Posted on November 22, 2022 in Child Custody

For children, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, and other holidays are a time of joy, celebration, and memories. Unfortunately, they can also be a time of stress for parents who are divorced or separated. If you are a divorced parent or soon will be, you may be struggling to manage the holiday stress as a co-parent. There is no way to completely avoid parenting stress and conflict this time of year, but you may be able to reduce some of the tension. Here are ten tips to help you handle the holiday season with less stress when co-parenting.

Surviving the Holidays as a Divorced Parent

During fall and winter holidays, the normal routine can be disrupted. Children have a break from school, extended relatives visit from out of town, and events quickly fill up the calendar. All this change can be difficult to navigate as a divorced parent. If you are separated or divorced, consider the following tips for the holiday season:

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 Posted on November 10, 2022 in Divorce

Many people buy real estate properties and rent them out to individuals or businesses for profit. Owning rental properties can provide consistent income during a marriage, however, these same properties can cause significant legal and financial headaches during divorce. 

If you own rental properties and you are ending your marriage, it is important to understand your rights and responsibilities regarding the properties themselves as well as the income generated by the properties.

Marital Versus Non-Marital Property

Assets acquired by a spouse during the marriage are generally considered marital property jointly owned by both spouses. Property that is acquired before the marriage is non-marital property. However, there are several exceptions to these rules. Property that is excluded from the marital estate through a prenuptial agreement or other marital agreement is non-marital property regardless of when or how it was acquired. Property, including real estate, acquired through inheritance is usually non-marital property. Non-marital property can also become marital property if both spouses contributed o the increased value of the property.

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 Posted on November 02, 2022 in Divorce

When a married couple finds themselves frequently arguing, facing the repercussions of an affair, or simply falling out of love, they may decide to try a trial separation. The hope is that by spending some time apart, the couple will be in a better position to decide what to do next. 

Divorce is a huge decision and not one that should be taken lightly. By living separately temporarily, the spouses may have the space they need to figure out whether divorce is the right step.

When it comes to trial separations, results vary. Some separations end with both parties realizing how much they love each other and wish to remain married. Other times, trial separations end with divorce papers. If you are thinking about a trial separation, make sure to consider the following.

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 Posted on October 31, 2022 in Child Custody

Illinois Courts presume that it is ideal for a child to have both of his or her parents involved in his or her life. However, this is a rebuttable assumption. Ultimately, the Courts determine all child-related decisions based on what is in the child's best interests. If there is evidence that a parent's involvement in a child's life is harmful or dangerous, the Court may implement parenting time restrictions. Supervised parenting time or supervised visitation is one of the most common types of parenting time restrictions but it is just one of several restrictions the Court may enforce.

Conditions and Limitations on Parenting Time

Illinois law defines a parenting time restriction as any condition placed on a parent's parenting time. Courts only limit parenting time in this manner if the Court finds that unrestricted parenting time would "seriously endanger the child's physical, mental, moral, or emotional health." 

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 Posted on October 26, 2022 in Divorce

According to a recent report, nearly 75,000 individuals in Illinois suffer from Opioid Use Disorder. Drug addiction involving opioids like oxycodone, morphine, heroin, and fentanyl can absolutely devastate a person's life. These substances are so powerful that they often consume an individual's entire world, leading to financial instability, criminal activity, and the breakdown of the family unit.

If you are divorcing a spouse with opioid addiction, you are not alone. Many individuals in Illinois find themselves in this difficult situation. The person you are divorcing may bear little resemblance to the person you married. If your spouse is like many suffering from substance abuse, addiction may have changed him or her dramatically. Consequently, protecting yourself and your finances is paramount during the divorce process. 

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 Posted on October 17, 2022 in Divorce

Many people have heard of divorce mediation, but few understand exactly what it entails. If you are planning to end your marriage, you may be interested in ways you can reduce conflict and increase cooperation during the divorce process. Divorcing spouses who can reach an agreement about the allocation of parental responsibilities, division of marital property and debt, and other important matters are typically more satisfied with the outcome of their divorce than those who go to Court and let a Judge make decisions for them. Resolving divorce issues through mediation or lawyer-assisted negotiation is also much less expensive than a divorce trial. This blog will outline the general principles of divorce mediation and explain how a mediator may be able to help you and your spouse reach an out-of-Court agreement on any disputed issues during divorce.

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 Posted on October 02, 2022 in Divorce

Getting divorced is always a difficult process, but it can be even more complicated when there are high levels of wealth involved. If you are going through a high net worth divorce, there are some special considerations you need to take into account in order to protect your interests.

Hire an Experienced Attorney

When either spouse has a high net worth, you need to make sure you have an experienced attorney on your side who knows how to navigate these kinds of cases. The wrong lawyer could end up costing you substantial money, so you need to do your research and find someone who has experience handling cases like yours.

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 Posted on September 21, 2022 in Divorce

Divorce is not exactly known for bringing out the best in people. Yet despite conflict being common during divorce, your spouse should not be subjecting you to behavior that makes you afraid of him or her. Unfortunately, some spouses attempt to scare, coerce, or intimidate their partners during divorce out of a desire for revenge, to get the upper hand in divorce negotiations, or simply to be a jerk. 

This is not normal behavior, and you do not have to tolerate it. If your spouse is stalking or harassing you, your children, or any other member of your family, you may be able to take legal action in Illinois Court to stop the behavior. 

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 Posted on September 21, 2022 in Divorce

Millennials in America are old enough, big enough, and diverse enough to have become the most closely studied generation in the world. Larger than the Baby Boomers and more ethnically diverse than any other generation before them, Millennials make a fascinating case study. Closely tracked by almost every measure, we now have excellent statistics on the behaviors of Millennials in every major aspect of life - how they save, how they spend, what they wear, and, of course, how frequently they get married and divorced. 

People who are reluctant to get married often cite the most famous divorce statistic of all: 50 percent of marriages end in divorce. Yet, when it comes to Millennials, this may not be true. Data from reputable research organizations suggests Millennials are forging a path of their own when it comes to marriage and divorce. 

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 Posted on September 19, 2022 in Child Support

 Divorced and unmarried parents of minor children in Illinois often rely on their child’s other parent to make timely child support payments. When the parent responsible for making payments falls behind on his or her payments or stops paying altogether, it can leave the receiving parent in a terrible bind. Parents who are desperate to get child support payments back may understandably want to escalate matters but may be reluctant to get a Court involved because they fear the expense and hassle that could ensue. 

Unfortunately, parents who stop following the parenting time schedule described in their Court-ordered parenting plan because of unpaid child support can face legal consequences, just as a parent who stops paying child support can. Instead, it is better to follow the law and allow a Court, with the help of an experienced attorney, to take action against someone whose child support payments are in arrears. 

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