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 […]
Sperm Donation and Parental Rights
Fertility Challenges In the past, when couples had difficulty conceiving children during marriage, their only option was to adopt. With modern-day technology, there are now several ways couples can produce children with at least one partner’s genetic contribution, either via artificial insemination or by using a surrogate to carry the baby to term. The decision to […]
Building Relationships with the Extended Family
Marriage and the Creation of One Combined Family Marriage is hard. Marriage requires two people to construct one life together. Oftentimes, in that building process, the couple fastens together their respective families and, as a result, spouses and children become very close with their in-laws. In those instances, the marriage becomes more than just maintaining […]
Keeping a Marriage Healthy When Faced With Infertility
All marriages experience some rough patches along the way. In marriages where infertility is an issue, these challenges can become amplified and divorce can become a more likely outcome if the couple does not learn how to successfully cope with the challenges that arise. Infertility in America When people get married, having children is generally […]
How to Navigate Through Mixed or Cross-Cultural Relationships
Relationship Challenges Building solid relationships and maintaining healthy marriages can sometimes be a challenging process, even when the couple comes from similar economic, ethnic, religious, and cultural backgrounds. Now imagine the couple does not share a common cultural experience. This added layer of complexity can sometimes lead to misunderstandings, hurt feelings, and, in some cases, […]
When the Wife is the Breadwinner: Changing Household Dynamics
Marriage and Income According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2012, 29 percent of wives earned more than their husbands in a dual income home. These changes in income distribution within the home also mean changes in the family dynamic. How we view our social roles in relation to income and how we approach […]
How to Establish or Disprove Paternity in Illinois
More and more couples in America today are declining to marry, and for a variety of reasons: cost, tax laws, or simply personal belief. However, there are sometimes unintended consequences for their children. If a child’s parents are not married when the child is born, there may be difficulties establishing that child’s paternity. This can […]
Cohabitation Before Marriage: Good Or Bad Idea?
In the past, couples were frowned upon for moving in together prior to marriage. Be it for religious reasons or societal norms, couples waited until they were married to live together. Nowadays, it is common for couples to live together first. In fact, the rates of cohabitation, while un-wed, have increased by more than 900 […]
Maintenance in Illinois: What Factors Help Decide?
What is Maintenance? The phrases spousal support, alimony, and spousal maintenance are used fairly interchangeably to describe when a court orders one spouse to pay the other. These terms arise during a divorce, when one spouse needs financial assistance to keep them at the same or comparable standard of living they had during the marriage. […]
A Quick Guide to Adoption in Illinois
Thinking About Adoption In the busy society in which we live today, many couples are putting off having children until later in their lives because of their lifestyles, careers, or other factors, and are instead turning to adoption. While the adoption process has come a long way since its initial stages, it still requires a lot […]
Marriage Vs. Civil Union: Why Have Both?
As Illinois is poised to finally legalize same-sex marriage, a question comes to mind: what will happen to the civil union? The popular opinion amongst gay rights activists was that civil unions were a half-measure, a throwback to the days of “separate but equal” constitutional thought that was eliminated from de jure law in race relations in […]
Steps to a Marriage
Some view marriage as the ultimate display of love. It gives couples a whole new sense of belonging and cements their eternal love. In Illinois, however, a marriage is not valid unless couples follow some specific procedures in the Illinois marriages laws. The Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act gives the right to a man and a […]
Southern Illinois Victim's Family Files Sexual Abuse Lawsuit
The family of a Fairfield teenage girl filed a four-count negligence lawsuit against the Fairfield Community High School District, the school board, and her physical education teacher who was convicted of sexually abusing her in 2009 and 2010. The plaintiffs, who wish to remain anonymous (John and Mary Doe), parents of Jane Doe, claimed that […]
Bright Young Lawyer a Shining Light in His Community
Sean McCumber, a compassionate family law attorney and partner at the Sullivan, Taylor & Gumina, P.C., was recently honored by the Illinois State Bar Association. Divorce can be one of the most difficult parts of life for every member of a family, but caring and successful family law and divorce lawyer is crucial to working […]
