Uncontested divorces cost less and take less time than contested cases because there’s no fighting or legal wrangling. If you and your spouse both want a divorce, and agree on the terms, an uncontested divorce may be right for you. Uncontested divorce is a good option for couples without children and little property, who agree on how to divide what they have. But even couples with children and more property may qualify so long as they agree on custody, parenting time, child support, and property division.
In an uncontested divorce, one party files the papers, called the petition, to start the divorce case. The other spouse receives the papers, but doesn’t need to answer or to appear in court. An experienced Cook County divorce attorney can easily guide the filing spouse (the petitioner) through the process, preparing the necessary documents, including the divorce decree or judgment that contains the terms of the parties’ agreement. However, both parties must understand that the attorney can, for ethical reasons, only represent one of them.
While it’s possible to file for divorce without an attorney’s help, it’s usually not worth it to do so. Filing for divorce requires requires many documents to be drafted and multiple trips to the courthouse. An inexperienced person can easily make mistakes in paperwork that cause frustration, delay the process, and result in unnecessary expense.
Instead, for a reasonable, flat-rate fee, Chicago uncontested divorce attorney Jeffrey R. Esser can prepare your divorce paperwork correctly the first time, make sure it says what you need it to, and confirm that it complies with the court’s rules. The Law Office of Jeffrey R. Esser will be by your side at your divorce hearing, making sure that things go smoothly. When you walk out of the courtroom doors, you’ll be able to do so with confidence that everything was done right.
For a free consultation, fill out our contact form or call us at (312) 564-5743.