Monthly Archives: June 2015
How Much Does Quality of Life Matter?
Despite tabloid claims that 50 is the new 30, and incredible advancements in personal care products which allow people to maintain a youthful appearance much longer than ever before, the fact remains that getting older is unavoidable. For many, advancement in age leads to some rather difficult considerations, particularly when it comes to deciding how to handle end-of-life concerns. One of the most controversial topics that elderlyContinue reading
Choosing the Right Executor for Your Estate
For many people, it can be very daunting to make decisions related to estate planning. Very few are completely discussing matters that involve acknowledging that they will not live forever. Death, however, is a reality and a person who is not financially prepared for his or death often creates additional difficulties for family members and loved ones. Among the most important decisions you must makeContinue reading
Why Collaborative Divorce May Be Beneficial
When you have reached in a point in your marriage where you know the relationship is beyond repair, it is time to start thinking about divorce options. Depending on you and your spouse’s ability to work together, you may have more choices than you realize when it comes to achieving a workable divorce agreement. Divorcing spouses who refuse to cooperate or agree on major issues areContinue reading
Property Division in Divorce: We Each Get Half, Right?
The honest answer to that question is “maybe.” You and your spouse may, in fact, each end up with half of your marital assets, but an exactly even division is not guaranteed, and, in all honesty, probably not very likely either. This is thanks to the property division approach set forth under Illinois law, which takes a large number of factors into account when allocating marital propertyContinue reading
Adopting a Stepchild in Illinois
As the number of remarried adults in the United States reaches all-time highs, blended families have quickly become a new social norm. More and more individuals are entering marriages with children from a previous relationship. For some, such children can add a level of complexity to the new marriage, as the family must contend with visitation schedules and support orders. For many, though, the children simply addContinue reading
What Is an Annulment?
Most people understand that a divorce legally ends and validly recognized marriage. Whatever a couple’s reasons may be for ending the marriage, relatively few do so in the belief that the marriage was never initially valid. Those relative few, however, may have an alternative to divorce if they have reason to believe that their marriage was invalid. A declaration of invalidity of marriage, formerly called annulment, mayContinue reading
Child Custody and the Right of First Refusal
Divorced and unmarried parents often struggle with the amount of time they are able to spend with their children. Even in joint custody situations, it can sometimes be difficult to feel like you see and interact with your child enough. When the opportunity arises for unexpected, extra parenting time, many parents, especially those who are not the primary residential parent, will welcome the chance. This idea isContinue reading
Many Believe Illinois Child Support Model Needs Updated
As a society, there are certain values that unite most Americans, regardless of their political leaning or affiliations. Among these is the culture’s focus and care regarding the well-being of children. Every child should have the opportunity to grow up healthy and strong with the love and support of both parents, whether the parents are together or not. To that end, very few would everContinue reading