Arlington Heights Contested Divorce Attorneys

Family Law Practice Areas:

Sterling Lawyers, LLC
Exclusively Family Law

Average Client Rating for
Sterling Lawyers, LLC

4.6 out of 5
From 12,874 Divorce & Family Law

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Arlington Heights Contested Divorce Lawyers Attorneys at Sterling Lawyers, LLC

Samantha Witting

Based on 1 Client Reviews

Are you ready to move forward? Call (312) 757-8082 to schedule a strategy session with one of our attorneys.

About Sterling Lawyers in Arlington Heights

A divorce is contested when you and your spouse cannot agree on at least one issue the court has to address before it enters a judgment: how parental responsibilities are allocated, child support, maintenance, or how property and debt get divided.^[1] Sometimes it is one stubborn issue. Sometimes it is all of them, plus a spouse who will not answer emails.

Our Arlington Heights divorce attorneys handle these cases from our office on Salt Creek Lane. We are not going to tell you a contested case will be quick or painless. It takes longer than an agreed divorce, it costs more, and it asks more of you. What we can do is make sure your time and money go toward the issues that actually matter, and tell you honestly where you stand along the way. For the statewide picture of how these cases work, start with contested divorce in Illinois.

Why Arlington Heights Clients Choose Sterling Lawyers

Fixed Fees, Quoted Before You Sign

This is what most people call about, so here it is plainly. We do not bill by the hour, including on contested cases. Before you sign anything, you get a fixed fee quoted for the contested path, and research, phone calls, emails, the drive to court, and the time your attorney spends on your file are covered by it.

That matters more in a contested case than anywhere else. A continued hearing or a stack of motions from the other side does not start an hourly meter, and asking a question does not add to your bill. Contested cases are priced higher than uncontested or mediated ones because they take more work, and our Illinois pricing page shows how they are structured.

One thing to know going in: court-ordered costs are separate. If a guardian ad litem is appointed, for example, the court decides how that attorney’s fees are paid.^[2] We walk you through what your quote includes and what it does not before you commit.

Family Law Is the Only Thing We Practice

No real estate closings, no estate plans, no criminal defense. Divorce, parenting, support, and property cases are all we do. In a contested case that shows up in small ways that add up: knowing which financial documents start arguments and which ones end them, and what a parenting schedule needs to look like to hold up when the other side picks it apart.

Straight Answers, Including the Hard Ones

You will hear the truth about your case, including the parts you would rather not. If your position is weak somewhere, we would rather tell you in month one than in month seven. And we will not promise you how a judge will rule. Nobody can, and you should be wary of anyone who does.

Talk to an Arlington Heights Contested Divorce Lawyer

If your spouse has already filed, or you know an agreement is not coming, the sooner someone is looking at your finances and your parenting plan, the more options you keep. Book a consultation with Sterling Lawyers and we will match you with an attorney from this office.

Are you ready to move forward? Call (312) 757-8082 to schedule a strategy session with one of our attorneys.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I prepare for a contested divorce?

Start with money. Gather tax returns, pay records, bank and retirement statements, mortgage and loan statements, and anything that shows what you own or owe. In Cook County, you will need all of it for the Financial Affidavit each side completes, and a party has to serve it before seeking discovery unless the court orders otherwise. If you have children, keep a simple record of how the schedule actually runs and save your messages with your spouse. Illinois divorce is no-fault, so proof of why the marriage ended usually will not help. One exception involves money: if one spouse spent marital funds for their own benefit on purposes unrelated to the marriage while it was breaking down, a court can weigh that when dividing property. And talk to an attorney before you move money, move out, or change the kids’ routine.

Where will my Arlington Heights contested divorce be heard?

Arlington Heights is in Cook County’s Third Municipal District, so a case filed in the district is heard at the Rolling Meadows Courthouse at 2121 Euclid Avenue, where the court currently lists two dedicated domestic relations courtrooms. Rolling Meadows is an option, not a requirement: a Cook County case can also be filed at the Daley Center downtown, and a spouse served with a Rolling Meadows case can move it there by filing a district transfer form with their appearance, generally within 30 days of service. Filings generally have to be made electronically, although some filers and filings are exempt. Courtroom assignments change, so your attorney confirms yours when the case is filed.

What are the options for alternative dispute resolution before trial in an Arlington Heights contested divorce?

Mediation is the main one. In Cook County, parenting disputes go to mediation unless the court finds an impediment. A judge can also send financial issues to mediation, even over one side’s objection. Collaborative divorce is another route if both of you are willing: each spouse works with a collaborative attorney and everyone commits to settling outside court. If it breaks down, those attorneys must withdraw, and you each hire new counsel for litigation. Negotiation between attorneys continues the whole way, and a case can settle right up to trial.

What happens if we cannot agree on parenting?

Each parent must file a proposed parenting plan, generally within 120 days after the petition is filed or served, or after the other parent appears in the case when you cannot agree. The court can extend that deadline for good cause, and can excuse it while you are in mediation. Illinois courts order mediation of parenting disputes, and in Cook County it goes ahead unless the court finds an impediment. If the dispute continues, the court may appoint a guardian ad litem or a child representative. A guardian ad litem investigates, interviews you, your spouse, and your children, and gives the court a written report or recommendations, while a child representative takes part in the case the way an attorney for a party would. If nothing settles, a judge decides.

Should I consider settlement offers before trial in an Arlington Heights contested divorce?

Yes, with your attorney’s honest read on each one. Trial costs more, takes longer, and puts the decision in a judge’s hands, while a settlement lets you shape the terms. But a bad offer is still a bad offer. The real question is how an offer compares with what the evidence supports, and that is the comparison we walk you through.