Blog Posts in October, 2014

The Importance of a Well Drafted Prenuptial Agreement

It is very common for wealthy individuals and celebrities to have their future spouse execute a prenuptial agreement prior to entering into marriage. However, news reports and tabloids are often laden with stories broadcasting issues that occur when these wealthy individuals and celebrities divorce. The purpose of a prenuptial agreement is to protect each person’s property and assets in the event ...

Helping Your Children Cope with Divorce

A couple’s decision to end a marriage can be difficult for not only the two of them but for any children the couple share. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the divorce rate as of 2011 was at approximately 53 percent . Although divorce has become more prevalent within the United States and is often portrayed in the media as a common life experience, it can actually have a ...

Adopting a Child as a Stepparent

Oftentimes, adoption is portrayed in the media as a process by which a good-natured couple travels to another country to bring a new child into their life. Although these types of adoption are prevalent within the United States, however, other types of adoption do exist as well. Sometimes, situations arise where a relative, either by blood or marriage, makes the decision to adopt a child that is ...

When are You Eligible for an Annulment in Illinois?

The decision to end a marriage is not easy and can be emotionally and physically draining on both spouses. In Illinois, there are essentially two ways to terminate a marriage: either by a divorce or by an annulment. Although both methods make it so that the couple is no longer married, the eligibility factors for each method are quite different. A divorce results in a legal dissolution of a valid ...

Types of Alimony Awarded in Illinois Divorce

Alimony in Illinois is typically referred to as spousal support or maintenance , and it involves one former spouse paying support to the other, less wealthy spouse. Many people going through a divorce are aware of the concept of alimony but are unaware that there are multiple kinds of support, each with their own requirements and stipulations. Types of Alimony In Illinois, there are four main ...

Determining the Best Interests of the Child

When divorcing parents cannot work out a child custody agreement between themselves, the court will determine where the child or children should live. The judge can decide to award sole physical and legal custody to one parent or split the responsibilities with joint custody. Physical custody refers to the right of the child to live with a parent, and legal custody refers to the right of a parent ...

Premarital Counseling May Help Lower the Odds of Divorce

Prenuptial agreements are quite common in our society, as they help couples safeguard their assets from a possible divorce prior to entering into marriage. However, prenuptial agreements are not the only precautionary measures that a couple can take to decrease the likelihood of an unpleasant divorce. Premarital counseling is another way to make sure that a couple is ready to take the plunge into ...

Recovering Overdue Child Support Payments in Illinois

Recovering unpaid child support payments from delinquent parents is an ongoing struggle that Illinois faces. In fact, according to the Illinois Public Aid Code, the state is allowed to disclose the name and photograph of any parent who is in arrears of more than $5,000 in child support payments. Illinois Child Support Services has even gone as far as to compile a “most wanted list” of Illinois ...