Temporary Orders for Stay-at-Home Parents During Divorce  

 Posted on November 19, 2021 in Child Support

Stay-at-home moms and dads who get divorced face a unique set of circumstances. For many parents, the justification for staying home with the kids was largely based on the other spouse’s income. If you are a parent who has sacrificed a career to care for your children full-time, you may be worried about the financial implications of divorce. You may also worry about how you and your children will adjust to life after the separation. There is no getting around it: Divorce as a stay-at-home parent is complicated and emotionally taxing. Fortunately, Illinois law provides options that may help.

Temporary Relief Orders Can Provide Financial Support and Stability

Unfortunately, many stay-at-home parents stay in unhappy or even abusive marriages because of concerns about money. If a parent has not held a job in several years, they may worry about having the financial means to leave their spouse. If you are in this situation, you should know that you may be able to get financial assistance from the other spouse through a temporary relief order.

Divorce cases may take months or even years to resolve. Fortunately, you do not have to wait until the divorce is complete to get child support or spousal support. You can petition the court for a temporary relief order which will require your spouse to pay child support and/or spousal support. The court will consider both spouses’ financial resources, the standard of living during the marriage, and the children's needs when deciding on a child support or spousal support temporary relief order.

Temporary orders may also address the allocation of parenting time and parental responsibilities. If you and the other parent cannot agree on these issues, the court will hand down a decision for you. Decisions about child custody are always made with the child’s best interests in mind. Having a consistent parenting time schedule can benefit both you and your children. Experts state that consistency and predictability help children feel secure. When so much else is changing in a child’s life, having a consistent parenting time schedule can help reduce the child’s anxiety and stress.

Contact a Naperville Divorce Lawyer

If you are a stay-at-home parent planning to divorce, contact the Will County divorce attorneys at Law Office of Ronald L. Hendrix, P.C. for help. Our team can help you petition the court for temporary relief orders, address property division concerns, and represent the best interests of you and your children throughout the divorce process. Call us today at 630-355-7776 for a free consultation.

Sources:

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/documents/075000050k501.htm

https://www.child-encyclopedia.com/divorce-and-separation/according-experts/how-parents-can-help-children-cope-separationdivorce