Is Illinois a “no-fault” state or do I need grounds for a divorce?

Excerpt taken from Steven N. Peskind's book titled, Divorce in Illinois: The Legal Process, Your Rights and What to Expect.

Although Illinois requires grounds for a divorce, you may be eligible for the no-fault grounds of “irreconcilable differences.” If you have been separated for two years prior to the final divorce hearing, you may get a divorce if you can prove that irreconcilable differences have caused the irretrievable breakdown of the marriage, that past attempts at reconciliation failed, and that future attempts would be impracticable and not in the best interest of the family. Couples can agree to waive the full two-year waiting period if they have been separated for at least six months. Separation does not require living in separate homes; rather, separation refers to the emotional relationship. If you both consider the marriage dead at a given point, you are considered separated even though you continue to reside in the same home.

Despite the frequent use of the no-fault grounds of irreconcilable differences, Illinois law still allows one spouse to allege fault-based grounds such as mental cruelty, physical cruelty, adultery, abandonment, and a variety of other grounds. If you do allege fault grounds, you will need to prove those grounds at a trial. If you can’t prove grounds by sufficient evidence, you cannot proceed with other issues, and the divorce cannot be granted. Today, grounds are mostly symbolic, and the court can’t consider them when deciding other divorce issues such as maintenance, support, or property division. You gain no advantage in the divorce by alleging fault versus no- fault (irreconcilable differences) grounds.
Sometimes people allege fault grounds because they are angry with their spouse––often rightfully so. But once you start the fight it is often hard to stop it when you become less angry.
Although there is nothing wrong with symbolically ex- pressing your dismay over your spouse’s conduct, the better approach is to go to counseling and learn to emotionally pro- cess the betrayal. Don’t use the divorce proceeding as your method of choice to seek revenge. That frequently backfires and will only hurt you (and your children) more. 

You can purchase Steven Peskind's book titled, Divorce in Illinois: The Legal Process, Your Rights and What to Expect on Amazon.com by clicking here.

I’m unsure about how to tell our children about the divorce. What's the best way to tell them?

Excerpt taken from Steven N. Peskind's book titled, Divorce in Illinois: The Legal Process, Your Rights and What to Expect.

Your discussion with your children will depend upon
their ages and maturity. Consider consulting with a therapist or
psychologist to determine the best way to approach this delicate

topic. When possible, both you and your spouse should

tell the children about the divorce together so that the children

can see a united front. If your spouse won’t participate, do

your best to communicate the fact of the divorce in a way that

does not malign your spouse, even if he or she is legitimately

blameworthy. For the sake of your children, do your best to

control your emotions.

 

Children often blame themselves for their parents’ divorce.

Be sensitive and reassuring to them. Emphasize that the divorce

is not their fault. In this instance, less is more; don’t get into the

nitty-gritty causes for the breakup. This information just hurts

the children. Reassure the children that everything will be OK

and that they will continue to see both parents regularly.

After the initial discussion, keep the door open by creating

opportunities for them to talk about the divorce. Use these

times to acknowledge their feelings and offer support. Always

assure them that the divorce is not their fault and that they are

still loved by both you and your spouse, regardless of mom

and dad’s breakup. If necessary, you and your spouse should

discuss having the children attend counseling to help them

understand and cope with their emotions.

 

You can purchase Steven Peskind's book titled, Divorce in Illinois: The Legal Process, Your Rights and What to Expect on Amazon.com by clicking here.