New Divorce Laws In Illinois In 2016

Divorce is never easy, and it won;t be an easier in 2016 in the Illinois . A new Illinois law concerning the big "D" kicks in January 1 in Illinois. Here's what you need to know. 

Starting in 2016, there will no longer be such a thing as custody. Instead, all couples filing for divorce will have to split up parenting responsibilities.

They will pick and choose between medical, religious, educational and extra curricular decisions. They will also have to set a plan, or schedule, so that if there is a future dispute, the judge can easily refer back to it. If it sounds like it will take time to get a divorce in 2016 in Illinois, you are right. It's going to be a process now.

According to WIFR TV-23, 17th Congressional District Associate Judge Joe Bruce states, "The document itself and the provisions to the document have so many different elements to it, it's probably going to take a little bit more time to work through all of these changes so I'm expecting it's going to take longer for parenting issues to work their way through the court system".

"There will be information in regards to that each parent have access to medical records of the child, school records of the child and there are a lot of different things that have to be included in each parenting plan," said attorney Laura Baluch.

The new laws will only be in effect for couples who file for divorce on or after January 1st. Here are additional changes in 2016 concerning filing for divorce.

Filing will change. People will only be able to claim irreconcilable differences and will no longer have to be separated for at least six months before filling out paperwork.

Parents who want to relocate with their kids will now only be able to move 50 miles instead of anywhere throughout the state.

A group of judges as well as the local bar association are also drafting up example plans for divorcing couples to look over before deciding on their own schedule.

Best advice offered is to make sure that the person you want to marry is the person you want to spend the rest of your life with.