Creating New Holiday Traditions Can Help Children Cope With Divorce

Family traditions are an important part of the holiday season, but those that are going through divorce often find that old traditions are no longer feasible. When children are involved, this can create a parent-sized gap in the home and may even lead to excessive sadness or depression. Lift your child’s holiday spirits this season […]

How Addictions Affect Divorce

The causes of divorce are complicated and vary from couple to couple. One factor that ends many relationships is addiction. When a spouse has an alcohol, drug, or gambling addiction it puts an emotional and financial strain on a marriage. When a couple decides it is time for a divorce, the effects of addiction do […]

Divorce Basics: Should You Keep Your Ex's Last Name After Divorce?

Many of the decisions you make during divorce are guided, overseen, or regulated by law. In contrast, the decision of whether or not to keep your married name is purely personal. That does not necessarily make it any easier than the other choices you must make. If you are struggling with the decision to keep […]

Considerations That Retiring Divorcees Should Make When Untying The Knot

It is often assumed that divorce is an issue that younger couples face, yet statistics indicate that divorce rates are declining among most age groups. Those aged 50 and older are the exception, however, with a divorce rate that has more than doubled since 1990. There are many theories as to why, but the real […]

Could Divorce Actually Boost Happiness in the Long Run?

While divorce is far from a pleasant process, a new study suggests that, in some cases, it may actually boost your long-term happiness. This was especially true for women who had low-quality marriages to begin with. So, if you are thinking about filing for divorce, but are worried about what the future may hold, the […]

Despite Initial Regrets, Most Divorcees Feel They Made The Right Decision

The decision to divorce is not one easily made. There are weeks, months, and sometimes years of grappling with complex emotions, including fear, anxiety, and overwhelming sadness. Then there is the time that is spent considering how the divorce will affect any mutual children. Some couples continue to stall with moving forward as they ponder […]

Helping Children Cope During And After Divorce

While divorce can be an emotionally devastating process for all involved parties, children are often the most susceptible to experiencing long-term effects. They can become angry, depressed, may struggle in school or at home, or may even develop behavioral issues. However, studies suggest that parents play an important role in their ability to cope during […]

Taking Care Of Your Health After Divorce: Avoid The Effects Of The "Divorce Diet"

When people talk about divorce, they often focus on the financial aspects. Often overlooked are the emotional effects – the guilt, stress, anger, depression, or shame – all of which have the ability to significantly impact your life. In fact, recent studies have found that health can decline after divorce. Furthermore, there are experts who […]

Making The Most Of Your Ex-Spouse's Social Security Benefits

If you have recently filed for divorce and are coming close to retirement age, and your ex-spouse was the primary earning in your home, you may be eligible to receive his/her social security benefits instead of yours. Potentially, this may boost your income, at least for a while. Learn what you need to know about […]

Protecting Your Financial Future In A Gray Divorce

Divorce rates may be falling among the majority of Americans, but the rates for those aged 50 or older have more than doubled. Dubbed “gray divorce,” by some, these later-life divorces put each party’s financial future at risk. In fact, many fall into divorce-induced poverty – a situation in which a financially stable couple becomes […]

Should You File For Bankruptcy Before You File For Divorce?

If you and your spouse are thinking about a divorce but you are in a difficult financial situation, you need to discuss whether you should put separating on hold to go through bankruptcy together or if bankruptcy is a step one or both of you might take following the dissolution of your marriage. In general, […]

Changing Your Name After A Divorce

Going through a separation and then a divorce can be a difficult and stressful situation. However, it is also the opportunity for a fresh start. When you leave a situation that is not working, for whatever the reason, you have the chance to build a new, healthier life. Sometimes, that new life begins with you […]

A Question From Divorced Parents: Who Pays For College?

divorced dad thinking about his kids college future

Children do not stay young forever, and it may only seem like seconds between your child going to kindergarten and applying for colleges. No matter how slowly you wish time would move, the moment eventually arrives for college tours, personal essays, and then, of course, tuition payments. For divorced or unmarried parents, when their children […]

Divorce Preparation: How To Approach Your Spouse About A Divorce

There are many steps that lead up to filing for divorce. One of them is sitting down and telling your spouse that you believe the marriage is over. It is past the point of saying you are unhappy, and past the time for marriage counseling. You are ready to move on with a new life. […]

Keep Your Divorce Private

Like most other court proceedings, divorces eventually become public knowledge. This means anyone can gain a copy of your divorce pleadings, which include information regarding your marriage, finances and children. Many individuals cannot bear the thought of their private lives being aired to the public. For those who have a high net worth or are […]

What Happens To The Family Pet In A Divorce?

While the major consequences of divorce are at the front of the spouses’ minds, the tiny details can be ignored until they suddenly have to be dealt with. One common—but often disregarded—issue that arises during divorce is the question of who continues to care for the family pet. This becomes an even greater concern when […]

Filing For A Divorce When Your Spouse Is Deployed

In some circumstances, a divorce needs to move forward while one of the spouses is deployed overseas. It is not an ideal situation, but divorce is often the best way for both parties to move forward with their lives. However, the situation becomes tricky when one individual is not only far away, but is often […]

Back To The Basics: How Can I Get A Divorce In Illinois?

Making the decision to separate from a spouse can be difficult. Separation? Annulment? Divorce? What are the differences? Are you eligible? How long does each one take? The questions about ending a marriage are not always easy to answer. An experienced family law attorney in Illinois can provide vital assistance by answering these questions and […]

Planning and Preparation For Your New Beginning After Divorce

Our wedding was a wonderful day from what all of the pictures show. Yet somewhere between your marriage date and now, something went awry. Neither individual in the union is happy anymore and you have decided to end it. You are finally able to agree on something again—divorce is inevitable. Yet where do you go […]