What Are Some Unusual Reasons for an Illinois Divorce?

 Posted on November 11, 2019 in Divorce

We are all familiar with common reasons for why people choose to end their marriage. A divorce can be brought on for many reasons, such as infidelity, lifestyle conflicts, financial disputes, or simply two spouses growing apart. No matter the reason, getting a divorce is a long process with challenges along the way. Given that some people have unusual reasons for getting divorced, legally terminating your marriage can be a complicated process. That is why it is important to understand Illinois laws regarding divorce. In addition, you should have professional legal assistance to make sure your rights are protected throughout the proceedings.   

Illinois Divorce Law

In an Illinois divorce, one party will have to start the process by filing for a petition for dissolution of marriage. The person who filed is known as the petitioner, and the other spouse is the respondent. For an Illinois divorce to be granted, the marriage must be filed in the state, and both the respondent and the petitioner must be living in the state for 90 days. The divorce papers are served to the other spouse, and he or she has a certain amount of time to respond. 

Not Your Typical Circumstances for Divorcing

Some people may feel embarrassed about getting a divorce. They are ashamed that they could not make their marriage work or that their family is breaking up. Everyone has their reasons for getting divorced, but the following cases involved some uncommon factors that led couples to break up: 

• Lottery winner: In 1997, a California woman won the lottery and divorced her husband immediately after. Upon winning $1.3 million, she filed for divorce without telling her spouse about her winnings. Her goal was to pocket the money all to herself, but during the divorce process, it was found that she was breaking the law. All assets must be disclosed during a divorce, and so a judge awarded her husband the lottery winnings. 

• Secret divorce: A New York man secretly divorced his wife during a trip to the Dominican Republic four years after their marriage in 1994. Although the couple stayed together after this, the wife found out 22 years later, because her name was not on the deed to their house. Her next step was to attempt to nullify the secret divorce and have an official divorce in New York. 

• Mistaken identity: Most women wear makeup on their wedding day, but a man in Algeria claimed to not recognize his new wife after she took off her makeup. He claims that he had mistaken his natural-faced wife for a burglar the morning after their wedding. For reasons of fraud, trauma, and psychological suffering, the man attempted to sue his wife for compensation and filed for divorce.

Contact a Palatine Divorce Lawyer

There are many valid reasons for someone to want a divorce. However, certain circumstances may require a more hands-on approach from your legal team. If you have unusual reasons that have led to the end of your marriage, you need to understand how certain factors can affect your rights to marital property and assets. That is why it is important to contact an experienced Schaumburg divorce attorney to discuss options for your Illinois divorce. Call our office today at 630-426-0196 to schedule an initial consultation.

Sources:

https://moneyversed.com/crazy-reasons-for-divorce/?bdk=a*undefined&ch=bt

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs5.asp?ActID=2086&ChapterID=59