Understanding Parental Responsibilities, Part 1; Significant Decision-Making
Last year, the laws regarding divorce and child custody in the state of Illinois were almost completely overhauled. The update represented the most comprehensive family law reform in nearly four decades. The intent was to bring the state’s family law statutes in line with the needs of today’s families. Among the most significant changes was to considerations for child custody. In fact, the new law all butContinue reading
Is Divorce Contagious?
Humans are social creatures. We are easily influenced by the behavior of those around us, and not always in a positive way. Peer-pressure, for example, is often cited as a source of many problems for teens and young adults. However, it seems that full-grown men and women may also be susceptible to the influence of others, even when it comes to something as personal as divorce.Continue reading
Understanding Venue and Jurisdiction in Divorce
For many people, the process of divorce is often their first interaction with the legal system. It is not uncommon for a person considering a divorce to have questions about where his or her petition should be filed. In deciding where to file, two primary considerations must be taken into account: jurisdiction and venue. These two concepts can be somewhat confusing to those new to the legalContinue reading
How Long Will I Need to Pay Child Support?
If you are divorced parent who has been ordered to make child support payments, you probably realize that your contributions are intended to help the other parent cover your child’s basic needs. Your child support order may also include considerations for you son or daughter’s education, medical care, and other expenses. As you make your payments each month—or see them deducted from your paycheck—you may beContinue reading
Controlling Costs in Your Divorce
For many divorcing couples, the process of ending a marriage can quickly become very expensive. This is especially true for divorces that drag on for months or even years before being finalized. Depending on the circumstances, expenses related to hiring an attorney may be among the highest, but there are many other considerations that could drive the costs of your divorce through the roof. Instead of tryingContinue reading
Will an Illinois Divorce Court Punish a Cheating Spouse?
It is very difficult to know for sure what percentage of people have ever cheated on their spouse. Part of the reason is due to the various definitions that couples may have for “cheating.” What one person may see as unfaithful behavior, another person may not, and vice versa. From a practical standpoint, large-scale statistics mean very little to a person who recently discovered thatContinue reading
Wrongful Conviction Settlement to Be Treated as Marital Property
A few weeks ago, a post on this blog talked a little bit about how personal injury settlements and similar awards are typically handled in divorce cases. In most situations, a settlement is considered to be part of the marital estate if the cause for legal action arose during the marriage—even if no money changes hands until after the divorce. Conversely, an award is usually non-marital if the causeContinue reading
How Far is Too Far to Move With Your Child?
When you share parenting responsibilities with your child’s other parent, some of your life choices may be somewhat limited. For example, an impromptu decision to take an extended vacation is no longer a reasonable possibility. Shared parenting arrangements can also impact your ability to find a new home or to seek opportunities outside of the area. Illinois law contains provisions that address such moves andContinue reading
Changing Your Child’s Last Name Following a Divorce
When you adopt a child, it is understandable that you would want the child to take on your family’s name, so a petition for changing the child’s last name would be likely be granted. The situation is much different, however, when a parent wishes to change his or her child’s last name following a divorce. A person’s name—including his or her surname—is a big partContinue reading
Can I Stay in the Marital Home After Divorce?
For many couples, their home is the largest investment they will ever make. During a marriage, of course, the marital home can also take on a great deal of sentimental value. When a marriage ends in divorce, there is often much debate regarding which spouse, if any, will keep the home and continue to live in it once the divorce is completed. If you are considering divorceContinue reading