Illinois Seeks to Standardize Child Support and Alimony Forms

Jan. 22, 2012 - PRLog -- The Illinois State Bar Association has just submitted a proposal to the Rules Committee of the Illinois Supreme Court to create a new Supreme Court rule regarding financial disclosure that would apply in all family law cases involving child support, alimony, and property division issues.

The partners at the DuPage County divorce law firm of Kulerski & Cornelison are confident that the rule will be adopted and become law. When adopted, the rule will standardize the various financial disclosure forms that family law litigants throughout the state are currently required to use.

“By clarifying the financial reporting requirements, the new statewide form will benefit the public because it will embody only the best aspects of the current forms, and will undoubtedly facilitate the making of future revisions,” said law firm partner, Richard Kulerski. “This is a big step forward in unifying and improving the process. It streamlines and makes it simpler for litigants to describe their financial needs and wherewithal.”

At present, each circuit court has the authority to require its family law disputants to submit financial disclosure affidavits that conform to that county’s particular local rules.  Under the new Supreme Court rule, all of Illinois’ counties will begin using the same standardized form.

The form calls for each party to describe, under the penalty of perjury, their current financial and employment situation, including a detailed listing of their income, assets and asset values, expenses, children’s expenses, and other pertinent data. The parties are also required to furnish supporting documentation such as appraisals and bank and brokerage statements.

The Honorable Linda E. Davenport, a judge of the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit, DuPage County, Illinois has been instrumental in bringing about the concept and development of this improvement to Illinois’ legal system. As a result of Judge Davenport’s efforts and persistence, DuPage County is now using what may be the final version of the new statewide financial disclosure form, you may view the form by clicking on the following link: http://civilizeddivorce.com/illinois-standardize-financia....

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The Law Firm of Kulerski and Cornelison has offices in downtown Chicago (Cook County) and in suburban Oak Brook (DuPage County), IL.

For more information call 630-928-0600, or visit http://civilizeddivorce.com. Questions can also be directed to either Kari L. Cornelison (kc@illinoislegal.com) or to J. Richard Kulerski (rk@illinoislegal.com).