Posted on June 12, 2023 in Divorce

A divorce can be a strenuous emotional and financial journey for couples. If children are in the family unit, their welfare and future become a primary concern for divorcing parents. As a result, creating a comprehensive parenting plan, also known as a parenting agreement, is essential to providing stability and peace for all parties involved in the Illinois divorce process. Furthermore, a parenting plan establishes guidelines for child custody, visitation schedules, and other important decisions. A parenting plan is a blueprint detailing each parent’s roles and responsibilities while keeping the children’s best interests at the forefront. 

If you need assistance building a robust parenting plan, contact a divorce lawyer familiar with the process and what creating a successful parenting plan may entail.

Cooperative Co-Parenting

Through a parenting plan, cooperative co-parenting can be achieved, providing a foundation of stability and security for the children moving forward. When both parents work together, especially after their marriage has ended, it will help the children involved to transition between parenting environments more easily without feeling any drastic interruptions. It also ensures that the child’s needs are met and that their schedules, routines, and activities are consistent between households. The key is mutual respect and open communication within the framework of the parenting plan. 

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 Posted on June 06, 2023 in Divorce

With any divorce, emotions can run very high. In some cases, a spouse may flat-out refuse to sign any papers related to the divorce. This may come from their belief that refusing to sign will result in the matter being put to rest. However, this is not the case. In Illinois, there are solutions if your spouse refuses to sign divorce papers. In any event, contact an experienced divorce attorney right away to discuss your legal options. 

What to Do if Your Spouse Refuses to Have Any Part in the Divorce Process

It is essential to be aware that in Illinois, you can file a petition for the dissolution of your marriage, even in cases where your spouse refuses to consent or sign any papers. Once you have filed the petition, your spouse will be served and will then be able to file an answer to your petition. Your spouse will need to respond to the petition within 30 days. If they fail to meet the 30-day deadline, you will be able to file a motion for default. 

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 Posted on June 05, 2023 in Divorce

Pets are important members of families, and when a marriage ends in divorce, deciding who gets “custody” of the beloved family pet can be a difficult issue for couples to work out. In Illinois, pets are generally treated as property in the context of a divorce. This means that the court will consider the same factors that it would consider when dividing other marital property. However, unlike other properties, pets are often seen as family members, and the court may consider this when making its decision.

In Illinois, all property a part of the marriage, also known as marital property, shall be divided in a manner that is reasonable to both divorcing parties. This means that the court, when deciding how to split marital property, will look at many things, including the length of the marriage, the impact each spouse has had on the marital estate, and the economic circumstances of each spouse. To ensure you understand what your divorce will entail, hire the services of a qualified divorce attorney to understand all matters pertaining to the divorce, including how custody of your pet will likely be decided. 

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 Posted on May 25, 2023 in Divorce

 Child support is essential for ensuring that children are provided for financially after a divorce. Unfortunately, missed payments can wreak havoc on the lives of the parent who is supposed to be receiving the payments, as well as the children involved. If you are a father in Illinois and your ex-wife needs to fulfill her child support obligations, you may feel overwhelmed regarding what you should do. Today, we will discuss the steps you can take as a father in Illinois to enforce your ex-wife’s child support obligations and ensure that your children’s financial needs are met. Contact a child support collection attorney to understand your legal options at this time.

Here is How You Can Enforce Child Support Payments 

If your ex-wife is not fulfilling her child support obligations, you have a couple of legal options for enforcing the order. In Illinois, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services (DCSS) administers child support enforcement programs to collect child support payments. Here are some ways the DCSS can enforce child support payments:

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 Posted on May 23, 2023 in Divorce

When a couple divorces in Illinois, one of the main issues that often arises is who is responsible for paying for their children’s college education. This can be a contentious issue, especially as college prices continue to soar at obnoxiously quick rates, leaving many families to wonder how they will ever pay such expenses. Several factors come into play as you determine who will pay for college tuition after a divorce. For more assistance on this matter, contact an experienced family law attorney.

