Monthly Archives: February 2016
Budget Impasse Threatens Services for Illinois Seniors
As lawmakers in Springfield continue to battle over the state budget, there is growing concern around Illinois that the impact of the problem will be most-strongly felt by those who are already the most vulnerable. A significant number of outreach and support programs around Illinois rely heavily, if not solely, on state funding, and without a budget are finding it increasingly difficult to carry outContinue reading
Bird’s Nest Parenting: A New Type of Coparenting
Taking its name from the behavior of birds, “bird’s nest” parenting is a different approach to providing a stable environment for children after the parents divorce or separate. Instead of the children being shuffled from house to house, the children stay in one place and the parents move in and out of the home during their parenting time. This concept can be traced to a 2000 courtContinue reading
Rights of Grandparents When Raising Grandchildren
There are many different kinds of families. Grandparents in Illinois and the rest of the United States are playing increasingly important parts in the lives of their grandchildren. In some cases, a grandparent fulfills the role of primary caretaker for their grandchildren. But what rights do grandparents have when they look to take on such responsibilities? Legal Authority to Make Decisions When grandparents become involved in raisingContinue reading
Family Law Appeals in Illinois
Sometimes, even with the best preparation you can lose your family law case. You may have gotten an unfavorable property division decision, or you may feel the judge made a mistake in setting the amount of the spousal maintenance or there may be some other problem. After the court has issued a final ruling, you may need to file an appeal to keep your case alive. WhatContinue reading
Take Steps Toward an Amicable Divorce
The decision to end your marriage is, of course, not one to be taken lightly. Divorce should always be a last resort. On the other hand, when it becomes unavoidable or even necessary, it is possible to navigate the process with a sense of cooperation and civility, despite the reality of the situation. Around the country, and in Illinois especially, there is growing recognition of the benefitsContinue reading
Who Chooses the Child’s Religion?
Religion in America can be a contentious issue in the best of circumstances. But, when in the middle of a court battle over what is best for the child of separating or divorcing parents, it is like pouring gasoline in a fire. What does the court do when the parents disagree over where, if at all, the child should go to church? What Rights Are AllocatedContinue reading
How Your Stock Options May Be Affected By Divorce
Like most other property, stock options are divided in a divorcelargely in accordance with how and when they were acquired. Stock options can vary and at the time of the divorce, they may or may not be exercised depending on whether the right to exercise the stock options has vested. There are also issues of whether or not the stock options are given as past, current,Continue reading