- Key Takeaways
- Planning Your Highland Park Divorce with Merel Family Law
- Highland Park Divorce Services
- How Do I Choose the Right Divorce Lawyer in Highland Park?
- Why Clients Partner with Merel Family Law
- We Are Here to Help with Your Highland Park Divorce
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Recent Blog Articles
Highland Park Divorce Lawyers
- Key Takeaways
- Planning Your Highland Park Divorce with Merel Family Law
- Highland Park Divorce Services
- How Do I Choose the Right Divorce Lawyer in Highland Park?
- Why Clients Partner with Merel Family Law
- We Are Here to Help with Your Highland Park Divorce
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Recent Blog Articles
Key Takeaways
- Merel Family Law is one of Chicagoland’s premier family law firms, and you can find us right in the heart of downtown Hinsdale.
- We understand your situation and are ready to fight tirelessly for you and your family.
- We are here not just to represent you, but to educate and prepare you for every detail
- We represent clients who demand the most of us, and that’s what we provide. We have 20 attorneys ready to fight for you, day and night.
Divorce is never easy. A respected, honest, and committed divorce lawyer can lighten your load and help you rebuild your life. Begin with a simple, confidential, and straightforward conversation.
Let’s face it: ending a marriage or civil union is painful, regardless of the circumstances. And given the complexities of today’s legal system, it often feels daunting and overly stressful. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
For over 20 years, our team of respected and experienced divorce lawyers has provided our clients – people just like you – with the best-in-class legal representation they need. We’re proud to say that our advocacy has helped countless families all across Chicagoland and Detroit move on with less pain and more hope.
“Jonathan and his team were so helpful in guiding me through the divorce process. They made a very difficult situation easy to navigate and were extremely knowledgeable of the law at every turn. It put my mind at ease knowing I had them in my corner and I felt so reassured seeing them fight for me inside and outside the of the courtroom. I can’t say enough of Jonathan and his team, and I would recommend them to anyone. Trust me!” – Marta.
Planning Your Highland Park Divorce with Merel Family Law
Divorce is one of life’s most challenging transitions and approaching it with careful planning can make the journey less overwhelming. As you prepare for this significant change, it’s essential to gather important documents like financial records, think about future living arrangements, and make thoughtful decisions about child custody if children are involved.
Assessing your financial situation and understanding your needs is a vital step, as is considering legal guidance to protect your interests. Equally important is taking the time to emotionally prepare for the road ahead, recognizing that the goal is to reach a fair settlement on matters like asset division and spousal support. With careful preparation and a focus on clarity and fairness, it’s possible to navigate this process in a way that sets the foundation for a more stable future.
Understanding the Divorce Process
To file a divorce in Highland Park, you first need to retain a good attorney. A Petition for Dissolution is prepared and filed with the court and if you have children, a Petition for Allocation of Parental Responsibilities is filed as well. These documents are your request for the court to obtain a divorce and if applicable, to decide parenting time and decision making for your child(ren). Your Petition for Dissolution also will include any additional requests you have such as maintenance (formerly alimony), child support, contribution to child-related expenses, division of assets and debts, etc.
Highland Park Divorce Services
We’re right down the street, and we’ve been around the block a time or two, too. We’ve been fighting for the families of Chicagoland for 15 years now, and we let our reviews speak for themselves. Our life’s work is protecting you and empowering you to take a step forward into your future.
How Do I Choose the Right Divorce Lawyer in Highland Park?
The most important thing to look for when choosing a divorce attorney is choosing someone that you trust and are comfortable talking to. An attorney-client partnership requires complete honesty from both sides.
If you are looking at reviews, attorneys whose reviews show they are responsive and that they give clear and sensible advice show that they will value your time.
Why Clients Partner with Merel Family Law
Our clients demand and deserve world-class legal representation, and they won’t settle for anything less. So, we prepare for every scenario, collaborate when it makes sense and fight like hell when it doesn’t. You’ll have peace of mind knowing we will never push you into a lengthy, costly and unnecessary court trial. However, we will use all legal remedies to protect your rights. We are available to be reached 24/7 – (312) 408-7000 and have offices in Downtown Chicago, Hinsdale, Highland Park and Detroit, so we’re easy to get in touch with in-person or otherwise.
Here’s what you should know about us:
- We Don’t Believe in Ordinary
- We’ve Worked Hard to Earn Our Reputation
- We Believe in “Winning” as Painlessly as Possible
- We’ll Help You Avoid Unnecessary Litigation
- You’ll Receive Seasoned Support
- You Can Reach Us Easily
- Meetings With Your Attorney Are Easy and Convenient
We Are Here to Help with Your Highland Park Divorce
No matter the issue, we’re here for you. Contact us at (312) 408-7000 or fill out a contact form by clicking the “Schedule a Consultation” button at the top of this page. We monitor our inboxes and answer the phone 24/7 to get you the help you need, when you need it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Unfortunately, there’s not a clear and concise answer. Divorce cases can be over and done in a week or go on for several years. Generally speaking, the more conflict, the longer the case will take. It all depends on the situation at hand. Factors such as child custody issues, delays in discovery production, the need for business valuations, unreasonable lawyers/parties or other involved parties, or complex finances can make the process last longer.
This is the million-dollar question, but honestly it depends on your case. Less contentious cases will incur fewer fees, and more complex cases that need more work or litigation from attorneys and staff will incur more. Retainers vary based on the type and scope of your case.
Property is divided equitably, which is not the same as equally, but can be divided equal if that is what is appropriate in your specific case.
No, Illinois is not an at-fault state. That means you can get divorced for any reason so long as you meet other Illinois requirements.
There is only one ground for divorce in Illinois – irreconcilable differences.
If you feel unsafe pursuing a divorce and may be a candidate for an order of protection, you should discuss this with your attorney to determine if it is appropriate to file an order of protection to protect yourself (and/or your children). If you are a candidate, an attorney can file for an order of protection at the same time that they file for divorce. If what you are feeling/experiencing does not rise to the level of an order of protection, there may still be enough to file a motion for exclusive possession of your home if the court finds that is appropriate.
There are a number of ways that child custody is handled. The simplest is if the parties agree on how to divide decision making and parenting time. If the parties cannot agree, the court can appoint a guardian ad litem or a child representative on behalf of the minor child(ren). The guardian ad litem or child representative acts as a neutral third party or “the eyes and ears of the court” and meets with the parties, the children, and conducts an investigation into the issues to make recommendations on how decision making and parenting time should be split.
Additionally, some individuals choose to go to mediation and sit with a neutral third party (with or without their attorneys) and discuss these issues to see if they can come to an agreement outside of court.
If you own a home, the Court will either award the house to one party or order it sold and the net proceeds divided equitably. If one party wants to keep the home and can afford to do so, that party can be awarded the home. The party would have to qualify either by their income, their receipt of maintenance/child support, their ability to refinance, or other similar financial issues that will impact their ability to pay for and own the home (including a buy out to the party who is not receiving the home).
While an attorney is not legally required to argue a custody case, it is highly recommended for an attorney to be present for both sides given the nuances of custody law and the way custody cases have to be presented to the court.
Written By Jonathan Merel
Jonathan Merel is an experienced attorney who advocates for his clients in all divorce and family law proceedings, including settlement negotiations and trials. Jonathan founded Merel Family Law in early 2009 after working for many years at another family law firm in Chicago.
