⚖️ Uncontested Divorce
Summary Timeline
File Petition → Service → Financials → Agreements → Parenting (if kids) → Prove-Up → Judge Signs
📑 Overview
The Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage is the official court order that legally ends the marriag. It incorporates the terms agreed upon in the Marital Settlement Agreement and, if applicable, the Parenting Pla.
Key Components:
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*Identification of Parties: Names and addresses of both spouse.
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*Findings: Confirmation that the court has jurisdiction, the marriage has broken down irretrievably, and all legal requirements are me.
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*Incorporation of Agreements: The Marital Settlement Agreement and Parenting Plan are included by referenc.
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*Orders: Directives regarding the division of assets and debts, spousal support, child custody, visitation, and child suppor.
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*Restoration of Maiden Name: If requested, the court can order the restoration of a spouse's maiden or former nam.
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*Finalization: The date the judgment is entered and the dissolution is effectiv. For official forms and templates, you can visit the [Illinois Courts' Approved Statewide Standardized Forms page](https://www.illinoiscourts.gov/documents-and-forms/approved-forms/.
*Note: While these resources provide a general framework, it's essential to ensure that all documents are tailored to your specific circumstances and comply with local court rule. Consulting with a legal professional or utilizing court-provided resources can help ensure accuracy and completenes.
If you need further assistance or have specific questions about your situation, feel free to ask!
📄 Sample Outline
A Prove-Up Hearing is the final step in an uncontested divorce where the petitioner provides testimony to confirm the details of the divorceThis testimony ensures that all legal requirements are met and that both parties have agreed to the terms voluntarily
Sample Prove-Up Testimony Questions:
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Residency and Jurisdiction: -What is your full name and current address -Have you been a resident of Illinois for at least 90 days prior to filing for divorce
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Marriage Details: -When and where were you married -Are there any children from this marriage
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Grounds for Divorce: -Has the marriage irretrievably broken down due to irreconcilable differences -Have efforts to reconcile been unsuccessful
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Marital Settlement Agreement: -Have you and your spouse entered into a Marital Settlement Agreement -Do you believe the agreement is fair and equitable -Did you sign the agreement voluntarily and without coercion
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Parenting Plan (if applicable): -Have you and your spouse agreed upon a Parenting Plan regarding custody and visitation -Do you believe this plan serves the best interests of the child(ren)
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Finalization: -Are you requesting the court to incorporate the Marital Settlement Agreement and Parenting Plan into the Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage -Do you ask the court to grant the dissolution of your marriage For a detailed sample of Prove-Up Testimony, you can refer to the Sample Prove-Up and Questions document provided by Chicago Volunteer Legal Services
Timeline (Cook County, IL)
Step 1
📄 File Petition for Dissolution of Marriage
Start your case by filing the initial petition stating the grounds for divorce.
Step 2
📝 File Affidavit as to Military Service
Confirm whether your spouse is in the military (important for court notices and timelines).
Step 3
🖋️ Submit Appearance Form
Have the respondent acknowledge the case by filing an Appearance with the court.
Step 4
📬 Provide Proof of Service or Waiver of Service
Show the court that your spouse was officially notified — or waived notification.
Step 5
📊 Exchange and File Financial Affidavits
Both parties must disclose income, expenses, assets, and debts.
Step 6
🤝 Finalize and Sign Marital Settlement Agreement (MSA)
Outline the division of assets, debts, support, and custody (if applicable).
Step 7
📃 Prepare Certificate of Dissolution of Marriage
Complete the form required by the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Step 8
👨👩👧 Complete Parenting Plan (if you have children)
Agree on custody, parenting time, and major decision-making responsibilities.
Step 9
🎓 Submit Parenting Class Certificates (if required)
Each parent must complete and file proof of completing an approved parenting education course.
Step 10
💵 Prepare Uniform Order of Support (if child support applies)
Draft the court-required order stating the child support obligations.
Step 11
🎤 Prepare Prove-Up Testimony
Get ready for your final hearing by preparing answers about your divorce agreement, property division, and child arrangements.
Step 12
⚖️ Final Hearing & Judge Signs Judgment of Dissolution
Present your prove-up testimony, and once approved, the judge will sign the Judgment ending your marriage.
Personal Profile
Mariage Dates and Duration
Residence for you and your spouse
Enter or Update Data Fields
Help us get started with your case by securely entering your basic information. This allows us to pre-fill your legal forms and match you with the correct documents for your location and circumstances.
Active page allows updating of data
1. Personal & Contact Information
For both Petitioner and Respondent:
-SHOULD BE IN Q&A FORM
Full Legal Name (first, middle, last)
- Date of Birth
- Current Address
- Contact Info (email, phone)
- County of Filing
- Marriage Details (date/location of marriage)
- Employment Status (optional, if relevant to fee waivers)
2. Marriage Details
• Date and place of marriage
• Current marital status (separated, living together, etc.)
