Belleville Divorce Attorney

Divorce can be among the worst life experiences one may ever face, emotionally and legally. We understand how painful a decision about your future is while trying to navigate through a divorce. At Buchmiller Family Law, LLC, we are here to walk you through the process to confidently make those decisions that are going to affect your future. Whether you are trying to resolve matters amicably or need aggressive representation in the courtroom, we will work with you so your rights are protected, and the future of your family is secure.

Our firm serves clients in Belleville, and throughout the Illinois counties of St. Clair, Madison, Monroe, Randolph, Washington, and Clinton counties. When you’re ready to take the next step, we are just a phone call away.

Understanding Divorce In Illinois

In Illinois, divorce is officially and more accurately termed “dissolution of marriage.” There are, of course, steps to be taken, like residency requirements and filing on “irreconcilable differences.” Our lawyers are here to take you through each step, ensuring that you clearly understand how the law applies to your situation and what to expect at every stage.

Filing for divorce in Illinois requires having been a resident in the state for at least 90 days. Thus, the divorce process will be performed based on filing the papers and focusing on major issues such as division of property, child custody, and support.

Our Firm’s Divorce Practice Areas

Alimony (Spousal Maintenance)

Some divorces include court-ordered spousal maintenance, otherwise known as alimony. Whether you pay or receive maintenance in Illinois will depend on several factors. These factors include the duration of your marriage, your income, and your financial needs. Based on your unique situation, the court might grant temporary, rehabilitative, or permanent spousal maintenance. We will strive to ensure that any agreement over alimony is fair, based on full consideration of the facts of your financial situation. Whether you are asking for maintenance or are asked to pay, we will assist you in understanding your options.

Child Custody (Allocation Of Parental Responsibilities)

Our custody attorneys understand how sensitive and important it will be for you to work out an arrangement that puts your children’s interests first when it comes to your children. The Illinois court allocates parental responsibilities, showing which parent will be making major decisions for the child in areas concerning education, health, and extracurricular activities. We will work closely with you to develop a parenting plan.

Parenting Time (Visitation)

In addition to providing decision-making for a child, parenting time—formerly referred to as visitation—is a vitally important part of any arrangement in a custody case. Illinois law fosters both parents having relationships with the children, unless such would be harmful to a child. We will help you develop a parenting time schedule that works for your family and promotes your child’s best emotional interests.

Child Support

Child support is what is ordered for the financial needs of your child. Illinois utilizes the income-shares model in determining child support, whereby both parents’ incomes are taken into consideration to determine the quantum of child support. Our child support lawyers will help you through this so that, among other things, the child support order is fair, reasonable, and reflects your child’s needs and financial condition.

Property Division

Illinois is an equitable division state, which means the marital property should be divided fairly, but not always exactly equal to both spouses. We will guide you in identifying which of your assets are considered marital property and work with you to reach a division of those assets that accurately reflects your contributions throughout the marriage. Whether you wish to protect your assets or make sure the division is fair, we will be here for you.

Division Of Debt

Similar to the division of marital assets, marital debts are also divided equitably in a divorce. We will make sure that debts are fairly divided and not place you under more financial burden than what you should carry. Whether it be credit card debt, mortgages, or other loans, we will help you through the complexities of dividing debt during a divorce.

Post-Divorce Modifications

Life is dynamic, and with time, divorce agreements do call for some modification to meet the changed circumstances. If you or your ex has experienced a substantial change in circumstances, like losing a job, moving, or having a different income, it may well be possible to modify child support, custody, or spousal maintenance. We will walk you through your rights and the legal process of requesting modifications so that your agreements reflect your current situation.

Illinois Divorce Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Will It Take To Get Divorced?

If you and your spouse are able to reach an agreement on all the issues, it can be as quick as a few months. However, if you disagree on custody, support, or property division, then it will take longer. Our attorneys will work together with you and make sure the process goes as smoothly and as quickly as possible.

How Is Spousal Maintenance Determined In Illinois?

In the state of Illinois, several factors go into determining whether spousal maintenance is awarded. These include the length of the marriage, the financial needs of each spouse, and their capability for self-support. If there is to be a maintenance award, then specific guidelines can be applied by the court in an effort to determine the amount to be paid, as well as for how long it would be paid. We will strive to ensure that any such agreement regarding maintenance is equitable and protects your interests in this regard.

How Does Child Custody Work Within The State Of Illinois?

The court’s decisions regarding custody are based upon the best interest of the child. These factors include the relationship of the child with each parent, the stability in the home of each parent, and how much each parent cooperates with the other. We will work with you to make as strong a case as possible for your preference regarding custody, but always with the well-being of the child as the foremost consideration.

Discuss Your Case With Our Belleville Divorce Attorney Today

Divorce is never easy, but you don’t have to go through it alone. We are here to help guide you through every aspect of your divorce: alimony and custody, the division of property, child support, and all other issues relevant to divorce. We are committed to helping you find a solution that works for you and your family.

Our firm invites you to a FREE 15-minute telephone consultation to discuss your case and how we can work together to achieve your goals. Please call us today at 618-432-1866 to receive your free, 15-minute telephone consultation, or use the contact form on this web page.