How to File for Divorce in Illinois (Legal Survival Guides) [Paperback]

Diana Brodman Summers (Author), Edward A. Haman (Author)

Book Description

Series: Legal Survival Guides | Publication Date: September 2002

A divorce can be the most painful and expensive experience of your life. Whether you use a lawyer or not, protect yourself by getting all the information you need about divorce laws and your legal rights. How to File for Divorce in Illinois simplifies and thoroughly explains everything you need to know to successfully handle your own divorce in the state of Illinois. Complete with step-by-step instructions and the forms you need, this book makes filing for divorce inexpensive and hassle-free. This book explains in simple language: How to file for divorce without a lawyer Separation and annulment Uncontested and contested divorce How the legal system works When you need a lawyer and how to work with one Grounds for divorce Property division Alimony Child support Child custody and visitation Protecting your assets, yourself and your children Court procedures Complete explanations of divorce laws in Illinois All the Illinois forms you need

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Darrell K. Seigler received his bachelor's degree from Southern Illinois University and his law degree from the University of Illinois. He is licensed to practice law in Illinois and Federal Courts in Illinois. He currently lives in Ottawa, Illinois, where he practices law full-time. Edward A. Haman received his bachelor's degree from Western Michigan University and his law degree from the University of Toledo. He has practiced law in Florida, Michigan and Hawaii, and has served as a Michigan Circuit Court domestic relations hearing officer. He has written many self-help law books including How to File Your Own Divorce and How to Write Your Own Premarital Agreement. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Sphinx Pub; 3rd edition (September 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1572482060
• ISBN-13: 978-1572482067
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,540,930 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

73 of 75 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Contact Your County's Court Clerk Before Buying This Book, April 26, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: How to File for Divorce in Illinois (Paperback)

For any couple seeking a divorce, especially an uncontested divorce, it is important to know that there is an alternative to retaining a high-cost attorney. It can be, in many cases, quite simple to file for divorce on your own. Yet there is little information available on exactly how one goes about doing this. Unfortunately, this how-to book does a relatively poor job of filling this gap.

This book's particular problem is that it is high on filler and low on substance. For example, while the authors devote a most unnecessary section to the difficulties of reentering the dating scene, they say nothing when it comes to explicating the meaning of the important phrase "to live separate and apart." That this phrase does not preclude living under the same roof can be significant for those who are interested in expediting the two-year or 6-month waiting period.

To many, the book's most attractive feature is the many forms it has in its appendix. Unfortunately, one will find in the text only the sketchiest of details on exactly which forms one needs to file. What's even more aggravating is that a few of the forms in the appendix receive no mention in the text whatsoever. The reader should also be aware that the court clerks of some counties (e.g., Cook County) won't even accept these forms.

Contact your court clerk's office before buying this book. You might find that you've saved yourself another twenty bucks on top of the attorney's fees.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 3rd Edition Vast Improvement, September 9, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: How to File for Divorce in Illinois (Paperback)

I recently bought the 3rd edition by Diana Brodman Summers. It is a clear, well-organized description of Illinois Divorce Law that includes sample forms for Cook and DuPage counties. The author warns that the law is changing all the time so you need to obtain the most current versions from the office of your Circuit Court. Appendix A lists contact information for all 22 circuit courts and the counties each court serves. Included are web site addresses for the Clerks of Cook and DuPage County. I was able to download the most recent versions as PDF files from the DuPage County Clerks web site. There is no superfluous discussion in the 3rd edition about how to re-enter the dating scene. Even if you ultimately decide to hire an attorney, I think the 3rd edition will educate you well about what your rights are and what you are paying the attorney to do. The author acknowledges the emotional pain of a divorce and advises seeking professional counseling for that, but she sticks to the law. She paints a sympathetic picture of the daily emotional drain on divorce lawyers who hear the horrible things spouses do to each other. I only gave the book 4 stars instead of 5 because I haven't used the book to file my own divorce. After I've gone through the experience with this book to help me, I might write another review.