- Key Takeaways
- Plan for Your Hinsdale Divorce with Merel Family Law
- Our Hinsdale Divorce Attorneys Are Here to Help
- What Should I Look for When Choosing a Hinsdale Illinois Divorce Attorney?
- Why Clients Partner with Merel Family Law
- Don’t Face Your Divorce Alone
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Recent Blog Articles
Divorce Lawyers Serving Hinsdale, Illinois
- Key Takeaways
- Plan for Your Hinsdale Divorce with Merel Family Law
- Our Hinsdale Divorce Attorneys Are Here to Help
- What Should I Look for When Choosing a Hinsdale Illinois Divorce Attorney?
- Why Clients Partner with Merel Family Law
- Don’t Face Your Divorce Alone
- 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.
Plan for Your Hinsdale Divorce with Merel Family Law
Divorce is one of life’s most challenging transitions and approaching your divorce 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.
Our Hinsdale Divorce Attorneys Are Here to Help
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.
What Should I Look for When Choosing a Hinsdale Illinois Divorce Attorney?
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 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
Testimonials
“Divorce is always a stressful situation for anyone involved. It becomes more agonizing when children are involved. The most important point I realized is getting the best law firm and attorney possible… that is where I was extremely fortunate. I am very thankful and impressed with the professional services Merel Family Law provided from day one. The expertise of Ashley Margason and Mitchell Dean led me down the right path and gave me ease at each difficult task that I encountered. From the first phone call, Ashley explained with passion and concern what was ahead and fully understood the distress that I was feeling. Because of Ashley and Mitchell’s strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities, I was able to have a more positive attitude. I truly want to express my most sincere thanks for the most professional representation. Ashley and Mitch never left me feeling alone and stuck by me through these past months dealing with this stressful case. I do admire, most of all, Merel Family Law’s excellent representation.” – Natalie.
Don’t Face Your Divorce Alone
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
A divorce case is initiated by filing a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage and Summons with the county clerk. For most of Hinsdale, it would be filed in Dupage County, but there is a sliver of Hinsdale that is located in Cook County.
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.
If you feel unsafe during the divorce process, it is worth considering whether an order of protection or no contact order is appropriate. This can prevent your spouse from physical abuse, verbal abuse, harassment, or stalking, and can prohibit them from coming to your home, place of employment, and/or the children’s school, based on the circumstances. It can also be used to protect certain property from destruction or concealment.
If you believe that your safety is at risk, please contact your attorney or speak to our divorce coach, Kristina Lindsay, who can assist with safety planning to ensure that the solution is tailored to your particular needs.
You are not required to be physically separated before getting a divorce. There is no length of time that someone is required to be separated – whether living physically separate, or living separate lives under the same roof – prior to a divorce getting entered. However, there is an irrebuttable presumption that the grounds of irreconcilable differences have been met if the parties have been separated for six months or more.
Spousal support (also known as maintenance) is determined based on a number of statutory factors, including but not limited to, the income of both parties, the length of the marriage, the standard of living during the marriage, the health and age of the parties, the length of time necessary for the other party to become self-supporting (if possible), whether one party sacrificed their career to take care of children or other household members, and the property awarded to each property.
If spousal support/maintenance is appropriate, then the court will apply a statutory formula to determine the amount of maintenance, but the payee shall not receive more than 40% of the parties’ combined net incomes. These statutory guidelines will apply, unless the court makes specific findings as to why a deviation is appropriate, or if the parties’ combined gross incomes exceed $500,000, in which case the court has discretion to set spousal support at a different amount.
Additionally, the term of maintenance (how long a party receives maintenance) depends on the length of the marriage, the longer the marriage, the longer the term of maintenance. Marriages in excess of 20 years may be subject to a permanent maintenance award.
Debts are divided in consideration of a number of factors, including but not limited to, which party acquired the debt and for what purpose, the income of the parties, the assets of the parties, the relevant economic circumstances of each party, and when the debt was acquired.
Further, the court will consider whether the debt constitutes dissipation, namely, spending money or incurring debt for a non-marital purpose (for example, gifts or vacations purchased for a new significant other); if the debts would constitute dissipation, it is likely the court would require the party who incurred the debt to be responsible for payment.
Each case is different, so please consult your lawyer for advice as to how debt in your particular case would be handled by 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.
