Disclaimer: All facts gleaned from the filings stated hereafter are only as truthful as the petitioner. The tone of this article expresses a style of writing historically employed by America’s greatest writers and, as such, is for opinion purposes only. No intentional harm is due. Do not read if the topic of divorce (even your own) causes you emotional distress. Continue at your own risk.
Even the longest unions sometimes fall silent, and the quiet that lingers after nearly five decades can speak louder than words. On April 23, 2025, in Cook County, Illinois, 72-year-old Randi Hard filed for dissolution of her marriage to Harold K. Hard III, age 76. The couple married on a late summer day in 1978 in Springfield, Illinois. Now, after 46 years, Randi stands before the court—represented by attorney Ilene B. Goldstein of Katz, Goldstein & Warren—seeking to untie a bond that has already been stretched thin by 17 years of separation.
In her petition, Randi cites irreconcilable differences as the cause for the irretrievable breakdown of their marriage. She asserts that efforts at reconciliation have long since been abandoned. Their two children are now adults, and no further parenting duties bind them.
What remains are the echoes of a shared life, a pension that sustains her in retirement, and marital assets built through years of partnership—assets she believes should be divided equitably. Harold, living in Chicago, receives a more substantial income through both pension and social security.
As part of her prayer to the court, Randi asks to restore her maiden name, Randi Jennifer Collins—a reclaiming not just of a name, but of a self that predates the long, quiet twilight of her marriage.
Please contact VowBreakers for access to documents related to the case.
