Illinois Family Law Insider

Illinois Alimony: Avoid Paying Forever With THIS - #45

Sterling Lawyers Episode 45

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0:00 | 9:09

Maintenance in Illinois raises critical questions about payment duration that depend on statutory formulas based on marriage length and income levels. Sterling Lawyers Managing Partner Katie Van Deusen and Attorney Reyna Herrera explain exactly how Illinois courts calculate maintenance duration from short marriages to indefinite awards for 20+ year marriages.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

  • Statutory duration formulas with multipliers from 20% to indefinite
  • Indefinite maintenance factors, including career sacrifice and income gaps
  • Judicial deviation circumstances and income caps above $500,000
  • Modifiability requirements and substantial change in circumstance standards
  • Remarriage termination rules and cohabitation burden of proof

Listen in to discover how to negotiate modifiable versus non-modifiable maintenance terms, evaluate offset and buyout alternatives, avoid forever waiver mistakes, and understand realistic expectations based on your specific marriage length and income circumstances.