Monthly Archives: January 2017

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