Proceeds of a Personal Injury Verdict or Settlement in Divorce
If you are considering a divorce, you probably understand that you and your spouse will need to divide your marital propertyduring the process. In an ideal situation, the two of you would be able to reach an agreement on your own. Otherwise the court would be required to intervene and make property division decisions for you. Illinois is an equitable distribution state which means that theContinue reading
Inventory Your Property Before Filing for Divorce
The division of marital property is one of most disputed considerations in any divorce. Much of the disagreement is the result of each spouse believing that he or she should be entitled to keep certain assets. While you and your spouse will eventually need to decide who will be getting what, you can start preparing long before either of you files your petition for divorce. List EverythingContinue reading
Calculating Your Income for Child Support Purposes
When you are the parent who is responsible for making child support payments, the existing Illinois system for calculating your obligation is based on your net income. According to the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (IMDMA), you will be expected to pay a certain percentage of your income depending on how many children are being supported, beginning with 20 percent for one child upContinue reading
New Child Support Guidelines Coming Next Summer
For many years, the laws regarding the payment of child support in Illinois have been heavily criticized as being very outdated. While few parents would argue about the importance of providing financial support for their children, how such payments are calculated has changed very little over the last several decades. Next summer, however, a new law goes into effect that will change the way that support ordersContinue reading
Child Support Enforcement: The Deadbeats Don’t Drive Law
Parents who do not pay their Illinois child support face having their driver’s license suspended under the Deadbeats Don’t Drive law. Action may be taken against the parent when they are a minimum of 90 days behind in their child support payments. There are two Illinois systems which can order a parent’s license suspended for failing to pay. The first system is the family courts and theContinue reading
Talk to Your Divorce Lawyer About Billing Practices
Divorce can be an expensive proposition. Depending on how your case is ultimately decided, you could end up paying thousands of dollars in maintenance and child support, not to mention the value of the marital property that is allocated to your ex-spouse. The process itself can also be quite costly. Court fees and other expenses can add up quickly, especially if the proceedings drag onContinue reading
Talking About Divorce Could Save Your Marriage
There is no getting around it: divorce has become an accepted part of our culture. From a positive perspective, divorce can provide the opportunity for individuals stuck in unhappy, unhealthy marriages to seek a better a future. Many, however, see commonplace divorce as contributing to couples’ unwillingness to work together to solve their relationship problems. Rather than putting in the necessary work, a couple can just giveContinue reading
Pro Se Divorce: Is It Ever a Good Idea?
Over the past decade or so, one of the more common scenarios that have emerged in family courts across the country is where one or both spouses who are going through the divorce process make the decision to represent themselves instead of hiring an attorney. This is referred to as a pro se divorce. Those who decide to “go it alone” instead if with the guidance ofContinue reading
Alcohol Abuse Can Affect Your Parenting Time
Do you share parenting responsibilities with your child’s other parent? If so, you probably cherish the time you get to spend with your child. While it may not be as much as you would like, you understand that every moment is one that can be enjoyed and used to foster a healthy relationship between your child and yourself. This is especially true around the winter holidays asContinue reading
Staying in Control of Your Divorce
Ending your marriage through the process of divorce can be complicated and, at times, overwhelming. There are, however, steps that you can take that can help reduce the confusion and keep you focused on the new life that awaits on the other side of your divorce. Perhaps the most important thing you can do is to work closely with a qualified divorce attorney who can provide theContinue reading