Monthly Archives: May 2016

Help Your Children Live Guilt-Free After Your Divorce

We all know that divorce is a challenging process for all parties involved, but it can an especially difficult experience for children. Watching parents separate is hard, and the unknown future ahead of them after divorce can leave them feeling nervous and anxious. Of course, we know that children survive their parents’ divorces all of the time, and many of them go on to have healthier relationshipsContinue reading

Same-Sex Couples Should Consider Prenuptial Agreements

Discussing a prenuptial agreement with your soon-to-be spouse is difficult, no matter your circumstances. Nobody likes to discuss the potential end of their marriage before the marriage has even begun. While prenuptial agreements may be an uncomfortable topic to discuss with your future spouse, there are a number of situations, including the marriage of a same-sex couple, in which having a prenuptial agreement is extremely beneficial.Continue reading

Understanding the Family Law Umbrella

Whether you have been searching for information on filing for divorce, looking for assistance with child support, or trying to learn more about spousal maintenance and how it works, you have likely come across the term family law along the way. So, what does it mean, and what areas does it cover exactly? What Does Family Law Include? Also referred to as matrimonial law, family law includes everythingContinue reading

Calculating Your Child Support Obligations

Over the last year or so, posts on this blog, along with countless others around the internet, have extensively covered the upcoming—now currently enacted—changes to the family law statutes in Illinois. These changes brought reform on an unprecedented scale to the state’s approach to divorce and child custody. Somewhat surprisingly, however, the existing laws that govern child support were largely left untouched. While efforts are currently underwayContinue reading

Understanding Commingled Property in Divorce

Dividing marital property is among the biggest challenges for any couple going through a divorce. In fact, the difficulties often arise before reaching the division phase. Simply identifying marital property can prove to be an arduous process, due to the complexities of the law in Illinois and the way in which many married couples maintain their household finances. A large number of couples may find themselvesContinue reading

Dealing With Domestic Violence: What Are Your Options?

Domestic violence is considered battery—a punishable crime—according to the Illinois State Police. All too often, domestic violence victims live under the misconception that just because their spouse physically hits them, there is no actual crime being committed. Their husband is simply being the “man of the house” or showing “tough love”. There are countless reasons victims use to explain or try to rationalize why their spouseContinue reading

The Importance of Establishing Paternity

Establishing paternity means much more than just child support for a single parent. Whether or not the child has a legally-recognized father can make a huge difference in the child’s life—for his or whole life, not only childhood. Paternity does not necessarily imply that the father is present in the child’s life on a daily basis. It only means that the father is legally and fiscally responsibleContinue reading

Continuing Communication During Divorce

There is little question that divorce can be incredibly difficult for everyone involved. Of course, it only makes sense to try to make the process easier and more straightforward. Some attorneys and divorce experts even go so far as to suggest completely shutting down the lines of communication with your soon-to-be ex-spouse, saving any and all exchange of information to be handled through your respective lawyers. WhileContinue reading

The Abuse of Orders of Protection

Orders of protection were established as a way to combat, deter, and respond to concerns of domestic violence and domestic abuse. They are also commonly sought by individuals going through divorce, as a way to legally separate themselves from their soon-to-be ex-spouse while the proceedings are still emotionally difficult and tensions are high. Domestic Relationships Under Illinois law, you are able to request an order ofContinue reading