Illinois divorce mediation, close to home
From Chicago and the northwest suburbs to the Metro East, Resolvium mediators help Illinois couples reach divorce agreements together, in person or by video. Mediation can often take less time and create less conflict than a contested court case.
- 5 local markets
- 2 Illinois mediators
- Online statewide
Find your Illinois mediator
Choose the community closest to you to meet your local mediator and see what mediation often looks like there.
- Cook County
Chicago
Divorce mediation in Chicago →
Tim Dowling(312) 915-4834 - Northwest suburbs
Schaumburg
Divorce mediation in Schaumburg →Tim Dowling(312) 915-4834 - Metro East
Belleville
Divorce mediation in Belleville →
Deborah Hawkins, J.D.(618) 405-9600 - Madison County
Edwardsville
Divorce mediation in Edwardsville →Deborah Hawkins, J.D.(618) 405-9600 - Southern Illinois region
Southern Illinois
Divorce mediation in Southern Illinois →Deborah Hawkins, J.D.(618) 405-9600
Meet the mediators serving Illinois
Two mediators with local roots, one in the Chicago area and one serving the Metro East and southern Illinois.
Tim Dowling
Principal Mediator- Pepperdine Caruso School of Law
- Northwestern University, divorce mediation and dispute resolution
Chicago and SchaumburgDeborah Hawkins, J.D.
Partner, Southern Illinois- Juris Doctor, cum laude, Saint Louis University School of Law
- Mediation Certificate, Cornell University
Belleville, Edwardsville and southern Illinois
How divorce mediation often works in Illinois
Every family is different. These are the areas most Illinois couples talk through in mediation.
Property and debts
Illinois divides marital property through equitable distribution, which often means fair rather than equal. Your mediator can help you separate marital from non-marital property and consider options together.
Parenting
Illinois uses allocation of parental responsibilities and parenting time instead of the word custody. In mediation you can agree on decision-making and a parenting schedule that fits your children.
Support
Illinois calls spousal support maintenance, and child support generally follows an income-shares approach. Your mediator can explain how these may apply to your family.
Your written agreement
Many Illinois couples put their terms into a marital settlement agreement and a parenting plan submitted to the court. Your mediator can explain what that step may involve.
Illinois courts often refer parenting disputes to mediation, so many couples choose to begin here.
Three steps, at your pace
Free case review
A short, no-pressure conversation about your situation and whether mediation may be a good fit.
Mediation sessions
You and your spouse work through each decision with a neutral mediator, in person or by video.
Your agreement
Your mediator helps put what you agreed on in writing, ready for the next step with the court.
Mediation is often the more affordable way to divorce
Many couples don’t realize they can settle their divorce outside the courtroom. This quick estimate compares what court and mediation could cost for a situation like yours.
What Does Divorce Cost? Mediation vs. Court
Three questions. No email required.
Save about $28,000
by mediating instead of going to court
Roughly 93% less, and about 14 months sooner
Where the court money goes
- Attorney fees
- $19,500
- Discovery costs
- $5,400
- Court filing fees
- $3,600
- Experts and evaluators
- $1,500
- Email and phone support
- Billed hourly
- Total
- $30,000
Where the mediation money goes
- Estimated mediation fees
- $1,490
- Court filing fees
- $500
- Email and phone support
- Included
- Total
- $1,990
Free, 30 minutes, no obligation. Bring the numbers above and we will talk through your situation.
Court filing fees average around $500 and vary by jurisdiction. Estimated ranges are based on typical divorce cases we’ve seen; your actual costs depend on your situation.
What Illinois clients say
Unedited Google reviews from our Chicago and Schaumburg clients.
Going through a divorce is rough, but Tim took one less worry away. He was able to help sort out my finances, and help iron out our custody scheduling. He was efficient yet thorough. So happy we are able to come to agreeable term without an attorney.
Tim was very patient with our timeline and keeping us on track. His experience and knowledge was helpful bringing things to the table we hadn’t even thought of as part of divorce. Would recommend
Tim was extremely helpful navigating our mediation process, as chaotic and stressful the nature of it is. He is very easy to talk to and seeks fairness between parties. Would definitely recommend.
Illinois divorce mediation questions
Do Illinois courts require mediation?
What does allocation of parental responsibilities mean?
Do you mediate in both Chicago and southern Illinois?
How is maintenance handled in mediation?
What does divorce mediation cost in Illinois?
Ready to talk it through?
A free case review is a short, no-pressure conversation. Your mediator can tell you how mediation may apply to your situation.