• Date of separation (if applicable)
A. Children (if any)
• Full names, dates of birth, and SSNs of each child
• Current living arrangements
• Proposed custody and visitation arrangements
• Child support needs or agreements
• School and health insurance information
B. Existing Court Orders or Agreements
• Prenuptial/postnuptial agreements
• Previous court orders (e.g., protection orders, custody, child support)
• Existing divorce petitions (if any filed)
C. Financial Disclosures
DO THESE NEED TO BE PROVIDED BASED ON THE FORMS WE CAN FILL OUT?
Each party should provide or upload:
• Income verification (pay stubs, W-2s, 1099s, tax returns)
• Bank account statements
• Real estate/property deeds or mortgage statements
• Vehicle titles and valuations
• Credit card statements
• Investment and retirement account statements
• Business ownership documents (if applicable)
Debts & Liabilities
• List of all debts (mortgages, loans, credit cards)
• Documentation of marital and separate debts
3. Required Legal Forms (to be generated or uploaded)
Depending on the state (e.g., Illinois), include:
• Petition for Dissolution of Marriage
• Summons
• Financial Affidavits
• Parenting Plan (if applicable)
• Marital Settlement Agreement (MSA)
• Child Support Worksheet
• Appearance and Consent Forms
If you don’t have these yet, the your divorce assistant can generate them dynamically using intake responses and allow preview/download before eFiling.
4. Identity and other Verification (Optional but useful for eFiling)
• State-issued ID (driver’s license or passport)
• Proof of residence (utility bill, lease, etc.)
• Fee Waiver Verification Docs
SSN
Income Verification
TANF
EBT or Food Stamps
Public Aid
📑 Reverse Temporal Sequence: Uncontested Divorce Documents (Cook County, IL)
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Prove-Up Testimony
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Prepared statement or outline for the final hearing to confirm the details of the divorce.
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Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage
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The final order legally ending the marriage, incorporating all agreed terms.
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Uniform Order of Support (if applicable)
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Court order specifying child support obligations.
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Parenting Plan (if children are involved)
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Outlines custody arrangements, parenting time, and decision-making responsibilities.
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Certificate of Completion for Parenting Education Program (if children are involved)
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Proof that each parent completed the required parenting class.
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Certificate of Dissolution of Marriage
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Form submitted to the Illinois Department of Public Health for record-keeping.
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Marital Settlement Agreement (MSA)
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Comprehensive agreement covering division of assets, debts, spousal support, and parenting (if needed).
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Financial Affidavits
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Detailed disclosures of income, expenses, assets, and debts from both parties.
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Proof of Service or Waiver of Service
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Document proving that the respondent was properly served or waived service.
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Appearance Form
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Document showing that the respondent acknowledges the divorce case.
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Affidavit as to Military Service
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Confirms whether the respondent is on active military duty.
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Petition for Dissolution of Marriage
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The document that starts the divorce process, stating grounds and basic facts.
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In short:
👉 Start = Petition for Dissolution →
👉 End = Prove-Up Testimony + Judgment Signing
Would you also like a visual timeline version (Step 1 ➔ Step 12) for your website or handout? 🚀
I can create one too if you want it!
Your Case Details
In an uncontested divorce under the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (IMDMA) in Cook County, the following documents are typically required for the judge to review and sign off on the dissolution
User ID
Divorce type
Assigned Judge or Courtroom (if available)
Date of subscription
To begin the divorce assistant process and ensure proper intake for filing and eFiling, users should provide and/or upload the following key information and documents:
🗂️ Required Documents for Uncontested Divorce in Cook County
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Petition for Dissolution of Marriage:This initiates the divorce process and outlines the grounds for dissolution
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Marital Settlement Agreement (MSA):A comprehensive agreement detailing the division of assets, debts, spousal support, and, if applicable, child-related arrangements
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Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage:The final order that legally ends the marriage, incorporating terms from the MSA
