Tag Archives: Illinois law

Defending a Dissipation Claim in Divorce

There are plenty of challenging aspects to any divorce situation. In addition to the unquestionably difficult emotional turbulence, most couples must also deal with a number of practical considerations as well, including arrangements regarding children, spousal support, and the division of assets and property. While each process, of course, includes its own unique intricacies, the dividing of assets and property can, in many cases, set the toneContinue reading

Coming Changes to Child Removal and Parental Relocation Laws

As part of a bill that will overhaul a large number of family law provisions in Illinois, there are changes coming in regard to a custodial parent’s ability to move with his or her child. Many around the state are viewing the legislation as significant family law reform, and have lauded its aim to address evolving social ideals. Having already passed the Illinois House and Senate,Continue reading

Consider Eliminating Debt Prior to Divorce

If you are considering a divorce, you probably realize that your life is about to get fairly complicated, at least for a little while. You and your spouse will need to work out a large number of considerations, which, depending on your ability to work together—or lack thereof—may lead to stressful negotiations. For many couples, dividing the marital estate can be among the most challenging of allContinue reading

The Presumption of Paternity

While most people understand the importance of establishing paternity for unmarried parents, little thought is often given to the paternity of children born to a married couple. In a large majority of family situations, paternity will never be an issued for married parents, but there are some cases in which the presumptions made by law can actually complicate matters. If you find yourself in such aContinue reading

The Court Appointed a Child Representative to Our Case; What Does that Mean?

If the court appointed a child representative to your case, it means that the court feels it is in your child’s best interest for a neutral party to determine the most productive choices for his or her custody, support, and visitation following your divorce. A child representative’s duties are outlined in the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act. The representative is an attorney appointed by the courtContinue reading

Choosing the Right Executor for Your Estate

For many people, it can be very daunting to make decisions related to estate planning. Very few are completely discussing matters that involve acknowledging that they will not live forever. Death, however, is a reality and a person who is not financially prepared for his or death often creates additional difficulties for family members and loved ones. Among the most important decisions you must makeContinue reading

Adopting a Stepchild in Illinois

As the number of remarried adults in the United States reaches all-time highs, blended families have quickly become a new social norm. More and more individuals are entering marriages with children from a previous relationship. For some, such children can add a level of complexity to the new marriage, as the family must contend with visitation schedules and support orders. For many, though, the children simply addContinue reading

What Is an Annulment?

Most people understand that a divorce legally ends and validly recognized marriage. Whatever a couple’s reasons may be for ending the marriage, relatively few do so in the belief that the marriage was never initially valid. Those relative few, however, may have an alternative to divorce if they have reason to believe that their marriage was invalid. A declaration of invalidity of marriage, formerly called annulment, mayContinue reading

Child Custody and the Right of First Refusal

Divorced and unmarried parents often struggle with the amount of time they are able to spend with their children. Even in joint custody situations, it can sometimes be difficult to feel like you see and interact with your child enough. When the opportunity arises for unexpected, extra parenting time, many parents, especially those who are not the primary residential parent, will welcome the chance. This idea isContinue reading

Maintaining Your Lifestyle During and After Divorce

When you got married, you and your spouse were probably committed to the idea of building a long happy life together. You were looking forward to sharing a home, taking vacations, and, generally, establishing a certain standard of living throughout the course of the marriage. After your wedding, you and your partner likely settled into a particular lifestyle, intentional or not, and became accustomed toContinue reading