When you take two challenging life events, like pregnancy and divorce, and put them together, the situation can be overwhelming. Aside from not wanting to wait nine months to get divorced, there are many situations that make a divorce while pregnant necessary. Five states currently prevent pregnant wives from divorcing, including Arizona, Missouri, Arkansas, California, and Texas. In four of those five states, a couple may file for divorce while one partner is expecting a baby but must wait for the birth for the divorce to be finalized because of paternity, child custody, and child support issues.
Nine additional states leave the fate of a couple wishing to divorce during pregnancy up to family court judges, many of whom will not sanction divorce petitions during pregnancy. Illinois has its own laws and regulations surrounding divorce when a pregnancy is involved, so expectant parents must understand their rights and responsibilities. If you are facing such a situation, it is important that you speak to a knowledgeable Bloomingdale, IL divorce attorney who can help you understand Illinois divorce laws.