Is an Illinois DIY Divorce Ever a Good Idea?

 Posted on June 25, 2025 in Divorce

We have become a nation of DIYers. Sometimes, learning how to do something new can be an exceptional experience, leaving you proud of the results. Other times, you may wish you had consulted a professional. While a DIY divorce could sound appealing in the sense that it seems less expensive, faster, and simpler, handling your own divorce can have unexpected adverse repercussions that can last for many years to come.  

Think of it like this: Perhaps your car needs new brakes. You watch a few YouTube videos and read about the experiences of others who successfully put new brakes on their car. It seems relatively straightforward, so you begin the process on Saturday morning.

By Sunday evening, your car is still in pieces, and putting it back together seems highly unlikely. You have spent two days of frustration using every bad word in your arsenal, and you have no idea how you will get to work tomorrow or get your car to a real mechanic.  

A DIY divorce can turn out much the same. You can spend many hours reading through instructions, filling out forms, and figuring out the correct procedure to file those forms. Or, you could speak to a knowledgeable Wheaton, IL family law attorney who will handle every aspect of your divorce, leaving you the time to make decisions about your future.

When a DIY Divorce Might Work

You might get by with a DIY divorce if all the following statements are true:

• There are no children involved in the divorce.
• There are few marital assets, including no real estate and no complex assets.
• Your marriage is short-term (less than three years), with very few things to divide.
• You and your spouse are in absolute agreement on every single issue.
• Spousal support is not an issue.
• You and your spouse are cooperative and communicative.

As you might imagine, very few marriages that end in divorce fit all these criteria.

What Are the Risks of a DIY Divorce?

There are significant risks associated with a DIY divorce. Few people are up to the challenge of ensuring that all paperwork is error-free and filed at the correct place within the allotted timeframe. The smallest paperwork error can delay or void the entire process. A DIY divorce can result in one spouse waiving important rights, such as retirement division or spousal support.

If children are involved, the child support calculations could be incorrect, or the parenting plan could turn out to be woefully inadequate. Later on, you or your ex may realize that there are serious enforceability issues related to the children, and having no legal advice on these agreements often results in negative, long-term consequences.  

Regarding Illinois’ equitable distribution laws for dividing marital assets, your spouse could be hiding certain assets, which means you would not get your fair share. Even if that is not the case, what seems fair enough at the time might not be even close to what the law provides.

Spousal support and child support have specific formulas that can be extremely complex. If anything is wrong with any of the agreements, you will almost certainly have to hire an attorney to fix your mistakes.  

When Should You Absolutely Avoid a DIY Divorce?

Just as there are a few instances where you might be able to DIY your divorce, there are many more situations where it should be avoided at all costs, including:

• There are disagreements regarding children, property, or finances.
• Your spouse has an attorney, but you do not.
• Your marriage included domestic violence or an imbalance of power.
• You think your spouse might be hiding assets.
• You and your spouse have complex assets like a business, pension, or stocks.

Contact a DuPage County, IL Divorce Lawyer

While a DIY divorce might save money upfront, it can cost more in the long run. It can be extremely beneficial to speak to a Wheaton, IL divorce attorney from Fawell & Fawell before you decide to DIY your divorce. We offer a practical, results-oriented approach. Attorney Fawell was a federal judicial clerk and a law clerk for the DuPage and Cook County Public Defender’s offices. Call 630-871-2400 to schedule your free consultation.