Three Tips for a Stay-at-Home Parent Getting Divorced in Illinois

 Posted on January 27, 2022 in Divorce

Stay-at-home mothers in Illinois often find themselves wondering how they could ever get a divorce when they are not working. Even in a happy marriage, the idea of not being able to leave if necessary can be suffocating. Yet homemakers in Illinois successfully pursue divorce every day, and you may be surprised to learn that there are options available to help you leave a bad situation. If you are a stay-at-home parent and considering divorce, here are three quick tips to help you move through the divorce process more easily.

Collect As Many Important Documents As You Can

Stay-at-home parents frequently do not handle the family finances. Although you may be the one doing the grocery shopping and sticking to a strict budget, you may not have all the information you need about your family’s financial affairs. Start gathering bank statements, mortgage statements, bills, retirement account information, pay stubs, tax returns, and any other documents you can get. More information is always better, especially if you anticipate that your spouse may try to make it difficult to get access to documents.

Create a Budget

Your finances are likely to change significantly after divorce. Even if you have never created or followed a budget, now is the time to start. Keep track of what you spend on yourself and your children, how much it takes to run a household, and how much apartments and homes for rent in your area cost. Your budget will likely need to be tweaked and adjusted as you move through the divorce process, but having a rough estimate will help you plan.

Starting Thinking About What Life After Divorce Will Look Like

Spouses are often so caught up in the process of getting divorced that they do not stop to think about what life after divorce will look like. You will no longer have regular support from your spouse when you care for the children, so you may want to start thinking about childcare arrangements or consider living near friends and family. More long-term, it is important to start thinking about employment, education, and even retirement. Although these concepts can be intimidating for a spouse who has never worked outside the home, many divorced spouses ultimately find themselves feeling more empowered and confident when they begin providing for themselves and driving their life plan forward.

Call a Rolling Meadows, IL Divorce Lawyer

If you are a homemaker and you are worried that a lack of income could leave you trapped in an unhappy marriage, schedule a free consultation with an experienced Rolling Meadows divorce attorney at Cosley Law Office. We will review your case and can help you create a plan that allows you to move forward with confidence. Call us today at 847-253-3100.

Source:

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs4.asp?DocName=075000050HPt%2E+V&ActID=2086&ChapterID=59&SeqStart=6200000&SeqEnd=8675000