Considering an AI-assisted divorce application, here are three crucial initial pieces of information you need to know: 1. **Their Jurisdiction (Where to File):** * **Why it's important:** Divorce laws and filing procedures vary significantly by state (and sometimes even by county). Filing in the wrong jurisdiction can lead to delays, dismissal of the case, and the need to start over. * **What they need to know:** Generally, you can file for divorce in the state where **you** have resided for a specific period (often 90 days or six months, depending on the state) and/or where your **spouse** resides. Knowing your residency requirements and your spouse's location is key to determining the correct court. 2. **Their Spouse's Location (For Service):** * **Why it's important:** To legally initiate the divorce process, the court needs to ensure your spouse is formally notified. This is typically done through "service of process," where they are officially presented with the divorce papers. * **What they need to know:** Knowing your spouse's current address (even if it's different from yours) is essential for arranging proper service. If their location is unknown, you may need to pursue alternative methods of service, which can complicate and lengthen the process. 3. **Their Divorce Type (Uncontested vs. Contested):** * **Why it's important:** The type of divorce significantly impacts the required paperwork, the complexity of the process, and the potential timeline. An AI assistant can tailor its guidance and document generation based on this information. * **What they need to know:** * **Uncontested:** Both spouses agree on all key issues (property division, debt allocation, child custody/support if applicable) and are willing to cooperate. This is generally a simpler and faster process. * **Contested:** Spouses disagree on one or more significant issues and will need to negotiate or have a court decide these matters. This process is typically more complex and time-consuming. Knowing these three things upfront will allow the AI divorce assistant to provide more accurate and relevant guidance from the very beginning. **Uncontested Divorce WITHOUT Children (Illinois):** * **Petition for Dissolution of Marriage/Civil Union (No Children):** This is the initial document filed to start the divorce process. * **Summons:** This document officially notifies the other spouse that a divorce case has been filed (unless a Waiver of Service is signed). * **Entry of Appearance (by Respondent):** If the respondent agrees to the divorce, they may file this form to acknowledge the case. * **Marital Settlement Agreement:** A written agreement outlining how you and your spouse will divide property (real estate, personal property, bank accounts, investments), and allocate debts. * **Financial Affidavit (one for each party):** This document provides a detailed overview of each party's income, expenses, assets, and liabilities. * **Proposed Judgment for Dissolution of Marriage/Civil Union (No Children):** This is the final order you propose the judge sign, outlining the terms of the divorce (property division, debt allocation, any name change, etc.). * **Certificate of Dissolution of Marriage/Civil Union:** This form provides statistical information about the divorce to the Illinois Department of Public Health. **Uncontested Divorce WITH Children (Illinois):** In addition to the documents listed above for a divorce without children, you will likely need the following: * **Petition for Dissolution of Marriage/Civil Union (With Children):** This version of the petition includes information about your children. * **Parenting Plan:** A detailed plan outlining the allocation of parental responsibilities (decision-making) and parenting time (schedule for when each parent spends time with the children). * **Uniform Order of Support:** This document specifies the amount of child support to be paid, who will pay, and how it will be paid, often based on the Illinois Child Support Guidelines. * **Child Support Worksheet:** Documentation showing how the child support amount was calculated based on the parents' net incomes and other relevant factors. * **Declaration Under Uniform Child-Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA):** This form provides information about the children's residences for the past five years to establish jurisdiction for custody matters. * **Certificate of Completion of Parenting Education Program (PACT or similar):** In many Illinois counties, both parents are required to complete a parenting education course. **Important Notes:** * **E-filing:** In Illinois, electronic filing (e-filing) is often mandatory for attorneys and may be available or required for self-represented litigants depending on the county. * **Local Rules:** Always check the local rules of the specific county where you are filing, as they may have additional required forms or procedures. * **Legal Advice:** This list is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. It is highly recommended to consult with an Illinois attorney to ensure you have all the necessary documents and that they are completed correctly. * **Waiver of Service:** If both parties agree to the divorce, the responding party can sign a Waiver of Service, eliminating the need for formal service of the Summons. * **Joint Simplified Divorce:** Illinois offers a Joint Simplified Divorce procedure under specific, limited circumstances (short marriage, no children, limited property, etc.), which has its own set of required forms.