Chicago Legal Separation Attorneys
A Less Permanent Alternative to Divorce
A married couple intent on living separate and apart may enter into a separation agreement to define their legal obligations and responsibilities to each other and their children. The grounds and procedures for obtaining a legal separation in Illinois are codified in Section 402 of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act.
The Chicago legal separation attorneys at the Law Offices of Jonathan Merel, P.C. are experienced in representing parties in legal separation proceedings and have the skills and knowledge necessary to negotiate and draft separation agreements focused on protecting your interests.
Discuss your case with us today by calling (312) 487-2795 or contacting us online. We serve clients throughout Chicagoland.
Why Seek Legal Separation Instead of Divorce?
Divorce is a completely final termination of a marriage. Legal separation, on the other hand, is less permanent. A couple that is legally separated can more easily reestablish the marriage than a couple that is divorced.
Many couples choose legal separation because:
- They need time apart but do not want to completely end the relationship yet
- Divorce conflicts with their personal or religious beliefs
- They are testing the waters to see if divorce is right for them
Legal separation allows you to a life separate and apart from your spouse, giving you the space and time you need to think about your relationship and whether or not it is in your best interests to end your marriage.
Obligations When Legally Separating
Although the legal separation process is less complex than a divorce, filing for separation still requires couples to work out a few key details. These include:
When it comes to parenting time, child support, and spousal maintenance in legal separation cases, the court can decide. When it comes to property and debt division, this must be agreed upon between the spouses in legal separations.
This is why it is important to have a Chicago legal separation attorney on your side. Jonathan Merel can help you work out the terms of your separation agreement so that they are fair and reasonable.
How Do You Get Legally Separated in Illinois?
In order to get a separation, you must first meet the requirements, which are:
- You have lived in Illinois for more than 90 days
- You are currently living apart from your spouse (in a different residence)
If you meet these requirements, then you get a legal separation in Illinois by filing a Petition for Legal Separation with the clerk at your local court.
Our Chicago Legal Separation Lawyers in Chicago Can Fight for You
It is in your best interest to consult with a legal separation attorney in Chicago who can help you draft and implement a fair and favorable separation agreement. At the Law Offices of Jonathan Merel, P.C., we are dedicated to helping our clients navigate their legal separation. We apply the same aggressive vigor to separation cases as we do to divorce cases.
Do not hesitate to contact us at (312) 487-2795 to discuss your legal separation with our team.
Our Attorneys have a Long History
of Successfully Obtaining the Results Our Clients Expect
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Brings crystal clarity and bold solutions to complicated matters.
“I highly recommend Jonathan Merel's law office. Divorce is a stressful and emotional time of life and you need great attorneys to support and to help you navigate through this storm. I have a ...”
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They were thorough, thoughtful, respectful and always acted with my interests at heart.
“I wanted to feel as though I had someone in my corner and I got that with Jonathan and Simon. They were thorough, thoughtful, respectful and always acted with my interests at heart. Thoroughly recomme ...”
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Jonathan and his team are everything you want in a lawyer.
“Dealing with family issues, particularly where children are involved, can be a very stressful and emotional time. Dealing with lawyers always scared me in the past as I did not have a good experience ...”
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I cannot stress enough how happy I was with their performance and I highly recommend that anyone with a Family Law matter have the Law Offices of Jonathan Merel represent them.
“The Law Offices of Jonathan Merel handled my divorce for me. I cannot stress enough how happy I was with their performance and I highly recommend that anyone with a Family Law matter have the Law ...”
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Jonathan is a great lawyer with great services and results
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