The Concept of the Five Stages of Grief: Experiencing the Loss of a Marriage
Somewhere lost in the 1970s, divorce and the stigma of divorce took on a different persona. Beginning in the 1960s and extending throughout the decade of the 70s, divorce forever changed as the introduction of no-fault divorce opened the doors to a new wave of thinking. Conceptually defined in the 1960s, the five stages of […]
Protecting Your Privacy and Your Assets In A High-Net Worth Divorce
High net-worth couples who are going through a divorce face special issues that require extra planning and attention. Because of the complicated nature of the assets, care must be taken to divide the property in a way that does not destroy the value of such assets. Often, couples also hope to keep the details of […]
Four Tools to Keep Your Illinois Divorce Amicable
For decades, divorce was often considered messy and emotional. However, this notion is slowly starting to change as more people realize that a couple can have an amicable divorce. Couples who work together in a divorce, instead of fighting with each other, can do better financially and emotionally after the divorce is over. Illinois family law provides […]
How Do You Plan For A Divorce?
A divorce can affect nearly every aspect of your life for years to come. Therefore, it makes sense to do your research and to plan before you file for a divorce. The first step in planning for a divorce is speaking with a knowledgeable divorce lawyer who can guide you through the process. Understanding the Process The […]
Testifying In Court
One of the most frightening aspects of any court case, for many people, is having to testify in court. While not all divorces will go all the way to a full trial, it is a real possibility. Even if the case settles before trial, you may have to testify at an early evidentiary hearing. Not […]
Three Divorce Myths You Probably Believe
When it comes to divorce, there is a lot of misinformation passed around. Each state has its own approach to divorce. Illinois has recently changed several of its laws that deal with divorce and other family law issues. Do not be fooled by these three common myths. If Your Spouse Cheated, You Will Get More in the […]
Getting Divorced After Age 50
Divorce in people over age 50 was once a rare event. Yet while the overall divorce rate has seen small declines, the divorce rate in couples over age 50 has more than doubled since 1990. There are several reasons for the sharp increase in so-called gray divorce. Couples in this stage of life who get […]
What Happens To A Personal Injury Settlement In A Divorce?
When one a couple is in the middle of a divorce and one spouse is about to receive a settlement from a car accident or other personal injury claim, which spouse gets the money? The answer depends on the timing of the accident and what the rest of the assets in the case look like. […]
Will I Have To Pay Alimony?
When you are trying to understand the financial costs of a divorce, you may wonder about alimony. In the Illinois family court system, alimony is called spousal maintenance. On January 1, 2015, new spousal maintenance guidelines went into effect that made the payment of spousal support much more predictable. When Spousal Maintenance is Appropriate Before any […]
The Divorce Discovery Process
When most people think about filing for divorce they worry about having to testify in court. Most cases settle long before anyone ever needs to take the witness stand and testify before the judge. However, most people will have to endure the discovery process. This is the legal process by which both sides gather evidence […]
What Impacts How Long It Takes To Get A Divorce In Illinois?
Sometimes the hardest part of a divorce is waiting for it to be over. One frequently asked question is, “How long will a divorce take?” Unfortunately, there is no easy answer to that question. Every case is different. A simple divorce may only take a few months, while complicated divorces can take a year or […]
Self-Employment and Divorce
In divorce cases there are three main areas of dispute: dividing up time with the children; division of the marital property; and child and spousal support. If you or your spouse is self-employed it can make all three of these areas even more complicated. Regardless of income, self-employment means an increased scrutiny of your finances […]
Getting Modifications After A Divorce
After a divorce is final, conflicts may continue or new issues may arise that make it necessary for the parties to go back to court. In some situations, it is possible to obtain a post-divorce modification. However, the courts have an interest in protecting the finality of orders, especially in divorce cases. Before getting a post-divorce […]
Protecting Special Needs Children In Divorce And Custody Cases
Raising children is difficult. Moreover, the addition of a child’s medical needs, among others, can bring a troubled marriage to a breaking point. Therefore, when parents with a special needs child decide to divorce, that child may need an extra focus placed on their welfare with regards to the divorce or child custody case. Support […]
Settling a Divorce Before The Trial: What You Should Know
The outcome of a divorce case is often uncertain. Moreover, it can be expensive to litigate all of the issues—property division, child custody, spousal support, etc. However, there may be opportunities to settle before the final trial. Prior to making a decision to settle or to take your case to trial, it is important to […]
How Does Social Media Affect Your Divorce Case?
The way you use social media can have a direct impact on your divorce case. New social networks and apps are constantly capturing people’s attention and are the focus of countless news stories. Yet at the same time the news is also filled with reminders that nothing we share over the web or via our […]
Illinois Family Law Changes: Should I Wait To File For Divorce?
Major changes to Illinois’ family law will take place January 1, 2016. Changes include the elimination of the fault-based divorce system and a revamped approach to child custody issues. Therefore, because of the changes, many are asking, “If I am considering divorce, should I file now or wait for the new changes to take effect?” […]
Factors That Affect Alimony During Dissolution Of Marriage
When seeking a divorce in Illinois, most separating partners have questions about alimony—payments that are paid to the financially dependent spouse by the financially independent spouse. While not all divorces will result in a maintenance order, many of them do. If you are getting divorced in Illinois, it is important to understand certain specifics about […]
Ashley Madison Hack and Divorces: A Legal View
Ashley Madison, an online dating service and social networking service, is marketed to people who are married or in a committed relationship for casual encounters, married dating, discreet encounters and extramarital affairs. This July, hackers stole customer data —including names, addresses, sexual fantasies, and credit card information—and threatened to post the identity of its customers […]
Is A Concealed Prior Marriage Grounds For Annulment?
People make the final decision to divorce for several different reasons—infidelity, a dispute over financial resources, or a dispute over how the children in a family should be raised. Additionally, people may end a marriage when one spouse discovers that the other spouse had previously been married and that he or she hid that fact […]
