Divorce (Dissolution of Marriage)

Divorce, or dissolution of marriage, is a legal proceeding that ends a marriage. While emotions may run high, you and your spouse must reach a resolution on matters surrounding property division, child custody, visitation (parenting time), and questions of spousal support. As your attorney, Lyn C. Conniff will work with you through the complex legal issues and emotions that are common in the divorce process.

There are three primary areas of divorce law: pre-divorce agreements; the dissolution of marriage process; and post-divorce issues.

Pre-divorce agreements are typically either prenuptial or postnuptial agreements that address the issues surrounding a dissolution of marriage. The dissolution of marriage process includes everything from filing a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage to property division, child support and child custody, maintenance, and allocation of debts. Post-divorce, or post-decree, issues may involve maintenance or child support adjustments, contributions to children's college expenses and, in some circumstances, the modification of child custody.

Divorce proceedings typically use one of four distinct conflict resolution processes: collaborative divorce; negotiated divorce settlements; divorce litigation; or divorce mediation.

A collaborative divorce avoids the costs and conflict of divorce litigation by creating a conflict resolution process that removes the couple from the Courtroom and allows them to resolve their issues peacefully, with dignity and co-operation, while incorporating the advice and counsel of collaboratively trained professionals. A negotiated divorce settlement is an agreement that is crafted between the two parties with the assistance of their attorneys. Divorce litigation is the process of bringing a legal claim before a Judge and having the Judge make the final decisions about issues concerning children, assets, and family support. In divorce mediation, the parties meet with an impartial trained facilitator to create solutions for disputes in their divorce.

With an experienced attorney who concentrates in divorce and family law, you can feel confident that we will work with you to resolve all of your issues. At Lyn C. Conniff Law Offices, your concerns will be addressed with sensitivity and with your family's welfare in mind.

Lyn C. Conniff Law Offices represents clients within and throughout Chicago. Our Oak Park office typically serves Chicago's western suburban communities, such as Oak Park, River Forest, Hinsdale, Riverside, Brookfield, Oak Brook, Elmhurst, Naperville, and Schaumburg. Our Chicago office has typically served clients from the north side of Chicago, as well as the northern suburbs of Evanston, Skokie, Wilmette, Glenview, Kenilworth, and Winnetka, and the southern suburbs including Flossmoor, Olympia Fields, and Palos Heights. Contact us for a consultation.