A solo practice in Edwardsville handling uncontested divorce and mediation. Flat fees. No litigation.
Flat Fee Divorce Solutions is a law firm in Edwardsville, IL limited to uncontested divorce, mediation, and the family law work that supports both. I represent one client per matter. Contested litigation is not part of what I do. Every engagement runs on a flat fee set before the work begins, the prices only increase if more work is needed, and the first conversation is a free phone call lasting under an hour.
Law Firm Edwardsville, IL
My firm operates differently from most family law practices. There is no team to hand your case to. I take the call, draft the agreement, file the petition, and see the case through to judgment. That structure keeps overhead low, which is part of why the fees stay flat.
What I do not handle matters as much as what I do. The work centers on agreement, and where agreement exists or can be reached, the process becomes straightforward. If the matter falls outside my scope, I refer to a different attorney.
Types of Matters I Handle in Edwardsville
I handle a variety of family law matters, all centered around amicable resolution. Cases that fall outside these areas get referred elsewhere, usually identified during the initial consultation.
- Uncontested divorce. Both spouses agree on the terms. I prepare the petition, the marital settlement agreement, and any parenting documents, then move the case through to court approval. Most of these matters resolve in weeks rather than months.
- Mediation. I serve as the neutral mediator between two spouses, or I represent one spouse preparing for mediation that someone else is conducting. Those are different roles, and Illinois rules require them to remain separate.
- Agreed Parenting plans. Required by Illinois law in any divorce involving minor children. The plan addresses parenting time, decision-making authority, holiday schedules, and the logistical details that determine whether the arrangement actually works in practice.
- Agreed Post-decree modifications. Orders entered years earlier sometimes stop fitting current circumstances. Where both parties agree to a change in parenting time, child support, or another provision, I draft the modification petition and handle the filing.
- Marital settlement agreements. The contract that resolves financial and property issues at divorce. Drafting it correctly determines how the divorce holds up over the years that follow.
- Quit claim deeds. Sometimes the final piece of a divorce, sometimes a standalone matter, always requiring correct recording with the appropriate office.
- General family law support in Edwardsville. The broader family law practice in Edwardsville covers preparation, drafting, and filing across the matters above.
Why Choose Flat Fee Divorce Solutions as My Edwardsville Law Firm?
A Practice Built Around Limited Scope
I graduated from Washington University School of Law in 2003. The decision to narrow my practice to uncontested matters was deliberate, and the reasoning behind it shapes how the practice operates today.
Flat Fees, Set Up Front
Hourly billing rewards inefficiency. Every phone call, email, and minute of attention turns into a line item, and the meter runs whether the work moves the case forward or not. A flat fee inverts that incentive. The fee is established at intake, covers the agreed scope, and does not move because a question took longer to answer than expected.
What Is Important to Understand About Working with a Divorce-Focused Law Firm in Illinois?
Key Concepts in Illinois Divorce Practice
A handful of legal terms govern most of what happens in an Illinois divorce. The list below covers the ones that matter at the start.
- Parental allocation. What Illinois used to call custody. The 2016 statute split the concept into parenting time and decision-making authority, allocated separately.
- Parenting time. Previously called custody and visitation. Governed by a written schedule rather than informal arrangement, this outlines how you will parent in the future.
- Presumed marital property. Anything acquired during the marriage is marital by default. Whose name is on the title does not change the classification. Inheritances and gifts to one spouse are the usual exceptions, assuming they have not been mixed with marital funds.
- Equitable distribution. The dividing standard for marital property. The court aims for fair, not always equal. Length of marriage, contributions, and economic circumstances all factor in.
- Maintenance. Formerly alimony. The calculation of maintenance under Illinois law follows a statutory formula tied to incomes and marriage length, with discretion preserved for cases outside the formula.
- Marital settlement agreement. The contract that locks the deal. Once signed and approved, it becomes part of the judgment and binds the parties going forward.
Important Aspects of an Uncontested Engagement
I represent one spouse in uncontested divorces, mediated matters, and post-decree agreements. Cases that require contested litigation are referred to attorneys whose practice includes that work. The factors below indicate whether an uncontested engagement is realistic in a given situation:
- Both spouses are prepared to disclose income, assets, and debts honestly, without court-ordered discovery.
- Disagreements between the spouses, where they exist, can be resolved through written negotiation rather than judicial decision.
- Neither spouse is hiding assets, avoiding service of process, or refusing to participate in the divorce.
- The spouses can communicate well enough, directly or through counsel, to reach written terms that both will sign.
When those conditions are present, the advantages of an amicable approach extend across both cost and timeline. When they are not, the matter requires different counsel, and the consultation will identify that need directly.
The Engagement Timeline
Timelines vary with the complexity of the marital estate and the responsiveness of the other side. The general steps look like this:
- Free initial phone consultation, under an hour.
- Engagement, intake, and information gathering.
- Drafting of the operative documents, whether a marital settlement, parenting plan, or modification.
- Client review and revisions.
- Written exchange with the other side, revising the documents until both spouses are ready to sign.
- Filing with the court and entry of the final order.
Clients often describe the result as a simple divorce, though the word “simple” hides the preparation that made it so.
What to Expect in Your Initial Phone Consultation
Every case is different, but my initial consultation follows a similar format so that you leave with a clear understanding of both your options and how I practice.
We begin our call by discussing your family, your goals, and the issues that may need to be addressed. This could be issues like how to divide time with your children, dividing property, support, or other concerns. I will ask questions to better understand your situation and to determine whether your matter is a good fit for my practice.
I also explain my approach to divorces. My practice focuses on uncontested and negotiated divorces, helping clients resolve their cases efficiently, professionally, and with as little unnecessary conflict as possible. During the consultation, I will explain my process, expected timeline, fees, and what you can expect if you decide to retain me.
The consultation is also your opportunity to ask questions. While I cannot give you legal advice, I can provide you with information about common issues. I want to finish the call with you having a better understanding of the divorce process through my office. Later, I will email you a recap of what we chatted about so you can have it at your fingertips.
Not every case or client is a good fit for every attorney, and if I determine you are not a good fit for my practice, I will refer you to attorneys or resources I think can help you. My goal in our call is simple: we should both know if we are a good fit to work together, and if we are, what the next steps will be.
Important Illinois Legal Resources
The Illinois statutes and court system make most of the relevant law publicly accessible. The links below open the source material directly:
- The Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act, 750 ILCS 5/, is the central statute for divorce, maintenance, property, and parental allocation.
- The Illinois Uniform Mediation Act governs confidentiality in mediation.
- The Illinois Courts website hosts approved forms, procedural rules, and self-help resources.
- The Madison County Circuit Clerk handles divorce filings in the Third Judicial Circuit, including Edwardsville.
- Illinois Legal Aid Online provides plain-language guides to family law.
These resources address the law in general terms. Specific application to a particular situation is the function of the consultation.
Reach Out to Flat Fee Divorce Solutions to Schedule a Consultation
Contact me to schedule a free phone consultation. The call will establish whether an uncontested process is appropriate for your circumstances, identify the agreements the matter will require, and quote the flat fee for the work. If the matter is not a fit, I will say so and point you toward the right kind of help.
(618) 726-2671
O'Fallon Office