If you have come to the decision that you want a divorce, you may receive resistance from your spouse. Your spouse may even insist on working on the relationship instead of separating. When this happens, you may feel confused. Does my spouse have to agree to divorce in Illinois?
No, you do not need your spouse’s approval to file for divorce in Illinois. In fact, there are no states in the United States that require both party’s approval for a divorce. If you want a divorce, you simply need to file the paperwork. Of course, that doesn’t mean that your spouse will make the process easy for you.
Divorce Process
When you file for divorce with your Northbrook divorce attorney, it will move much more quickly if you get your spouse to sign the papers.
Your spouse may see the divorce agreement and contest it. If your spouse contests the divorce, you will go to mediation where you and your spouse will negotiate the terms of the divorce. If you can’t come to an agreement, the case may try multiple attempts at mediation before going to court. Contested divorces can last years.
If your spouse completely ignores the divorce papers, you can eventually move forward with a default divorce. A default divorce allows the divorce to move forward without the participation of the other party. The petitioner will generally get most of their demands in these situations. Do you need a Northbrook divorce attorney? Contact Michael Craven.