Most people believe there is only one type of Divorce; each party gets a lawyer and they fight to the bitter end. Not True! Some divorces are bitter and each party will fight over just about everything but other divorces do not require this type of litigation. There are other types of divorce as you will see below.

First is the "contested divorce".The "contested divorce" is the type in which the spouses cannot arrive at an agreement on one or more key issues in order to conclusively terminate their marriage. When spouses cannot arrive at an agreement, even with the assistance of their legal counsel (if any), they must approach a court to adjudicate their dispute.This kind of divorce tends to be the most expensive because of the amount of legal work that must be done.

Next is the "uncontested divorce"; this is where both spouses agree on all issues concerning the divorce, including but not limited to the division of marital property and debts, (parental allocation) child custody, child support, and spousal support (“maintenance”). Many times if the spouses agree they are able to proceed "pro se" or without an attorney. This can be difficult because the proper format and documents must still be submitted to the court. Attorneys can prepare these in a timely fashion and to the standards the court requires. In some instances, on one attorney may be used.

Collaborative divorce or family law, is a legal process enabling couples who have decided to separate or end their marriage to work with their lawyers and, on occasion, other family professionals in order to avoid the uncertain outcome of court and to achieve a settlement that best meets the specific needs of both parties and their children without the underlying threat of litigation.

Our office provides free consultations by telephone or in person. During your consultation, we evaluate your individual circumstance and provide you all options that are available. Contact our office at 312-648-6115 for your free consultation.