Divorce is rarely just a legal event. Christine Marshall represents St. Charles clients through contested and uncontested dissolutions, annulments, maintenance disputes, and post-decree modifications — with the discipline to keep matters out of court when possible and the experience to try them when required.
The Law Office of Christine Marshall handles the full arc of Illinois divorce practice: uncontested dissolutions, contested divorces, annulments, maintenance and spousal support, division of marital and non-marital property, valuation of businesses and professional practices, retirement and pension division through Qualified Domestic Relations Orders, and post-decree modifications when the original judgment no longer fits reality.
Kane County divorces move at a specific pace, in specific courtrooms, in front of judges Christine has appeared before for decades. That familiarity is not a marketing line — it means realistic expectations from the first consultation, and fewer surprises at every stage.
Every client meets directly with Christine. There is no intake queue, no rotating associate, no case file passed between assistants. It is the practice she built on purpose.
Business interests, professional practices, deferred compensation, real estate holdings, and inherited property complicate an already-hard process. Christine coordinates with forensic accountants and valuation experts when a matter requires them — and, just as often, tells clients when it does not.
Illinois law entitles you to discovery of financial records, and the court can penalize a spouse who conceals or wastes marital property. Christine moves quickly to secure records and, when warranted, to seek injunctive protection.
Divorce and allocation of parental responsibilities often run in the same case. Christine builds parenting plans that reflect the actual life of your family — school district, extracurriculars, work schedules — rather than a boilerplate template.
Post-decree modifications — for support, maintenance, parenting time, or relocation — are one of the busiest parts of the practice. If your income has changed, your former spouse has moved, or your child's needs have shifted materially, the court can revisit the order.
When safety, financial control, or child welfare is in play, Christine will file for emergency relief on an expedited basis in the Kane County Judicial Center — often within days rather than weeks.
Rare, but real: bigamy, incapacity, fraud that goes to the essentials of the marriage. Christine will tell you honestly at the first call whether an Illinois Judgment of Invalidity applies to your facts.
A short call is often enough to clarify your options, timing, and what a fair resolution looks like.
Four decades of family law practice, distilled into a process built for the pace of real families in Kane County.
You speak with Christine — not a screener. She listens, asks specific questions, and gives you a candid read on likely timing, cost, and outcome before you commit to anything.
Once retained, you receive a written strategy: what to file, in what order, what discovery to expect, and what decisions you will need to make and when.
Most Kane County divorces resolve outside a full trial. Christine negotiates aggressively for a settlement that reflects your priorities — and prepares the case for trial from day one in case the other side is not reasonable.
The Marital Settlement Agreement and Judgment for Dissolution are drafted to hold up in real life, not just at prove-up. And when circumstances change post-decree, Christine is here to modify.
Divorces filed in St. Charles are heard at the Kane County Judicial Center on Fabyan Parkway in Geneva, in the 16th Judicial Circuit. Christine's office at 200 Hunt Club Dr Suite 120 is minutes from the courthouse, and she regularly represents clients from St. Charles, Geneva, Batavia, South Elgin, Wayne, Campton Hills and Elburn. Local judges, local court calendars, and local practice matter — knowing them shortens every case.
An uncontested Kane County divorce with a full marital settlement agreement can be finalized in as little as 30–60 days from filing. Contested matters — those involving disputed custody, valuation of a business, or complex maintenance — typically resolve in 6 to 18 months depending on court calendars in the 16th Judicial Circuit and the willingness of both parties to negotiate.
No. Illinois is a pure no-fault state. The only ground is irreconcilable differences, and after a 6-month separation the court presumes those differences exist. You do not have to prove wrongdoing to be granted a dissolution.
Illinois uses a statutory guideline formula: 33.3% of the payor's net income minus 25% of the recipient's net income, capped so the recipient's total income does not exceed 40% of combined net income. Duration is set by the length of the marriage on a sliding scale. Courts can deviate for good cause, and long-term marriages (20+ years) may result in permanent maintenance.
After your divorce judgment is entered, life keeps moving — job loss, relocation, changes in a child's needs, remarriage. A post-decree modification asks the court to revise parenting time, child support, maintenance, or other terms based on a substantial change in circumstances. Christine handles these motions regularly in the Kane County Judicial Center.
Illinois annulments (formally called a Judgment of Invalidity) are narrow. They apply when a marriage was never legally valid — bigamy, incapacity to consent, underage marriage without consent, or marriage induced by fraud that goes to the essentials of the marital relationship. Most requests we hear are actually divorces; Christine will tell you honestly on the first call which fits your facts.
Christine bills hourly with a modest retainer, and every case is quoted after the free consultation so you know the realistic range for your specific facts. Uncontested matters are considerably less expensive than contested ones. Call (815) 666-4873 — we would rather give you an honest number than a marketing one.
Filing triggers automatic financial protections: neither spouse can hide, dissipate, or move marital assets. You retain rights to marital property, to maintenance if the statutory factors apply, to a share of retirement accounts earned during the marriage, and to the marital home pending final orders. Christine walks every client through these protections at the first meeting.
For an uncontested divorce, typically one brief prove-up hearing — often 10–15 minutes. Contested matters involve more appearances. Many Kane County judges now accommodate video appearances for status hearings, which reduces the burden on working parents.
Steady counsel across every stage of a family's legal life.
Read More →Parenting time, allocation of parental responsibilities, support, and paternity.
Read More →Protecting minors, disabled adults, and the standing of grandparents in Kane County.
Read More →Emergency, plenary, and civil no-contact orders for St. Charles families.
Read More →Clear, enforceable prenuptial and postnuptial agreements drafted with care.
Read More →Consultations are free and confidential. Evenings and weekends available for urgent matters.