Just imagine the following: you live with your spouse in a beautiful home in Chicago. You have lived there for nearly ten years, the exact length you’ve been married to your spouse.
Even though your life is, by all appearances, quite lovely, there is one small problem: your spouse is not who you thought they were before the marriage. And, as a result, you have been unhappy for quite some time.
You are seeking a divorce from your spouse. The process is confusing to you, and you aren’t quite sure how to get this divorce. Or, for that matter, how to do so in a manner that lets you sustain your current lifestyle.
Reviewing how to divorce your spouse when they are not who you thought they were and speaking with an experienced Chicago divorce attorney will help you obtain the best possible divorce outcome.
Can You Get A Divorce When Your Spouse Is Not Who You Thought They Were?
To answer the above question, “Yes, you can get a divorce when your spouse is not who you thought they were.” And the reason you can do this is as follows: Illinois practices no-fault divorce.
The term “no-fault divorce” refers to a situation in which both spouses come together, say, “Our marriage has irreconcilable differences,” and then, in doing so, get a divorce.
Outside of coming together and stating that your marriage has irreconcilable differences, there are two other conditions you and your spouse must satisfy in order to obtain a divorce:
- You and your spouse must have lived in Illinois for a period of no less than ninety days.
- You and your spouse must have lived separate and apart for a period of time.
You and your spouse can waive the second condition. If one spouse declines to waive this condition, though, then you must be apart from each other for a statutory period.
If those two conditions are met – or, again, if the second condition is waived – you and your spouse can sign the divorce paperwork. And after doing so, your divorce will be granted.
Even though the above can happen – you just sign the paperwork and move on with your life – most couples have to go through divorce court prior to their divorce being granted.
What Do You Need To Do At Divorce Court?
Right before a divorce can be finalized, several issues may need to be dealt with. Going to divorce court will allow you and your spouse to agree on the following issues:
- Property division.
- Maintenance.
- Child custody.
- Child support.
- Visitation rights.
If you can agree on the issues outlined above without divorce court – you and your spouse come to terms you both agree on, for example – then you will have an easier time getting divorced.
If you cannot agree on the issues outlined above – you and your spouse have fundamental disagreements, for example – you may need to go to divorce court in order to come to an agreement.
Get Qualified Legal Help Today
If you would like to get a divorce, you must work with an experienced divorce attorney.
When you need an attorney, experience matters.
Contact one of our Chicago divorce lawyers to obtain a divorce that satisfies your wishes.