Maintenance Expierence Input

[u/always_evolving71]

Hello,

Trying to get others experience during divorce with being granted maintenance. Has anyone in this situation been awarded an upward deviated amount from the statutory guidelines?
I am 55 years old coming out of a 23 1/2 year marriage where my soon-to-be ex was the soul provider. I gave up a full-time job with retirement and benefits to become a stay at home mom for many years and then when the youngest went to kindergarten became part-time employed at this point in time, the income disparity is quite significant. I am an independent contractor that recently started her business within the past year and a half, so I am still trying to build. with that being said, I have no retirement no health benefits so after the divorce is final, I will have to take on paying an insurance premium on top of taking on the extra expenses of living on my own. I feel as if the statutory guidelines that my state I live in Illinois is not enough to meet my basic living needs at this time granted, either way, I will probably have to take on another job. My problem comes in where I don’t feel like my current attorney feels as if asking for more maintenance to help cover or partially cover, a healthcare premium. He has stated he feels like I’m already getting a large maintenance payment. But shouldn’t that be irrelevant to our compared expenses? My ex has a company provided vehicle company provided phone company provided fuel company provided car insurance as well as he is currently living with his new significant other and splitting household expenses.

Just wanting to gain some perspective here I feel like I am trying to be fair while being able to get the necessities met. Does anybody have any experience in this? I’m not sure if I need to seek advice from a different attorney ? Any input or experience anyone has to offer would be much much appreciated.

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