Illinois’ marital property laws state the property you owned before you married remains yours after the divorce. A judge cannot touch this property nor order you to distribute it. Any property you acquired during your marriage you can expect a judge to split equally between you and your soon-to-be ex. Of course, if the property you acquired is yours through gift or inheritance, then it’s protected should you divorce. Furthermore, a prenup or postnup will take precedence over marital property laws so that you can protect the property you acquire during the marriage, too. On the other hand, you and your spouse could agree to divide or give to one another property that each of you had before marriage in a prenuptial agreement.