For a stay-at-home mom, getting a divorce can bring unique financial and custody challenges. You may worry about how you will support yourself, where you will live, or how the divorce could affect your relationship with your children. The good news is that you do not have to learn the law overnight. Our Schaumburg, IL, divorce lawyers can help. We will explain your options clearly so that your post-divorce future is less intimidating.
What Are Your Legal Rights as a Stay-at-Home Mom in an Illinois Divorce?
In Illinois, both spouses have rights in a divorce, even if one spouse did not earn an income. The state follows a model of equitable distribution under 750 ILCS 5/503. That means the courts divide property fairly. Judges look at many factors to decide what is fair, including each spouse’s financial and non-financial contributions to the marriage. Sometimes, that means the split is not 50/50.