make major life decisions in the middle of such turbulent times, life changes can be exactly the wake-up call we need to make a change. For many couples, they have nearly made the decision to file for divorce and the pandemic gave them the courage to go ahead and file for divorce.
What if You Would Like an In-Person Divorce Hearing?
If you want an in-person divorce hearing, you might have to put your proceedings on hold. On May 20th, the Illinois Supreme Court issued an order along with operational guidelines. These guidelines help courts resume operations in-person. These procedures authorize Illinois’ 24 chief judges to develop plans to open their courts to in-person hearings. Each judge still has the authority to decide when they will open back up.
Contact Our Experienced Chicago Divorce Lawyers Today
If you have decided that you are ready to go through your divorce, the experienced attorneys at Glasgow & Olsson are here to help. Our Chicago divorce lawyers have extensive experience helping clients through the divorce process. We know which courts are allowing in-person hearings, and which courts are continuing to conduct virtual hearings. We will advise you as to the best way to pursue your divorce. Contact us today to schedule your initial consultation.