Aurora, Illinois Divorce Lawyers

Dedicated Lawyers for Property Division, Alimony, and Other Divorce-Related Issues in Aurora, Illinois

While your divorce marks the end of your marriage, it also represents the beginning of a new chapter in your life. How you approach this transition can have a huge impact on your future. At The Law Office of Matthew M. Williams, P.C., we understand the complexity of divorce, and we are here to guide you through the process with professionalism and empathy while focusing on achieving positive solutions.

Whether your case involves a contested divorce or a settlement reached through collaborative law, we are here to help you navigate the wide range of legal issues that you may encounter during your case. With over 20 years of family law experience, we have the knowledge, skill, and perspective needed to protect your interests and help you find solutions that will support your long-term well-being.

Spousal Maintenance (Alimony)

Spousal maintenance—commonly known as alimony—may be awarded in a divorce to ensure financial fairness between spouses. In Illinois, courts will evaluate several factors when determining whether to award maintenance, including how long you were married, your standard of living during your marriage, the income and earning capacity of you and your spouse, your respective contributions to the marriage, and more.

Maintenance may be paid temporarily during your divorce or for a fixed amount of time after the divorce has been finalized, depending on your specific circumstances. At The Law Office of Matthew M. Williams, P.C., we can help you negotiate a spousal support agreement that is based on the financial realities affecting both parties while ensuring that the proper legal guidelines are followed.

Property Division

One of the most significant challenges in divorce involves dividing marital property. Illinois follows the principle of equitable distribution, which means assets should be divided fairly between you and your spouse, but you will not necessarily receive a 50/50 split.

We can help you address all issues related to the division of marital property, including:

• Marital vs. Non-Marital Property: Your marital property includes the assets and debts you and your spouse acquired during your marriage. Non-marital property may include inheritances, gifts, and assets you or your spouse acquired before your marriage. We can help you identify and classify assets correctly, making sure you can maintain ownership of non-marital property and divide marital property fairly.
• High-Value Assets: If you and your spouse own significant assets, such as real estate property, investment portfolios, family businesses, or intellectual property, proper valuation of these assets is critical. We can work with financial experts to assess the value of high-net-worth assets and ensure that all marital property will be divided fairly.
• Retirement Accounts: Pensions, 401(k)s, IRAs, and other retirement assets may be subject to division in your divorce. We can help you divide retirement benefits accurately, and we can draft Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (QDROs) to make sure you can avoid taxes and penalties.
• Dissipation of Assets: If one spouse has improperly spent or concealed marital funds, the court may take steps to address these actions and adjust the division of property accordingly. We can help you identify signs of dissipation and gather the evidence needed to protect your financial interests.

Additional Legal Considerations Related to Divorce

We provide comprehensive support to ensure that all legal issues related to your divorce will be addressed correctly, including:

• Legal Separation: If you and your spouse want to have a trial separation before moving forward with your divorce, we can help you create a separation agreement that will establish court-ordered rights and responsibilities without ending your marriage.
• Psychological or Addiction Issues: Mental health challenges or substance abuse can affect decisions about child custody, financial issues, or other aspects of a divorce. We help you address these sensitive issues with discretion while ensuring that the appropriate safeguards are in place to protect you and your children.
• Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements: We work with couples to draft and review legal agreements that establish clear terms for asset protection, inheritance rights, spousal support, and other issues related to marriage and divorce. During the divorce process, we can review these agreements to ensure that they are enforceable and help clients understand how divorce-related decisions will be affected.

Contact Our Aurora, Illinois Divorce Lawyers

The prospect of divorce can be daunting, but with informed legal guidance, you can make sure you will be ready to end your marriage successfully. At The Law Office of Matthew M. Williams, P.C., we can provide the representation needed to help you resolve divorce-related issues and prepare for the next phase of your life. Contact our Aurora divorce attorneys at 630-409-8184 to arrange a free, confidential consultation and begin building the foundation for a successful divorce.