Before same-sex marriage was made legal across the United States, gay and lesbian couples could enter into civil unions in Illinois along with their heterosexual peers and share the same rights as married spouses. But like all long-term relationships, not all civil unions last and when a couple decides to break up, the union must be dissolved. If you are in a civil union in Illinois and are contemplating separating from your partner, you may want the help of an experienced civil union dissolution attorney. Here are three common questions about dissolving civil unions in Kane County.

How Do We End Our Civil Union?

Ending a civil union is very similar to ending a marriage. A partner wanting to dissolve their civil union will need to submit a Petition to Dissolve a Civil Union to the local court and, just as with divorce papers, the petition will be served to the partner. And similar to a marriage, certain issues need to be resolved: spousal support, marital asset division, and, if there are minor children, child support payments, parental responsibilities, and parenting time.

How Long Does it Take to Dissolve a Civil Union?

Couples who can agree on all necessary issues will generally have a faster, less complicated dissolution, but there is no simple formula to predict how long ending the relationship will take. A mediator can help partners resolve differences and focus on problem-solving so they can create an agreement that compromises on the needs and priorities of both parties.