Fill and Sign the No Fault Agreed Uncontested Divorce Package for Dissolution of Marriage for Persons with No Children with or Without Property 497305987 Form

Prepared by U.S. Legal Forms, Inc. Copyright 2016 - U.S. Legal Forms, Inc. STATE OF ILLINOIS DIVORCE PACKAGE UNCONTESTED – WITHOUT CHILDREN WITH OR WITHOUT PROPERTY Control Number – IL-008-D This packet contains the following: 1. Information about Divorce 2. Form List 3. Form Explanations 4. Instructions and Steps 5. Checklist 6. Access to Law Summary You and your spouse must agree to all terms of the divorce to use this packet. All forms must be printed on bond paper. - 1 - INFORMATION ABOUT DIVORCE 1. GENERAL NOTE ABOUT DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE: There are two procedures for ending a marriage in Illinois. One is the formal dissolution of marriage procedure, while the other is a simplified dissolution of marriage procedure. This package contains forms for a regular formal agreed dissolution. The simplified dissolution of marriage procedures are not discussed here and can only be used if certain conditions are met, such as the requirement that the assets of the parties must be being limited to ten ($10,000) thousand dollars and the requirement that the length of the marriage being 8 years or less. For parties that intend to resolve the divorce by settlement, a formal dissolution is sufficient. 2. WHO CAN USE THESE FORMS: This packet is for the sole purpose of obtaining an uncontested divorce-- a no-fault divorce based on irreconcilable differences. This packet is only of use to you if you and your spouse are willing to agree to all the terms and conditions of your divorce, including all terms of the property division. You must work and communicate with your spouse and keep him or her advised as to each step in the process. If you cannot agree, you will become involved in a contested divorce, which is beyond the scope of this packet. To use this divorce package to file for divorce, all of the following must be true: (a) Your marriage is irretrievably broken and there is no likelihood it can be preserved and you and your spouse have lived separate and apart for 2 years (or 6 months is a waiver of the 2 years is made); (b) There are no minor children of the marriage; (c) You and your spouse agree on all the terms of the divorce; and (d) You satisfy the residency requirement – see Section 3, below. 3. THE BASICS: In a typical divorce, you must satisfy two basic requirements before you can file for divorce. Those requirements include the residency requirements and appropriate grounds for divorce . These requirements are discussed in detail in their respective sections, below. 4. RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS: At the time the Petition for Dissolution is filed, one of the spouses must have been a resident of (or in military service in) the State of Illinois for at least 90 days. The action is to be filed in the Circuit Court of the county where either party resides. 750 ILCS 5/401, 5/105 5. GROUNDS FOR DIVORCE: The Illinois Compiled Statutes (750 ILCS 5/401) state the following in regard to grounds for a no-fault divorce, requiring a 6-month period of separation to precede the judgment dissolving the marriage, providing the spouses agree: - 2 - That the spouses have lived separate and apart for a continuous period in excess of 2 years and irreconcilable differences have caused the irretrievable breakdown of the marriage and the court determines that efforts at reconciliation have failed or that future attempts at reconciliation would be impracticable and not in the best interests of the family. If the spouses have lived separate and apart for a continuous period of not less than 6 months next preceding the entry of the judgment dissolving the marriage, as evidenced by testimony or affidavits of the spouses, the requirement of living separate and apart for a continuous period in excess of 2 years may be waived upon written stipulation of both spouses filed with the court. At any time after the parties cease to cohabit, the following periods shall be included in the period of separation: (A) Any period of cohabitation during which the parties attempted in good faith to reconcile and participated in marriage counseling under the guidance of [any person regularly engaged in providing family or marriage counseling]; and (B) any period of cohabitation under written agreement of the parties to attempt to reconcile. 6. LEGAL SEPARATION: This package contains form for DIVORCE, not for Legal Separation. This information on Legal Separation is provided for your information only. A legal separation cannot be obtained using the forms in this package. Any person living separate and apart from his or her spouse without fault may obtain a judgment of legal separation with provisions for reasonable support and maintenance while they so live apart. A proceeding or judgment for legal separation shall not bar either party from instituting an action for dissolution of marriage. 