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.
The record shows that when Susan Grubb filed her petition for divorce on January 8, 2026, in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, she did so at a moment that invites reflection rather than haste. End-of-year filings—those made between December 28 and 31—often feel like administrative surrenders, an effort to seal away a marriage before the calendar demands optimism. Early January filings carry a different civic tone. They suggest deliberation, the kind that comes after decisions have already been tested in private and found durable.
Susan and Michael Grubb, both 58 and long-time Cook County residents, were married in June 1994 in Schaumburg. Over more than three decades, they raised two children, now emancipated, and built a shared economic life. By the start of 2026, irreconcilable differences had led to what the petition describes as an irretrievable breakdown, with reconciliation no longer practical or in either party’s interest.
Represented by counsel from GMR Family Law LLP, Susan asked the court for a structured conclusion. Her petition seeks a judgment dissolving the marriage; incorporation by reference of a Marital Settlement Agreement signed January 2, 2026, resolving asset allocation, maintenance, support, and other financial matters; reservation of her right to amend the petition should the agreement prove incomplete; and any further relief the court deems equitable and just. The filing also preserves Susan’s right to seek judicial determination of property division, maintenance, and attorneys’ fees if negotiations falter.
Filed at the beginning of the year, the petition reads less like a retreat than a reaffirmation of process. It reflects a belief that endings, when handled carefully and in sequence, can still honor the history that produced them—even as they clear the way for what comes next.
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