Illinois Marital/Civil Union Settlement — Divorce is the legal process through which married couples or civil union partners in the state of Illinois can obtain a divorce. This process entails the negotiation and drafting of a marital settlement agreement, which is a written document that outlines the terms of the agreement between the parties. The terms of the settlement may include the division of marital/civil union assets and liabilities, spousal/civil union support, and child custody and visitation arrangements. The agreement must be signed by both parties and accepted by the court in order to be legally binding. Depending on the circumstances, the divorce may also involve the filing of a petition for divorce, an evidentiary hearing, and a trial. There are two types of divorce in Illinois: fault-based and no-fault-based divorce. In a fault-based divorce, one spouse must prove that the other spouse is legally at fault for the breakdown of the marriage or civil union, while in a no-fault divorce, neither spouse needs to prove fault.