GITLIN, BUSCHE & STETLER  
111 Dean Street
Woodstock, Illinois 60098

815.338.0021

This information is presented as a service by
Gitlin, Busche & Stetler - Practice Limited to Family Law
111 Dean Street, Woodstock, IL 60098
(815) 338-0021

 

DIVORCE SETTLEMENT CHECKLIST

 

About 95% of all cases that go to court, including divorce cases, settle and do not go to trial. The cost of a divorce will, for the large part, depend on how high up the ladder to a trial you go before the case is settled. Attorney's fees will be reduced by you and your spouse directly, and without benefit of lawyers, by settling issues involved in the divorce.

There are books available to assist you in settlement discussions with your spouse:

  • The Divorce Handbook, James T. Friedman, Random House
  • Idiot's Guide to Divorce, Pamela Weintraub and Terry Hillman, Alpha Books
  • The Divorce Book for Men and Women, Harriet Newman Cohen and Ralph Gardner Jr., Avon Books
  • Divorce Manual, A Client's Handbook, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers , 312-263-6477
Divorce laws vary from state to state and none of the above books is state specific. For Illinois specific law, see Gitlin on Divorce: A Guide to Illinois Matrimonial Law , which while written for lawyers and judges, may be of help to non-lawyers. It is available at the McHenry County Government Center law library, Woodstock
   
 

Gitlin, Busche & Stetler

DIVORCE SETTLEMENT CHECKLIST

( ) Child Custody

( ) Visitation

( ) Notice for visitation

( ) Removal to another state

( ) Joint custody

( ) Child support

( ) Amount

( ) Commencement date

( ) Dates payable

( ) Termination of support

( ) Dependent exemptions

() Income Withholding

( ) Income tax

( ) Filing joint return for year before judgment (if married for all of tax year)

( ) Tax refund

( ) Marital home and other real estate

( ) Health Care

( ) Insurance (coverage and proof of premium payment)

( ) Orthodontic, dental, psychological and optical

( ) Co-payments, deductible and non-covered items

( ) Length of obligation

( ) COBRA coverage for spouse

( ) Life Insurance (coverage and ownership)

( ) Proof of payment

( ) Length of obligation

( ) Cash value

( ) Maintenance (Alimony)

( ) Amount

( ) Commencement date

( ) Dates payable

( ) Termination events or review by court

( ) Household furnishings

( ) Deposits of money (bank, savings & loan, credit union)

( ) Stocks etc. and stock options

( ) Business interests/Professional practice

( ) Litigation in which parties have interest

( ) Retirement, pension, profit sharing, etc.

( ) Debts/Credit cards

( ) Automobiles and other motor vehicles

( ) College Education of Children

( ) Qualification for

( ) Continuous Education

( ) Number of years

( ) Transportation to and from school

( ) Obligation if child lives with parent while attending college

( ) School to be used as standard/benchmark for costs

( ) Ratio of payment by parents

( ) Attorney's fees and costs

 

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS INDEX

I. About the Author
II. Before Marriage
III. Getting Started
  A. Decision Making
  B. About Lawyers
  C. Secondary Issues
IV. The Divorce Process
  A. Grounds
  B. Discovery
  C. Alternative Dispute Resolution
  D. Reconciliation
V. Interim Issues
VI. Child Support
  A. Generally
  B. Enforcement
  C. Post Majority Support
VII. Child Custody
  A. Between Parents
  B. Visitation
  C. Removal
  D. Grandparents and Other Non-Parents
VIII. Maintenance
IX. Property Division
X. Post Judgement Proceedings
XI. Non-Divorce Issues
XII. Adoption
  A. General Information
  B. Assisted
Reproduction
XIII. Selected Federal and Uniform Laws Affecting Family Law
     
     


 

Gitlin, Busche & Stetler provides the preceding information as a service to potential and current clients and to the public.  A person's accessing the information contained on this Internet site is not considered as retention of Gitlin, Busche & Stetler for any particular case, nor is it considered providing legal advice.  Gitlin, Busche & Stetler cannot guarantee the outcome of any case.
 

Gitlin, Busche & Stetler provides the preceding information as a service to potential and current clients and to the public.  A person's accessing the information contained on this Internet site is not considered as retention of Gitlin, Busche & Stetler for any particular case, nor is it considered providing legal advice.  Gitlin, Busche & Stetler cannot guarantee the outcome of any case.