Uncontested Divorce: “Can we use the same lawyer?”

by Chicago Divorce Lawyer David Wolkowitz

One of the most common questions I get as an uncontested divorce lawyer in Chicago is “Can we use the same lawyer in an uncontested divorce?” Technically, you could. But, there are some very good reason why you should not, and I list some of those below. Feel free to contact me, uncontested divorce lawyer in Chicago Dave Wolkowitz – I may be able to help.

peace sign for uncontested divorce in Illinois

Achieve peace through an uncontested divorce in Chicago

  • Lawyers refuse: Most lawyers will refuse to represent both parties in a divorce.
  • Advice is restricted: If you use the same lawyer as the other party, you will not receive advice that is confidential. You won’t be fully informed. And even though it is an uncontested divorce, being properly advised is still a good idea.
  • Uncontested can turn contested: Sometimes people start a divorce as an uncontested matter, then it turns contested. If both parties are using the same lawyer – and that happens – then both people have to get a new lawyer. That’s not an ideal situation, and can cause added expense.
If you are interested in an affordable divorce, then an uncontested divorce lawyer in Chicago can assist you by drafting a settlement agreement. Then, your spouse could hire a lawyer simply to review that agreement and to show up at the prove-up (when the divorce actually happens, in court). By having one lawyer do most the work, then a different lawyer simply review the material for the other party, you can save money.
I have written numerous articles on uncontested divorce that you might enjoy:

What is an Uncontested Divorce in Illinois?

Phases of an Uncontested Divorce in Illinois

Uncontested divorce: a lawyer’s role

 Uncontested Divorce & Marital Settlement Agreements: The Home

 

If you are thinking about an uncontested divorce, I’m happy for you. You will likely be much better off than those people who waste their hard-earned cash on lawyers they don’t need. I understand divorce is difficult, and that’s why I often meet clients in their choice of locations. So whether you are in Evanston, Schaumburg, Burr Ridge – or wherever, feel free to contact me about an uncontested divorce. What’;s more, much of the work can be done over the phone – and for an uncontested divorce, you only need to show up once in court.

 

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Foreclosure with deceased homeowner? Hold on, bank!

by Evanston Divorce Attorney David Wolkowitz

I recently stopped a sale of a home that a bank was seeking to foreclose upon. Why would a Chicago family law attorney get involved in a foreclosure, you ask? As a family law attorney, I become intimately familiar with my clients’ lives. Just as I hate to see people robbed of a proper role in their children’s lives, I also hate to see banks taking advantage of the same people who paid for their bailout. You should know that if you are facing a divorce and a foreclosure, that’s a double-whammy . . . you can contact me, Chicago divorce and foreclosure defense lawyer David Wolkowitz – I may be able to help. Illinois home foreclosure defense is one of my practice areas.

Borrower died – bank was sloppy

In my recent case, the borrower died, and instead of following the proper procedure, the bank took a shortcut. The borrower’s daughter was my client, and she wasn’t properly notified that the

Hopefully your house is worth more than the materials it's made of

bank began foreclosure proceedings. Further, when a borrower is dead, and the bank then wants to foreclosure, Illinois law requires that a “special representative” be appointed as part of a foreclosure case. The purpose of a special representative is to determine if the borrowers have heirs that should be notified of the foreclosure proceeding. However, in my case, no special representative was appointed. I stopped the sale of a house for my client, the borrower’s daughter, so she could have time to sort the mess out and save the house (almost all of the mortgage had been paid off!).

The bank was lazy

The strange part is – the bank didn’t even know the borrower was dead! Despite the fact that the borrow would have been approximately 80 years old when the bank began foreclosure proceedings, the person who was actually served appeared to the process server to be approximately 47 years old. If the lazy bank did any due diligence at all, it would have easily realized the borrower was dead. But instead, the practically criminally negligent banks don’t care, and just want to bring down the hammer as hard as they can.

Divorce and the Home

When working in Illinois family law, I often deal with issues involving homes. For instance, I previously wrote the article titled, ”Uncontested Divorce & Marital Settlement Agreements: The Home,” which addressed how a home can be dealt with in a divorce settlement. If you have a divorce and a foreclosure on the horizon, contact me,  Chicago divorce lawyer and Illinois foreclosure defense attorney David Wolkowitz; I may be able to help you move on with life with the least pain possible.

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Uncontested Divorce & Marital Settlement Agreements: The Home

April 21, 2012

Particularly with the current housing market, people getting divorced are concerned with what to do with their home. Today, many people are trying to figure out how NOT to get stuck with the home – instead of maneuvering to keep it. If you are interested in an uncontested divorce, dealing with your home – and [...]

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What is the Illinois UCCJEA? Basic FAQ

April 20, 2012

If you are your spouse, or ex-spouse, is trying to remove your child from Illinois to live permanently in another state, you might become familiar with the the Illinois Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act, or the Illinois UCCJEA. I’m an Illinois UCCJEA and family law attorney, so I’ve written this article to give [...]

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How to Get more Child support

March 29, 2012

Many people contact me stating that they want to get more child support in Illinois. If you have a child support order in place, to get an increase you must file a petition to modify support. As a Chicago family law attorney, I might be able to help – contact me for a consultation. Please [...]

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Illinois’ Family Law Clients’ Bill of Rights

March 14, 2012

If you are seeking a divorce in Chicago, Illinois, it is important that you have an attorney that respects your rights. As a client in a family law matter in Illinois, your rights are outlined in Section 508(f) of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act, which appears below. If you’d like to talk [...]

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Uncontested divorce: a lawyer’s role

February 2, 2012

People interested in an uncontested divorce in Illinois are often interested in minimizing the cost of their divorce.  In general, I find that people are sometimes curious about the scope of a lawyer’s involvement in an uncontested divorce. Below I address some common questions regarding lawyers’ involvement in uncontested divorces. Do we both need a [...]

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Child custody emergencies: act quickly

January 22, 2012

If you have an Illinois child custody emergency, you may need to act quickly. Consider the situation encountered by one of my colleagues. He received a very distressing telephone call from a mother in child custody dispute.  She was in an absolute panic. “They’re going to take away my two girls,”  she said. She felt there [...]

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Kim Kardashian: domestic violence on display before divorce

January 12, 2012

Kim Kardashian’s marriage is a hot topic these days. She’s filed for divorce – no surprise there. But the domestic violence she committed against husband Kris Humphries is serious. In the context of Illinois marriage, child custody, and divorce, domestic violence is usually viewed as something men commit against women. But it can go both [...]

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Child Custody Emergency Motions: the basics

January 9, 2012

As a Chicago divorce attorney practicing in family law, I often deal with critical child custody issues. The most critical can be the other parent’s use of an emergency motion to manipulate a child custody dispute. If an emergency motion has been filed against you, contact me  and I may be able to help you with [...]

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