The prospect of dividing their shared property is one of the most common reasons spouses delay getting divorced for years, even decades. The prospect of divvying up your belongings – and possibly fighting over them for months or years – can feel like too much to bear, even if your marriage is clearly at its end.
Under Illinois law, decisions about what happens with a couple’s property are made following an “equitable distribution” model. This means the court tries to divide marital assets and debts in a way that it considers fair, but that does not necessarily mean an equal split.
But what exactly does this mean for you? Will you have to fight over every little thing in court, or can you settle beforehand if you have a good attorney? If you need answers to these questions in 2026, our Hillside, IL family law attorney can help you understand how the rules of property division in divorce will apply to your case.