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Illinois couples who are concerned about the cost of divorce may have reason to be worried. Illinois is one of the 10 most expensive states for divorce, with an average cost of around $13,800 to end a marriage. Add in parenting time disputes, property division, alimony, and child support, and that number can quickly rise to more than $35,000. Fortunately, there are steps divorcing couples can take to control the cost of divorce.
Adequately preparing for mediation can help divorcing couples increase the likelihood that their disputes will be resolved without the complication and expense of going to trial. Whether financial issues are a concern, assets are at stake, or parenting time is up for debate, preparation should include identifying issues that need to be addressed, gathering relevant information and documentation, and developing a negotiation strategy to encourage a mutually acceptable agreement.
A divorce deposition is commonly used to compile evidence when child custody, property division, child support, and other facts about the dissolution of the marriage are at issue. Part of the discovery process, depositions enable attorneys from both sides of a divorce proceeding to question the case's participants prior to the trial.
When a lawyer fails to fulfill professional obligations, clients are justified in seeking another attorney. Lawyers have an obligation to effectively represent the interests of their clients. A child custody attorney has the added responsibility to seek the best interests of the children involved in custody disputes.