Posted on March 08, 2021 in Child Support

In divorce cases that involve children in Illinois, one of the issues that must be addressed is child support. In Illinois, the financial duty of raising a child is not the responsibility of solely the custodial parent -- both parents have a legal obligation to financially provide for their children. Typically, the parent with the least amount of parenting time will pay the other parent support each month until the child’s 18th birthday or until they graduate from high school, whichever comes later. The amount of child support that each parent is responsible for is determined by using a formula that takes into account both parents’ incomes and parenting time shares. Over time, the factors used in that equation or your life circumstances may change and the amount of child support currently being paid may no longer be sufficient. Fortunately, it is possible to modify your support order in Illinois.

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 Posted on February 26, 2021 in Divorce

Divorce is a difficult topic for everyone to stomach. For adults, divorce can be unpleasant to talk about and distressing for the couple who is actually going through the divorce. When you add children into the picture, it can become a much more delicate situation to handle. For children, being in the middle of their parents going through a divorce can be scary and unnerving. Many parents worry about how their kids will cope with their divorce, but children tend to be more resilient than we give them credit for. Studies have shown that children tend to grow up to lead happy and healthy lives as long as their parents did not subject them to regular conflict. There are many things that you can do as a parent to help your children through this difficult time in both of your lives. 

Tips for Easing the Transition

Here are a few things you can do to help your child cope with the difficulties that can come with your divorce:

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 Posted on February 25, 2021 in Divorce

Divorce is one of the hardest things a person will ever go through. While it presents personal challenges, divorce is a legal process and is governed by many different laws. When getting a divorce, not everyone understands these laws and therefore, they make mistakes that greatly affect their case. An experienced divorce attorney can help people avoid these mistakes, and provide sound legal advice for anyone who is ending their marriage.

Choosing the Wrong Type of Divorce

People going through a divorce often envision a costly and lengthy battle that takes place in a courtroom. However, that is not the only way to get a divorce today. In Illinois, couples can enter mediation or the collaborative process, both of which can greatly reduce the conflict of divorce and give you more control over the process.

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 Posted on February 22, 2021 in Divorce

In Illinois, there is such a thing as the simplified joint marriage resolution procedure, or simple divorce, commonly referred to as an uncontested divorce. However, many couples opt to litigate their divorces since there are usually some or many things that require negotiations, including property and debt. When these contested divorces include added complications, such as major concerns about children, high-value assets, and business ownership, they are considered complex divorces. In general, the following five concerns could make your divorce far more of a complex divorce compared to a simple divorce or typical divorce.

5 Issues That Can Complicate Your Divorce and Make it Complex

1. Valuable Assets—High-asset divorces might include high-value property, collector’s items, or accounts, among other things. In those cases, dividing the property takes on a heightened sense of financial substance by its sheer volume. Big-ticket items can include boats and million-dollar houses to heirlooms and other valuable items. In addition, retirement accounts and pensions as well as major investments and banking accounts may all require forensic accounting to get to the fairest and equitable decision during such a complex divorce.

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 Posted on February 05, 2021 in Divorce

When it comes to divorce, there are many issues that have the potential to cause quite a bit of conflict between the two individuals involved in this divorce. From property division to child support, these issues appear in nearly every Illinois divorce case. However, the issues that have the most potential to cause an argument for many couples are those that have to deal with the children. Creating a parenting plan can be a long and daunting process for parents who do not get along, but parents are typically much happier and have a better chance of sticking to the parenting plan when they are able to negotiate the terms of said agreement amongst themselves. Although this is easier said than done, there are ways to achieve a positive outcome for everyone involved.

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 Posted on January 28, 2021 in Divorce

Much like our views about many other things in society, our opinions of the divorce process can look different to everyone depending on the circumstances surrounding your case. There are many ways you could go about getting a divorce in Illinois -- the traditional litigated way, in which you may end up in front of a judge in a courtroom and through the collaborative method, which requires cooperation between spouses, among others. In particularly contentious divorces that are relatively “simple” in nature, the spouses may decide to agree on the divorce settlement because they just want the process to be over. For some couples, Illinois’ joint simplified dissolution procedure could be the answer to a quick, relatively simple, and low-stress solution.

Understanding Illinois’ Joint Simplified Dissolution

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 Posted on January 21, 2021 in Property Division

If you are like the majority of people, divorce is the absolute last thing on your mind when you are standing at the altar, ready to say, “I do.” Unfortunately, statistics show that a fair amount of marriages still do end in divorces. According to data from the National Survey of Family Growth, an estimated 22 percent of first marriages will experience divorce or separation within the first five years of the marriage. That chance increases the longer you are married, with an estimated 53 percent of first marriages ending in divorce or separation within 20 years of marriage. A divorce involves many areas of your life, with one of the biggest aspects being finances. Often, an area of contention between spouses is how property will be divided, which is why it is recommended that you consult with an Illinois property division attorney to ensure you know your rights.

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 Posted on January 14, 2021 in Child Support

A common concern that parents have when they get divorced (or separate from one another if they were never married) is whether or not they will each be able to financially support their child, now that the other’s finances are no longer in the picture. Both parents are obligated to provide financial support for their child, even if they share custody of the child, which is where child support comes into play. A child support amount can be agreed upon by the parents, but the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (IMDMA) puts forth guidelines as to the minimum calculations for the support that each child is entitled to. It is important for you to understand how these calculations work, especially if you are getting a divorce in Illinois and you and your spouse have children together.

Finding Your Basic Support Obligation

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 Posted on January 08, 2021 in Divorce

When you own your own business, that business is your livelihood. For many small business owners, their business is like a baby they take great pride in producing, nurturing, and growing. However, all of that growth and success is jeopardized if you or your spouse seeks a divorce. Even if your spouse was never necessarily involved in the functions of the business, there is a possibility that he or she is entitled to a portion of the business’s value simply because of your marital status. Financial decisions made during your divorce can affect you for the rest of your life, so you should consult with a lawyer before you do anything. A skilled Illinois asset division and business valuation attorney can help you determine how you should handle your business when you are going through a divorce.

What to Do With Your Business

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 Posted on December 31, 2020 in Collaborative Law

Over the years, the trends and typical practices in family law have changed and evolved as society has. Decades ago, it was common for a couple to take their divorce to a judge to have him or her sort the issues out, rather than resolving the issues out themselves. Now, most divorce court systems across the country encourage couples to work with one another as much as possible to create a divorce settlement that is mutually agreeable. One such practice that has been shown to greatly increase the success rate of uncontentious divorces is utilizing the collaborative divorce process. 

Benefits of Collaborative Divorce

While some couples may be on the same page when it comes to getting a divorce, the unfortunate truth is that most couples will not be. Most of the time, one partner (typically the one who did not initiate the divorce) is much more hesitant and can even be more adversarial than the other partner, making the divorce process that much more difficult. The collaborative divorce process offers a way for both spouses to work together with their attorneys and a team of supporting professionals in a cooperative manner to produce a divorce agreement. For many couples, the collaborative divorce process carries many benefits that can greatly enhance and improve their divorce experience. These benefits include:

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