Rising Divorce Rates in Post-Pandemic Illinois: How to Prepare for Divorce

 Posted on April 06, 2022 in Divorce

During these unprecedented times, nothing is certain. Divorce is surging in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, the pandemic instigated an increase in divorce, with an uptick of 21 percent from 2020. Along with health anxieties, many other stressors caused couples to contemplate divorce. Almost 10 million Americans lost employment, and parents who could work virtually faced additional challenges of overseeing their children’s remote learning and child care. Confinement with a spouse for several months can also trigger irritability and frustration. Loneliness from the isolation of friends, relatives, coworkers, and social activities affected children and adults alike.

The quarantine exposed underlying marital problems for many spouses, provoking some to rethink their future. A divorce attorney can help facilitate an amicable solution.

How to Prepare for Financial Matters in Your Divorce

One of the most important parts of the divorce process is addressing marital and non-marital property and debt. Ideally, spouses will find a property division arrangement that maintains the quality of life they are accustomed to. If a spouse refuses to provide full and accurate financial information, the divorce attorney will also search for any property hidden by the other spouse. If either party was furloughed or laid off during the pandemic, this may also impact property division and other matters in the divorce case. 

Assemble the following financial statements and documents:

• Pension plan

• IRA

• 401K

• Tax returns

• Mortgage 

• Car payment

• Credit card 

• Medical and dental insurance 

According to 750 Ill. Comp. Stat. § 5 of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act, Illinois is an equitable distribution state. So, marital property and debt will be divided fairly, not equally. Both the divorce attorneys and judge will scrutinize the following considerations of each spouse.

• Premarital or post-nuptial agreements

• Standard of living

• Income

• Property

• Financial needs

• Present and future earning ability

• Marriage duration

• Age

• Physical and mental health

Child-Related Issues in an Illinois Divorce 

If you and your spouse share children, you will also need to consider child custody and child support. In Illinois, child custody consists of two main components: the allocation of parental responsibilities and parenting time. Parental responsibilities refer to the parents’ decision-making authority. Parents will need to decide how to handle decisions about their child’s education, religious upbringing, healthcare, and other important matters. They must also develop a parenting time schedule that explains when the child will spend time with each parent. 

Child support is typically determined by a statutory formula that takes both parents’ incomes into account. 

Contact a DuPage County, Illinois Divorce Attorney

A divorce is a life-changing event that carries many emotional and financial burdens. The Pesce Law Group P.C. will fiercely advocate for the best settlement. We customize each case and have the fortitude to help you throughout the dissolution of your marriage. Contact a Naperville divorce lawyer at 630-352-2240 for a free consultation.

Source:

https://ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs5.asp?ActID=2086

https://msmagazine.com/2021/10/12/covid-pandemic-divorce-gender-inequities-home-household-labor-kids-school-women-mothers-childcare/