For some people, the initial shock of finding out their spouse committed a crime that landed them in an Illinois jail is a divorceable offense the first time it happens. Others may have given a spouse chance after chance and finally cannot take their behavior any longer. For victims of domestic violence, jail time may also offer an opportunity to finally escape the jailed abuser without fear of reprisal. Whatever the situation may be, having a spouse in jail can be overwhelming and divorce is often a natural consequence.
Do I Have to Wait For My Spouse to Get Out of Jail to File For Divorce?
You do not need to prove that your spouse was at fault to get divorced in Illinois and whether your spouse is in prison does not affect whether you can file for divorce. In fact, in some ways it may be easier to file for divorce because the spouse’s location is known and it is easier to serve divorce papers. You must include your spouse’s inmate number, which you can find on the Illinois Department of Corrections website, on your divorce filing. Make sure you pay any filing and serving fees and get confirmation that your spouse received the papers.
Once your spouse has received the divorce papers, the divorce more or less proceeds as usual. If you and your spouse can agree to the terms of divorce, you can have an uncontested divorce and the process can be finalized quickly. Your spouse will simply need to sign the papers and you can finalize the divorce in court.
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