Reviewed by Joshua P. Haid, Managing Partner
New to Divorce? Start Here
If you are only beginning to think about divorce, take a breath — you do not have to have it all figured out today. Maybe you are certain, maybe you are just exploring what your options might be, and maybe you feel both at once. All of that is normal, and none of it commits you to anything. This page is a calm, judgment-free place to start: what the first steps look like, how to protect yourself while you think, and when it makes sense to talk to someone who can help.
You are not the first woman to sit where you are sitting, and you are not alone in it. The Women’s Divorce & Family Law Group by Haid and Teich LLP has helped many women take this exact first step — often before they had made any decision at all — simply to understand where they stand.
A first conversation is just information, with no pressure and no obligation. When you’re ready, talk with a Chicago divorce lawyer who represents women — free and confidential, 312-445-8830.
Where to begin
You do not need to do everything at once. A few early steps tend to help almost everyone, whether or not you ultimately decide to divorce:
- Get informed. Understanding how divorce actually works in Illinois takes away some of the fear of the unknown. Our road map to the divorce process and guide to Illinois divorce law are good, pressure-free places to start.
- Gather your financial picture. Quietly begin locating your important documents — tax returns, pay stubs, bank and retirement statements, information on property and debts. Understanding what your family owns and owes puts you in a far stronger position, especially if your spouse has handled the finances.
- Think about what matters most to you. Your children, your home, your financial security — start noticing what you most want to protect. You do not need answers yet, just a sense of your priorities.
- Protect yourself where you need to. If you feel unsafe at any point, your safety and your children’s come first; help is available, including orders of protection.
You don’t have to decide everything now
One of the biggest fears at this stage is that reaching out somehow sets something in motion you cannot stop. It does not. Talking to a lawyer does not start a divorce, and it does not obligate you to file. It simply gives you accurate information about your rights and your options, so that whatever you decide, you decide it with your eyes open. Many women tell us that just understanding where they stand brought them enormous relief — whatever they chose to do next.
How we help you take the first step
When you are ready, we make the first step as easy and unintimidating as possible. A first consultation is a conversation, not a commitment: you tell us what is going on, we help you understand what Illinois law means for your situation, and we answer your questions honestly. There is no pressure to hire us or to make any decision at all. Our only goal in that first meeting is that you walk away more informed and less afraid than when you sat down.
Related: The Illinois Divorce Process · What Is Illinois Divorce Law? · Chicago Divorce · Mental Health & Divorce
Wherever you are in your thinking, we’re here when you’re ready — free, confidential, no pressure.
