Some divorces in Illinois are initiated by one person while the other person may not originally wish to end the marriage. Other divorces may be agreed to up front by both parties. If you and your spouse have jointly made the decision to get divorced, you may be eligible for what is referred to as a joint simplified dissolution of marriage.
The joint simplified dissolution of marriage results in a final divorce just as does a standard dissolution. However, the former can be a less complicated path to achieving your divorce. Not everyone can qualify for this type of divorce. The Cook County Clerk of the Court explains the requirements for this which include the following:
- Your marriage must not have lasted longer than eight years.
- You and your spouse cannot have more than $10,000 in jointly held assets.
- You cannot earn more than $20,000per year individually or more than $35,000 combined.
- You do not have any joint biological children and the wife is not currently pregnant.
- Neither of you can own any real estate.
- You must have been separated for at least six months before filing a petition.
Neither spouse will be eligible for alimony from the other with a joint simplified dissolution of marriage. Therefore, no financial dependence by either of you must be present. When filing your petition, you must also file a document stating your joint agreement to asset and liability division.
This information is not intended to provide legal advice but general information on about the qualifications for a joint simplified dissolution of marriage in Illinois.
