A Chicago divorce lawyer will generally be working with you to write up a Marital Dissolution Agreement. Divorces usually settle in the beginning when both parties feel guilty or in the end when both are exhausted. Your Chicago divorce lawyer will draw up the agreement, but they need to know who gets what and who pays what. You can include many things in your Chicago divorce agreement, some of which are listed below:

• Court cost and attorney’s fees—Who pays what expenses?
• Property—Who gets the house? Who gets the note? How does the equity get divided if it is sold?
• Personal property—Who gets which car, what appliances, and what happens to the sofa in the guest bedroom?
• Retirement—What happens to any retirement benefits that have accrued for either party?
• Debts—Who pays which outstanding debts? Should the debts be paid off by refinancing?
• Alimony—How much? How long?
• Custody—Who gets which child? Should any aspects of custody be shared? The noncustodial parent may be the one who is a doctor and may be the one who should make medical decisions. Will joint custody work?
• Child support—How much? How long? Who carries health or life insurance on children? Who gets to claim the children as income tax deductions? Private school or college tuition?Visitation—Do you want a specific schedule or can you and your spouse work together on it?
• Life insurance— Who is insured? Who is the beneficiary? Term or cash value? How much?
• Health insurance— Who is covered? In many cases an employee’s spouse… Continue reading →