Do both spouses have to attend a status date in Illinois?

No. A status date is a progress report, and in an Illinois divorce the attorneys handle it. Neither spouse is required to be there when both sides have lawyers. If both spouses are self-represented, both must attend, because there is nobody else to report to the judge.

Do my children have to come to court in an Illinois custody case?

Almost never. Illinois family courts avoid putting children on the witness stand. When a judge needs to know a child’s views, the usual route is a guardian ad litem or a child representative, an attorney appointed to investigate and report. Bring your children to the courthouse only if the judge has ordered it.

What happens if my spouse does not show up to court?

If your spouse was required to appear and does not, the Illinois judge can proceed without them and enter orders on your evidence alone. When a spouse has never responded to the case at all, the court can enter a default judgment. Judges often give one continuance first, particularly early in a case.

Do I have to go to court if my divorce is uncontested?

Usually once. An uncontested Illinois divorce still ends with a short final hearing called a prove-up, where the petitioning spouse testifies briefly and the judge enters the judgment. The other spouse frequently does not need to attend, and the court dates before that point are typically handled by the attorneys.

Can I attend my divorce hearing by Zoom in Illinois?

Only with the judge’s permission. Most Illinois court dates can be attended remotely with no advance approval, but evidentiary hearings are one of four carve-outs under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 45, along with settlement conferences and trials. Ask early, because the request goes to the judge and not to the clerk.

Can the judge make me come to court in person?

Yes. An Illinois judge keeps discretion to require any participant in person for reasons particular to the case, and must state that requirement on the record. Remote attendance is the default for most proceedings, not a guarantee.

Genevieve Binnie, Author at Anderson Boback & Marshall

Court is Scheduled on My Case: Do I Have to Go?

Posted By Genevieve Binnie

Published October 6, 2026

Categorized as Divorce

A notice for a court date shows up in your mail, but the notice does not say much. It gives you a courtroom, a time, and a case number. It does not tell you whether anyone expects you to be there. It does not say whether you can call in from your kitchen table. And

How Is Child Support Decided for High-Earning Couples in Illinois?

Posted By Genevieve Binnie

Published September 18, 2026

Categorized as Child Support

For most parents, Illinois child support comes from a formula. The court takes both parents’ incomes, applies the Illinois state schedule, and produces a number. However, when parents earn well above average, that formula stops. The schedule only reaches so far, and above it a judge can decide what the child support number should be.

Financial Disclosure in Illinois Divorce: What You Need to Share and Why

Posted By Genevieve Binnie

Published August 7, 2026

Categorized as Uncategorized

Most Illinois divorce clients learn about financial disclosure the wrong way. They are handed a form called the Financial Affidavit, told to fill it out within 30 days of their first appearance, and led to believe that disclosure is something they do, like a procedural step on a list. By the time they realize disclosure

Postnuptial Agreements for Business Owners and High-Asset Spouses in Illinois

Posted By Genevieve Binnie

Published July 13, 2026

Categorized as Family Law, Post-Nuptial Agreement

An Illinois postnuptial agreement for a business owner settles one question in advance: if the marriage ends, what happens to the business? Today that answer is spread across several documents that do not account for each other. These include the Illinois property-division statute, the operating agreement, the estate plan, and the equity grants. A postnuptial

Impact of Prenuptial Agreements in High-Income Divorce

Posted By Genevieve Binnie

Published June 8, 2026

Categorized as Prenuptial Agreements

When two people with substantial assets decide to marry, a prenuptial agreement is one of the most thoughtful conversations they can have together. It is a chance to talk openly about money, about the life you are building, and about how each of you wants to protect the other. For high-income and high net worth

Can You Spend or Hide Marital Money Before Filing for Divorce in Illinois?

Posted By Genevieve Binnie

Published May 29, 2026

Categorized as Divorce, High Asset Divorce, Property Division

When divorce becomes a real possibility, protecting your finances feels urgent. The impulse to move money, close accounts, or shield assets is understandable. In Illinois, acting on that impulse before you file, even with good intentions, can damage attempts for settlement and your credibility with the court. Illinois law does not wait for a divorce

Author: Genevieve Binnie

Court is Scheduled on My Case: Do I Have to Go?

How Is Child Support Decided for High-Earning Couples in Illinois?

Financial Disclosure in Illinois Divorce: What You Need to Share and Why

Postnuptial Agreements for Business Owners and High-Asset Spouses in Illinois

Impact of Prenuptial Agreements in High-Income Divorce

Can You Spend or Hide Marital Money Before Filing for Divorce in Illinois?