Cohabitation Can End a Spousal Maintenance Requirement
After a divorce, one party may be required to make spousal maintenance payments to the other for a designated period of time. Sometimes called alimony, spousal maintenance is intended to help offset the financial impact of divorce to a spouse who, in many cases, seeking to regain independence and self-sufficiency. Most court-ordered support awards include a provision regarding the duration of payments, either for a limited numberContinue reading
Changing Your Child Support Order
Divorced and separated parents, for the most part, understand that they have an obligation to provide financial support for their children. Of course, for many, it is a moral responsibility that exists regardless of the law. Regardless of a parent’s moral compass, Illinois law recognizes the right of a child to expect support from both parents, and, in the vast majority of cases, will require aContinue reading
Study: Child Before Marriage No Longer Increases Divorce Risk
For many generations, a couple who married after having a child together was much more likely to get divorced than those who married before having a baby. That time, it seems, has come and gone, at least according to a new study. Today, the rate of divorce is about the same for couples who have a child before marriage and those who have children after the wedding.Continue reading
Back to School for Children of Divorced Parents: Parent-Teacher Conferences
Summer has come to an end and the new school year is underway. This time of year can be challenging for any parent, as you will probably need to adjust to a new schedule, work through school-related stresses with your child, and get used to simply getting your child out of bed earlier in the morning. If you are a divorced or single parent, however,Continue reading
Understanding Your Child Support Responsibilities
If you are in in the process of getting divorced or separating from your child’s other parent, you probably realize that an order for child support is probably forthcoming. It is especially likely if the other parent has been granted primary residential custody. While, under Illinois law, both parents can potentially ordered to pay support, the vast majority of cases see the non-custodial parent paying support toContinue reading
Grounds for Contesting a Will
When a loved one has died, the emotional strain on you and your family can be nearly overwhelming. Depending on your relationship to the deceased, you may be responsible for making funeral arrangements, notifying distant relatives, and any number of other necessary considerations. You may not even give any thought to your loved one’s will until well after his or her death. When you finallyContinue reading
Living Wills and Death Delaying Procedures
The state of Illinois expressly recognizes the rights of its citizens to make their own decisions regarding the medical care they wish to receive, even following the diagnosis or acquisition of a terminal condition. According to the law, a person may choose to have death delaying procedures withheld or withdrawn in accordance with his or own personal desires, regardless of his or her ability toContinue reading
U.S. Continues to Work Through Issues Regarding Same-Sex Marriage
In the state of Illinois, same-sex marriage was officially legalized last year. Legislative efforts and the resulting Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act have allowed same-sex partners to marry since June 2014 in Illinois, but the rest of the nation has not been so quick to follow suit. Even following the landmark U.S Supreme Court decision this past summer which struck down same-sex marriage bans, some partsContinue reading
Can We Negotiate Our Own Maintenance Agreement?
As you navigate the process of divorce, you and your soon-to-be ex will have a large number of issues to consider. You will need to think about which of you will get what property, arrangements for your children, and how you will deal with life after divorce. For many couples, the issue of spousal maintenance, or alimony, can be particularly complex, as it is often difficultContinue reading
Support of a Disabled Adult Child
For most parents who make child support payments, their obligations often end when their children graduate from high school and turn 18 years old. These situations are well within the “normal” provisions of Illinois law governing child support. In certain cases, however, the law provides that either or both parents can be required to continue supporting a child after the child has reached the ageContinue reading