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Certificate of Dissolution of Marriage:A form submitted to the Illinois Department of Public Health for record-keeping purposes
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Appearance Form:Indicates that the respondent acknowledges the proceedings
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Proof of Service or Waiver of Service:Demonstrates that the respondent has been properly notified of the proceedings or has waived the right to be served
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Financial Affidavits:Detailed statements of income, expenses, assets, and liabilities from both parties
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Parenting Plan (if children are involved):Outlines custody arrangements, parenting time, and decision-making responsibilities
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Uniform Order of Support (if applicable):Specifies child support obligations
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Certificate of Completion for Parenting Education Program (if children are involved):Proof that both parents have completed the required parenting education class
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Affidavit as to Military Service:Confirms whether the respondent is in military service, which can affect the proceedings
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Prove-Up Testimony:A prepared statement or outline of questions and answers that the petitioner will present during the final hearing to confirm the details of the divorce It's important to note that requirements can vary based on individual circumstances, especially when children are involvedTherefore, it's advisable to consult with a legal professional or refer to the Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court's official website for the most current and detailed information
Case Overview
Divorce Progress Bar
Key Events
40%
04.01.25
04.02.25
Key Dates
Key Dates
User Document Submission Ledger
Date: April 1, 2025
Document Type: Petition for Dissolution of Marriage--Accepted
Form Name: Divorce Petition
Submitted by User: Yes
Submitted to Court: Yes
Filed Date: April 2, 2025
Next Required Filing: Financial Affidavit by April 10, 2025
Date: April 2, 2025
Document Type: Financial Disclosure
Form Name: Financial Affidavit
Submitted by User: No
Submitted to Court: No
Filed Date: [Not filed yet]
Next Required Filing: Due by April 10, 2025
Date: April 3, 2025
Document Type: Parenting Plan
Form Name: Parenting Plan Form (DCFS-PP1)
Submitted by User: Yes
Submitted to Court: No
Filed Date: [Not filed yet]
Next Required Filing: Submit to court by April 12, 2025
Date: April 4, 2025
Document Type: Summons
Form Name: Summons for Service
Submitted by User: Yes
Submitted to Court: Yes
Filed Date: April 4, 2025
Next Required Filing: Service Proof by April 7, 2025
1. Case Overview Section
• Case Number & Court Location
• Filing Date & Status
(e.g., “Filed”, “Under Review”, “Accepted”, “Rejected – Clerk Notes Available”)
• Petitioner & Respondent Names
• Assigned Judge or Courtroom (if available)
2. Case Progress Timeline (Visual + Status Tags)
A vertical or horizontal timeline with date-stamped milestones such as:
• Petition Submitted
• Summons Issued & Served
• Respondent Filed Answer
• Financial Disclosures Submitted
• Parenting Plan Submitted (if applicable)
• Pre-trial Conference Scheduled
• Court Orders Issued
• Final Hearing Date Set
• Judgment of Dissolution Granted
3. Upcoming Deadlines (Urgent Actions Box)
A priority view of near-term obligations:
• Response Due from Respondent (with countdown timer)
• Discovery Deadline
• Mandatory Parenting Class Due
• Next Court Hearing Date
• Deadline to Submit Financial Affidavit
• Deadline for Objections or Amendments
4. Court Orders & Filings Log
Structured like a file tracker:
• Document Name
• Date Filed / Received
• Status (Accepted, Under Review, Rejected – with reason)
• Action Required (e.g., “Revise and Resubmit by April 12”)
• Download/View PDF button
• Notify Me If Status Changes toggle
5. Court Communication & Notes
Optional but powerful:
• Clerk Comments or Rejection Reasons
• Case Notes from Attorney or System
• Court-Generated Notices or Summons Details
6. Key Documents Uploaded/Generated
Show:
• Uploaded PDFs (e.g., income statements, custody agreements)
• AI-Generated Forms (e.g., petition, affidavits)
• Edit/View options
• Upload Missing Documents prompts
7. Notifications & Alerts
• Badge notifications for:
• “You have 2 upcoming deadlines”
• “Your petition was accepted by the clerk”
• “A new court order was issued”
• SMS/email options for urgent updates
Optional UX Enhancements
• Progress bar with percentage complete (e.g., 60% to final hearing)
• AI assistant suggestions (e.g., “It looks like you haven’t uploaded your parenting plan”)
• Legal glossary tooltip support for non-lawyers
Here’s the User Document Submission Ledger in plain text format: Date: April 1, 2025 Document Type: Petition for Dissolution of Marriage Form Name: Divorce Petition Submitted by User: Yes Submitted to Court: Yes Filed Date: April 2, 2025 Next Required Filing: Financial Affidavit by April 10, 2025 ⸻ Date: April 2, 2025 Document Type: Financial Disclosure Form Name: Financial Affidavit Submitted by User: No Submitted to Court: No Filed Date: [Not filed yet] Next Required Filing: Due by April 10, 2025 ⸻ Date: April 3, 2025 Document Type: Parenting Plan Form Name: Parenting Plan Form (DCFS-PP1) Submitted by User: Yes Submitted to Court: No Filed Date: [Not filed yet] Next Required Filing: Submit to court by April 12, 2025 ⸻ Date: April 4, 2025 Document Type: Summons Form Name: Summons for Service Submitted by User: Yes Submitted to Court: Yes Filed Date: April 4, 2025 Next Required Filing: Service Proof by April 7, 2025
