Two parents and child

Family & Safety

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Divorce
Divorce is the legal process of ending a marriage or civil union. Learn how to get a divorce with or without children, or how to respond if your spouse files for divorce. You can also learn about common issues that may need to be resolved, including dividing property and debt, spousal maintenance (alimony), child support, and parental responsibilities.
Divorce common questions
Find answers to common questions about divorce in Illinois, including the legal process, costs, parenting, property, and next steps.
FAQ
Filing for divorce without children
(7 resources)
Getting a divorce without children basics
Learn more about getting a divorce without children, including special issues and legal processeses.
Guide
Getting a divorce without children
Learn how to get a divorce in Illinois if you do not have children, including the options like a "joint simplified divorce."
FAQ
Starting a divorce without children case
This how-to explains how to get a divorce in Illinois if you do not have children. It includes the required forms, filing steps, and court process.
How-To
Divorce
This Easy Form helps you make the forms to get a divorce. You can use it if you and your spouse have children together or if you do not. It also works if you want to make forms to end a civil union.
Easy Form
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Filing for divorce with children
(7 resources)
Getting a divorce with children basics
Learn more about getting a divorce with children, including special issues that must be addressed.
Guide
Getting a divorce with children
Learn how to get a divorce in Illinois if you have children, including parenting issues, child support, and parenting classes.
FAQ
Starting a divorce with children case
This how-to explains how to get a divorce in Illinois if you have children. It includes the required forms, filing steps, and court process.
How-To
Divorce
This Easy Form helps you make the forms to get a divorce. You can use it if you and your spouse have children together or if you do not. It also works if you want to make forms to end a civil union.
Easy Form
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Responding to divorce
(6 resources)
Responding to a divorce basics
Learn more about legal options available if a spouse has filed for divorce.
Guide
Responding to a divorce case
Learn how to respond to a divorce case in Illinois, including legal options, required forms, and deadlines.
FAQ
Starting a response to a divorce case
This how-to explains how to respond to a divorce case in Illinois. It includes the required forms, filing deadlines, and court process.
How-To
Divorce
This Easy Form helps you make the forms to get a divorce. You can use it if you and your spouse have children together or if you do not. It also works if you want to make forms to end a civil union.
Easy Form
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During a divorce
(7 resources)
Standing orders, temporary orders, and discovery in a divorce
Learn how standing orders, temporary orders, and discovery work in an Illinois divorce case, and what to expect during the court process.
FAQ
Financial affidavit
This Easy Form helps you provide financial information and documents to the other party in family law cases. It makes the statewide Financial Affidavit (Family and Divorce Cases) forms.
Easy Form
Low-income and divorcing
Find out about affordable divorce options in Illinois, including fee waivers, free legal help, court costs, and ways to manage the process on a limited income.
FAQ
Dividing property and debt in a divorce
Explains how property and debt are divided in an Illinois divorce, including what is considered marital or non-marital property and what factors judges will look at.
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Enforcing a court order for divorce
(3 resources)
Enforcing a divorce order
Learn how to enforce a divorce court order in Illinois if the ex-spouse does not follow it, including legal options and next steps.
FAQ
Petition for rule to show cause - Family law cases
This Easy Form makes a Petition for Rule to Show Cause to help you enforce an earlier court order. Use it for Illinois family law orders, involving child support, divorce judgments, allocation of parental responsibilities, parenting plans, or joint parenting agreements (custody or visitation).
Easy Form
Petition to enroll a judgment of another state
Use this form to ask a judge to enforce or modify a divorce or custody judgment from another state.
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Changing a court order for divorce
(2 resources)
Changing a court order for divorce
Learn how to change a divorce court order in Illinois, including when a change can be requested.
FAQ
Petition to enroll a judgment of another state
Use this form to ask a judge to enforce or modify a divorce or custody judgment from another state.
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Another divorce issue
(5 resources)
Legal separation
Learn how legal separation works in Illinois and how it differs from divorce.
FAQ
Declaration for Invalidity of Marriage (Annulment)
Learn about annulment in Illinois, including who may qualify, the legal reasons for annulment, and how it differs from divorce.
FAQ
Petition for invalidity of marriage
Use this form to tell the state that your marriage should be annulled and the legal reasons you should be able to annul it.
Form download
Parental responsibilities or custody in same-sex marriages
A birthing parent's partner can become a child's legal parent, and couples without a birthing parent can adopt a child.
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