Illinois law does not require proof of fault before a divorce is granted, so long as the couple lived apart for two years and claims "irreconcilable differences," but divorce can happen much sooner if one party is able to prove the other was abusive, or otherwise at fault.
Since an abusive partner is a danger to his or her spouse, divorce attorneys in Chicago would say that the marriage should be dissolved as soon as possible.
Along those lines, the entertainment blog Popeater reported on actor Dennis Hopper's allegation that estranged wife Victoria Duffy "was trying to kill him." In fact, court papers cited in the article claim a pattern of abuse by Ms. Duffy extending beyond the couple's relationship.
Court papers allege that everyone in the Hopper household, support staff included, was "at the mercy of [Ms. Duffy's] cruelty" and one assistant claims Ms. Duffy "looted millions" of dollars worth of property from the home. Marin Hopper, Mr. Hopper's daughter from a previous marriage, said her step-mom spreads "slanderous lies" to the media.
Meanwhile, Mr. Hopper is gravely ill from prostate cancer. His attorney, Joseph Mannis, said in the court filing cited by Popeater that his client is too sick to defend himself in court.
He also is unable to work; telling his wife of 14 years that he is only able to pay her $5,000 in spousal support (or alimony). That seems to be the main dispute regarding their divorce (at least according to the article).
It's not clear how the allegations of domestic abuse will figure into Ms. Duffy's spousal support or other terms of the divorce. But most courts probably are not very sympathetic to a spouse requesting alimony from someone someone she allegedly abused, especially if the spouse has a terminal illness.
If you find yourself in an abusive marriage, you may benefit from calling the police as well as an Illinois family lawyer.
Related Resources:
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Spousal Support (Alimony) (FindLaw)
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Victoria Duffy and Dennis Hopper Battle over Divorce (FindLaw's Celebrity Justice Blog)
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Search Chicago Family Law Attorneys (FindLaw)
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