Posted on February 07, 2025 in Divorce

When a spouse is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or dementia, the future can look fairly bleak – both for the diagnosed spouse and for the healthy spouse. The disease may progress quickly or more slowly and can change most aspects of a marital relationship. Those with spouses who are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s may find their role in the marriage has completely changed – and can be overwhelmed by the changes and the added responsibilities.

Along with dealing with changes to the relationship, a spouse who makes the hard decision to divorce his or her spouse with Alzheimer’s will also likely face judgment from others. Family members, friends, and even strangers may pass judgment on your decision to divorce.

It can be hard to remember that they are not privy to your day-to-day life and have no idea about the challenges. There are additional steps to be taken once you decide to divorce a spouse who has Alzheimer’s. A Will County, IL family law attorney can help you through the process with the best outcome possible.

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 Posted on January 30, 2025 in Spousal Maintenance

You may have breathed a big sigh of relief once your divorce was over and done. Perhaps you received a fair asset settlement and spousal support, and you are beginning to put your life back together. Then, one day, your ex-spouse calls to tell you that he or she is filing for bankruptcy. You cannot help but wonder how this will affect your own financial situation.

What if his or her name is still on your home or another asset that was ordered to be sold and divided after the divorce? Will your spousal maintenance continue after your ex-spouse files for bankruptcy? Since each situation is unique, the best step you can take is to speak to your Will County, IL family law attorney, who can help you determine what you need to do to protect your own financial security.

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 Posted on January 22, 2025 in Property Division

Divorce can be challenging, and its consequences may seem to keep cropping up long after the divorce is over. Financial concerns are the most likely long-term consequences of a divorce. One of these financial consequences is finding out months after the divorce that your credit score has taken a substantial hit. To be clear, your divorce, in and of itself, will not cause your credit score to drop, but the financial actions taken during and after a divorce may.

Further, if your spouse was buying things on credit that you were unaware of, your credit score will reflect these actions no matter whether you had anything to do with those purchases. Having an experienced Will County, IL family law attorney who acts as your advocate throughout and after the divorce can minimize some of the adverse consequences.

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 Posted on January 15, 2025 in Divorce

A name change usually follows a significant life change, and divorce certainly qualifies. Changing your name is a very personal decision. While women certainly may keep their married name following divorce, some choose to return to their "maiden" name. A woman who has been married for a significant length of time and may have used her name professionally may decide to keep her married name simply because it is the easiest thing to do.

Others may hesitate to change their last name because this might mean the children will have a different last name, which can get confusing. If a woman’s marriage was filled with contentiousness or even abuse and the divorce is shaping up similarly, she may have little trouble deciding whether to change her name. Whatever decision you make, changing your name is a process that can benefit significantly from speaking to a Will County, IL family law attorney.   

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 Posted on January 08, 2025 in Divorce

Many of us have heard that January is known as the "divorce month." While there is some evidence to back this up, the months of January through March might more realistically be known as the "divorce season." One of the primary reasons January sees a spike in divorce rates is that many spouses are reluctant to file for divorce during the holiday season and may resolve to stay together until the holidays are over.

Taxes may also have a bearing on the January divorce spike, depending on whether filing as single or married is more advantageous. Some couples may choose to end the year married so they can get certain tax breaks when filing. Many people file for divorce at certain points in the year as a means of minimizing family and personal emotional pain. August often sees a spike in divorce rates, likely because it follows family vacations and the start of a new school year.

If a couple’s last child goes to college in August, there may no longer be the need to "stay together for the children." Regardless of when you choose to file for divorce, having a strong legal advocate in your corner can make the process so much easier. A Will County, IL divorce attorney can help you determine not only when to file for divorce but how to get through the coming months in the best way possible.

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 Posted on December 29, 2024 in Child Custody

When parents divorce, life can be challenging for all those involved, particularly the children. While most parents want what is best for their children, some seem unable to resist speaking negatively about the other parent. While this is rarely productive in any way, it can be especially damaging to children. An American psychiatrist, Dr. Richard Gardner, introduced the phrase "parental alienation syndrome" in 1985, defining it as a childhood disorder arising almost exclusively during child custody disputes.

Gardner described children being "programmed" by one parent to reject, fear, dislike, or hate the other parent. Parental alienation can be obvious or more insidious, but the end result is the same – to damage the child’s relationship with the other parent. If one parent believes the other is deliberately waging a parental alienation war against them during the allocation of parental responsibilities, it is important to address it quickly before it can spiral out of control. A Will County, IL parental responsibilities attorney can help recognize and address parental alienation.

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 Posted on December 24, 2024 in Divorce

Although nine states currently recognize common-law marriage, Illinois is not one of them. What happens, then, when a couple with a recognized common-law marriage in another state – like Texas – moves to Illinois? Is the common-law marriage recognized? What if the couple wants to divorce?  Broadly speaking, a common-law marriage is not considered a "real" marriage in the state of Illinois.

That being said, technically speaking, Illinois law does recognize a common-law marriage from another state. In practice, however, there appears to be a large body of evidence that speaks to the contrary, which means it can be very challenging to prove a common-law marriage in a state that does not recognize that type of marriage.  

The tricky part of this equation might be proving that you did, in fact, have a valid common-law marriage in Texas or another state that recognizes common-law marriages. If you are facing a similar situation, speaking to a knowledgeable Will County, IL family law attorney can help you determine where you stand in this situation.

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 Posted on December 13, 2024 in Divorce

If your divorce is even slightly more complicated than a divorce where both parties agree on virtually everything, then you may need witnesses during the divorce process. One of the top reasons for a witness would be when one party calls in a third party as a character witness. A character witness is someone who knows you well and can speak to your overall character.

If your spouse is questioning your morals, ethics, or level of responsibility during the allocation of parental responsibilities, you may need one or more character witnesses. If you are making certain allegations against your spouse, then you might also call witnesses to support those allegations. For example, if you claim your wife is an alcoholic, you might call witnesses who have firsthand knowledge that the claim is true.

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 Posted on December 03, 2024 in Divorce

Most of us have heard the statistics that claim half of all marriages will end in divorce. While that was true in the early 1980s, divorce has been on a steady decline since then. Today, in the United States, about 39 percent of all marriages will end in divorce.

The drop in divorce rates is largely related to Millennials, who appear to be more selective about their life partners, marry later, and are more likely to remain married. Some of these younger couples say they want to be more financially secure when they marry, while others are finishing up their education, or are laser-focused on getting their careers off the ground.

In any case, the 50 percent divorce rate that is still claimed is nothing more than a myth – and there are plenty of those myths circulating regarding divorce. When you need solid, knowledgeable divorce guidance, you need a Will County, IL divorce attorney from Law Office of Ronald L. Hendrix, P.C.. We can help you with the divorce process, answer your questions, and advocate on your behalf.  

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 Posted on November 26, 2024 in Child Custody

If you and your ex have children, you will likely be dealing with child issues until they are grown. Because of this, it is essential that you learn to co-parent peacefully regardless of how you feel about one another. The holidays can be difficult for all those involved. If the allocation of parental responsibilities dictates that your children will be spending a major holiday with your ex, it can be emotionally wrenching to think about Thanksgiving or Christmas without your children.

This can be a painful reminder of when you, your ex, and your children were a family. If you find yourself in this situation, it is time to set your own sadness or depression aside and work with your ex to make sure your children have a happy holiday season. In addition to the tips and suggestions below, a Will County, IL family law attorney from Law Office of Ronald L. Hendrix, P.C. can help if you have legal questions related to your divorce or the allocation of parental responsibilities.  

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