750 ILCS 5/402 7. ALIMONY/SUPPORT: Because this is an agreed upon divorce, you and your spouse will decide issues of alimony, also known as "spousal support". The forms in this no-fault divorce package assume that no alimony will be paid and none will be sought-- but you may add provisions for alimony if you desire. The court may award rehabilitative, periodic, or permanent support, without regard to marital misconduct. The court will consider twelve factors, the most important of which are the income and property of each party, and the needs of each party. 750 ILCS 5/504 You should consult a local attorney regarding the possibilities concerning alimony if you have questions or foresee conflict regarding this issue. 8. DISTRIBUTION OF PROPERTY: Illinois is an “equitable distribution” state. This means, in a contested divorce, the property such as land, house, buildings, and items of personal property owned by the couple is divided between the parties as the court deems equitable and just. Debts owed are also allocated to one party or the other, or both. - 3 - 9. NAME CHANGE: Upon request, the court may order that a party resume the use of any former or maiden name. This option is included in your documents if you or your spouse desires a name change. 750 ILCS 5/413. - 4 - FORM LIST The following forms are included in this package, or needed are: 1. Petition for Dissolution of Marriage (IL-174-CSR200) 2. Stipulation Waiving the Two-Year Statutory Period of Separation (IL-171- 163) 3. Disclosure Statement (IL-CCDR0604) 4. Affidavit of Military Service (IL-171-342) 5. Summons (IL-171-223) 6. Notice and Acknowledgment of Receipt of Summons and Complaint/Petition (IL-806D) 7. Marital Settlement Agreement (IL-807D) 8. Notice of Hearing (IL-809D) 9. Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage (IL-174-CSR210) 10. Waiver of Process and Entry of Appearance (IL-811D) - 5 - FORM EXPLANATIONS All forms included in this package are identified and described below. 1. Petition for Dissolution of Marriage (IL-174-CSR200) – Th is document begins the divorce process, and includes the necessary legal details for asking the court to dissolve your marriage. 2. Stipulation Waiving the Two-Year Statutory Period of Separation (IL-171-163) – This document confirms that you and your spouse are waiving the statutory two-year separation requirement for divorce in favor of the six-month period. 3. Disclosure Statement (IL-CCDR0604) – A document setting out the respective property and debts of you and your spouse. This document must be signed by both you and your spouse. This document must not differ in substance from your Marital Settlement Agreement , in that all of the possessions, property and debts appearing in the Disclosure Statement must be accounted for and allocated in the Marital Settlement Agreement . 4. Affidavit of Military Service (IL-171-342) – This document certifies to the Court that your spouse is not currently serving in any branch of the U.S. Armed Services. 5. Summons (IL-171-223) – This document is used to inform the Respondent that a suit has been filed against him or her and orders the Respondent to appear before the court and file any pleadings necessary within 30 days after service of the summons. If this form is needed, the Clerk of your court will provide you with this form in a format used by your County. 6. N otice and Acknowledgment of Receipt of Summons and Complaint/Petition (IL- 806D) – If your spouse does not complete and sign the Waiver of Service and Entry of Appearance, you must formally serve your spouse. This form is used to provide the Court with notice that your spouse has received a copy of the filed Petition for Dissolution of Marriage and the Summons. 7. Marital Settlement Agreement (IL-807D) – This document memorialized you and your spouse ’ s agreements regarding division of property and debts. Must be consistent with the Financial Statement (see form #3 above) . 8. Notice of Hearing (IL-809D) – This form is to notify your spouse of the date, time and location of the final hearing on the dissolution of marriage. 9. Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage (IL-174-CSR210) – The final statement of the terms of your divorce, which incorporates your Marital Settlement Agreement . Once this - 6 - document is signed by the Judge and filed with the court, you must mail a certified copy of the signed, filed J udgment to your spouse. Ask the court clerk for a certified copy. 10. Waiver of Process and Entry of Appearance (IL-811D) – This form is signed by the Defendant to waive service of process and enter appearance. See steps below for more information. Note: Additional forms may be required in your County and should be available from the Clerk. Some Counties may require use of special versions of the forms included in this package. If so, use these forms as a guide. Be sure to follow the directions of the Clerk regarding special forms. - 7 - INSTRUCTIONS AND STEPS Note: Any form containing a space for the signature of a Notary Public must be signed by you (and if necessary by your spouse) in front of a Notary Public, who must notarize the document. Prepare an original and several copies of each of your completed documents. Your spouse should have a copy of everything you file, stamped “filed” by the clerk. You should keep copies, and the court must have originals. STEP 1: Complete the following forms: Form 1 - Petition for Dissolution of Marriage (IL-174-CSR200) Form 2 – Stipulation Waiving the Two-Year Statutory Period of Separation (IL-171-163) Form 3 – Disclosure Statement (IL-CCDR0604) Form 4 - Affidavit of Military Service (IL-171-342) Complete and sign the Petition (IL-174-CSR200) and the verification at the end of the Petition . Complete and sign the Waiver (IL-171-163) . Also, complete the Disclosure Statement (IL-CCDR0604) . Complete this form and take with you when you file the papers. It could be that your county will require a slightly different form, but the Clerk will advise if it is not acceptable and provide the county specific form if needed. STEP 2: Make three copies of the Waiver (IL-171-163) , Disclosure Statement (IL- CCDR0604) and Affidavit of Military Service (IL-171-342) . Go to the Circuit Clerk’s office in your County and FILE the completed forms. Pay filing fees. Keep several stamped “filed” copies of these forms. Ask the clerk if there are any county-specific or special forms that you need in addition (which the clerk should be able to provide and help you with). STEP 3: When you file the Petition and other papers, the next step is to serve your spouse with a Summons (IL-171-223) or Notice and Acknowledgment of Receipt of Summons (IL-806D) . However, in some Counties, if the Respondent will sign a Waiver of Process and Entry of Appearance (IL-811D) serving an actual Summons may not be required. You should advise the Clerk that the Defendant will sign a Waiver of Process (IL-811D) and if a Summons (IL-171-223) must still be issued. If a Summons (IL-171-223) does not have to be issued, provide the Respondent with a copy of the Petition and other filed documents, complete the Waiver of Process and Entry of Appearance (IL-811D) and have your spouse sign the Waiver. Then file the Waiver with the Clerk. Note: The Waiver cannot be signed until after the Petition is filed. - 8 - If a Summons must be issued even if the Respondent signs a Waiver of Process (IL-811D) please read this and be prepared before you go to the clerk’s office: After the Petition (IL-174-CSR200) has been filed, the other party must be provided notice of the dissolution proceeding by serving him or her. The Clerk should provide you with the Summons used in their County and/or a Notice of Acknowledgment of Receipt of Summons and Petition. Sample of these documents are provided and should be completed and taken to the Clerks office because the Clerk may accept your forms. The Clerk should advise you how the Respondent will be server, either by mail, the sheriff or a private process server. STEP 4: Next, the Marital Settlement Agreement (IL-807D) should be completed and signed. The Marital Settlement Agreement (IL-807D) should then be attached to the completed Judgment (IL-174-CSR210) form. STEP 5: After you have completed Step 4, consult the clerk regarding setting a hearing date before the Court to present the Judgment. Ask if both parties must attend or if you can present the Judgment without the defendant’s attendance. Note: Tell the Clerk that the case has been settled with a separation agreement. Regardless, after the Clerk gives you a hearing date, notify your spouse of the hearing date with Notice of Hearing (IL-809D) . File the original of this form when you go to the hearing. STEP 6: Attach a copy of the Marital Settlement Agreement (IL-807D) to the Judgment (IL-174-CSR210) and make three copies of the Judgment (IL-174-CSR210) with Marital Settlement Agreement (IL-807D) attached. Attend the hearing and answer any questions the Court may have and then present the Judgment to the Judge for signature. STEP 7: Once you receive the signed Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage (IL-174- CSR210) , you must FILE it with the court clerk, and mail a stamped “filed” copy to your spouse. STEP 8: When the Judgment (IL-174-CSR210) is signed and filed, obtain several certified copies of the Judgment (IL-174-CSR210) as proof of the divorce. Also provide one certified copy to your now ex-spouse. - 9 - PROCESS CHECKLIST Petition , Waiver of Two-Year Separation , Disclosure Statement, and Affidavit of Military Service forms completed. Above listed documents filed with Clerk of Court in the county of filing. A filing fee is paid. (Check with clerk for any updated or county-specific forms that the clerk may have that may be necessary.) A copy of all filed documents provided to your Spouse. Waiver of Process and Entry of Appearance signed and filed or Summons served. Marital Settlement Agreement completed and attached to Judgment . Contact Clerk of Court to schedule date for final hearing. Once date is obtained, complete and mail Notice of Hearing to your spouse. When you go to the hearing, file the original of this form with the clerk. Hearing held. Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage with Marital Settlement Agreement attached signed by the Judge. Signed Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage filed with the clerk of court. Mail certified copy of Judgment to your spouse. - 10 - NOTE ABOUT COMPLETING THE FORMS The forms in this packet may contain “form fields” created using Microsoft Word. “Form fields” facilitate completion of the forms using your computer. They do not limit you ability to print the form “in blank” and complete with a typewriter or by hand. If you do not see the gray shaded form fields, go the View menu, click on Toolbars, and then select Forms. This will open the forms toolbar. Look for the button on the forms toolbar that resembles a shaded letter “a”. Click in this button and the form fields will be visible. If they do not become visible, then they were not included in this form package. If you need to make any changes in the body of the form, it is necessary for you “unlock” or “unprotect” the form. IF YOU INTEND TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE CONTENT, DO SO BEFORE YOU BEGIN TO FILL IN THE FIELDS. IF YOU UNLOCK THE DOCUMENT AFTER YOU HAVE BEGUN TO COMPLETE THE FIELDS, WHEN YOU RELOCK, ALL INFORMATION YOU ENTERED WILL BE LOST. To unlock click on “Tools” in the Menu bar and then selecting “unprotect document”. You may then be prompted to enter a password. If so, the password is “uslf”. That is uslf in lower case letters without the quotation marks . After you make the changes relock the document before you begin to complete the fields. After any required changes and re-protecting the document, click on the first form field and enter the required information. You will be able to navigate through the document from form field to form field using your tab key. Tab to a form field and insert your data. If you experience problems, please let us know. - 11 - LAW SUMMARY You may access the law summary for your State by using the link below: http://secure.uslegalforms.com/lawsummary/IL/IL-004-D.htm - 12 - DISCLAIMER These materials were developed by U.S. Legal Forms, Inc. based upon statutes and forms for the subject state. All Information and Forms are subject to this Disclaimer: All forms in this package are provided without any warranty, express or implied, as to their legal efect and completeness. Please use at your own risk. If you have a serious legal problem we suggest that you consult an attorney. U.S. Legal Forms, Inc. does not provide legal advice. The products ofered by U.S. Legal Forms (USLF) are not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. THESE MATERIALS ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTY OF ANY KIND INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, NONINFRINGEMENT OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, OR FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL U. S. LEGAL FORMS, INC. OR ITS AGENTS OR OFFICERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF PROFITS, BUSINESS INTERRUPTION, LOSS OF INFORMATION) ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THE MATERIALS, EVEN IF U.S. LEGAL FORMS, INC. HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. THESE FORMS WERE PREPARED FOR STATEWIDE USE. HOWEVER, SOME COUNTIES OR JUDGES MAY REQUIRE CERTAIN MODIFICATIONS TO THE FORMS FOR USE IN YOUR PARTICULAR COUNTY AND MAY REQUIRE SPECIAL FORMS NOT INCLUDED. CHANGES REQUIRED BY PARTICULAR JUDGES IS NOT UNCOMMON EVEN IF THE FORMS HAD BEEN PREPARED BY YOUR ATTORNEY. REGARDLESS, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO USE THESE FORMS AND INSTRUCTIONS, WITH ANY REQUIRED MODIFICATIONS, TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE PROCESS. IF YOU NEED TO MAKE CHANGES, OR IF SPECIAL FORMS ARE REQUIRED IN YOUR COUNTY, YOU CAN MAKE THE CHANGES AND REFILE, OR OBTAIN THE SPECIAL FORMS EITHER FROM THE CLERK OR A CLOSED DIVORCE FILE WHICH YOU CAN USE AS AN EXAMPLE. - 13 -