CHICAGO -- A Chicago billboard proclaiming "Life's short. Get a divorce" has been annulled.

• Survey: Divorce Billboard Offensive?

City workers have stripped the sign from its perch after a week of complaints from neighbors and from other attorneys who said it reflected poorly on their profession.

A city alderman Burton Natarus, who lives near the sign, said he called the building inspector, and that the law firm's ad was taken down because the firm didn't have a permit, and not because of what it said -- or because of the scantily clad man and woman on it.

The two lawyers who had the sign put up said they're upset that it was removed. They also said the calls to their law firm have gone up dramatically since the billboard went up last week.

"The message really is that life is very, very short, and you need to be honest with yourself and have some personal integrity," said the creator of the billboard, divorce lawyer Corri Fetman. "If you are unhappy, take some action and do something about it."

Fetman said she felt "violated" and that the billboard was taken down without due process. Fetman and her partner Kelly Garland said the billboard was meant to be taken lightheartedly.

Some people thought the billboard was in poor taste, while others wish they'd thought of it themselves.

"If you plan on getting divorced, why get married?" person told Chicago TV station WMAQ after seeing the billboard.

"I think it's great. It shows they've got guts and it gets your attention," said another. "And the people are hot."

Another man was definitely not a fan of the sign.

"There's no commitment these days," he said. "It shows a lack of commitment."

The Womens Bar Association president was not impressed.

"Lawyers already a have bad name. It un-dignifies lawyers," Karen McNulty said. "It takes lightly the issue of divorce. It's more disappointing than shocking."

Attorney Mike Berger said divorce is a time of great stress, and that this is "nothing more than a beer commercial."

"I don't find it gutsy … it's distasteful," Berger said said. "This makes light of situation and promotes divorce."

Attorney Rico Mirabelli likened the ad to a car ad and said it was placed in a populated area for a reason.

"But it's not going to make anyone go out and get a divorce," Mirabelli said.

As for Fetman, she said, "Everyone's entitled to their own opinion. If you don't like it, don't look."