What to Know About College Tuition Post-Divorce in Illinois

In Illinois, the obligation to pay for college expenses varies depending on the circumstances. In many cases, the court will require both parents to pay a portion of their child’s college expenses. The child may also be required to contribute. However, the amount each party is expected to contribute will depend on a number of factors, including:

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 Posted on May 18, 2023 in Child Custody

When a divorce proceeding involves kids, it is essential for parents to make decisions that are in the best interests of the children. One such decision is the relocation of a child after a divorce. Relocation can be a challenging process and can cause disruption in the child’s life. Therefore, it is important to consider various factors before relocating a child after a divorce in Illinois. For legal assistance on this matter, contact an experienced family law attorney to get the relocation process started.

Here is What to Consider When Relocating with Your Child

The first essential consideration is to analyze the existing parenting plan and custody arrangement. When seeing whether court approval will be required for the move, this will depend on the distance of the move and in what county the child currently lives. For instance, if the child lives in one of the collar counties of Chicago, which are Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, or Will counties, court approval will not be required for a move of 25 miles or less, regardless if the move will be in-state or out-of-state.If the move is 25 miles or more, court approval will be required, regardless of whether the move is in-state or out-of-state. 

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 Posted on May 15, 2023 in Divorce

 Grandparents can often play a vital role in a child’s life, providing emotional support, assistance with child-raising, and love and care. However, after a divorce, grandparents may find themselves losing contact with their grandchildren or perhaps even have been denied access to the grandchildren by their grandchild’s parents, leaving the grandparents feeling helpless and alone. If you are a grandparent and have been unreasonably denied access to your grandchildren, contact a family law attorney to learn more about options you may have at this time. 

Grandparents’ Visitation in Illinois

In Illinois, grandparents do not have a specified “right” to visitation, and there are various situations where the parents of a child may restrict a grandparent’s access to the grandchildren. The following are examples of when a parent may restrict a grandparent’s access to the grandchildren, including:

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 Posted on May 11, 2023 in Divorce

When high-net-worth individuals go through a divorce, significant assets are often at stake. As a result, this can make the divorce process much more complex than for an average household. It can also make the divorce process more contentious, with both parties fighting for their fair share. Because of this, if you are going through a high-asset divorce, you need to understand that identifying all the assets involved can be challenging. Luckily, however, that is where forensic accountants come in. 

Today, we will discuss the relevance of forensic accountants in high-net-worth divorces. If you are about to go through a high net-worth divorce, it is in your best interest to be aware of how a forensic accountant may be in handy as you move through divorce proceedings. Work with your divorce attorney to decide whether a forensic accountant may be relevant to your case.

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 Posted on May 09, 2023 in Child Custody

Parenting plans are an essential part of any divorce in Illinois when children are involved. These plans are responsible for outlining the allocation of parental responsibilities of both parents, which affects how essential decisions will be made about the child’s upbringing. The parenting plan also outlines how parents will handle parenting time, or the time each parent spends with the child.

Unfortunately, there are times when a parent breaches the parenting plan agreement, leading to a range of countermeasures, including taking legal action against that spouse. Contact an experienced family law attorney to understand your legal options if your ex-husband has repeatedly violated the parenting plan.

Here is What to Do if Your Ex-Husband is Violating the Parenting Plan

If your former husband regularly violates the parenting plan, here are some steps to consider taking, including:

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 Posted on May 04, 2023 in Divorce

When parents divorce, one of the most critical issues that must be resolved is child custody. In Illinois, child custody is referred to as the allocation of parental responsibilities, encompassing both the decision-making authority and parenting time with the child/children. If you are a parent getting divorced in Illinois, it is essential you understand what is most important to know regarding child custody. During this time, a divorce attorney will be a crucial resource for navigating the divorce and child custody process. 

Five Things to Be Aware of with Illinois Child Custody

Here are some essential things to know about child custody in Illinois, including:

1. Types of custody – There are two main types of child custody arrangements in Illinois. One is joint custody, meaning both parents share responsibility for major decisions and parenting time. The other is sole custody, where one parent is responsible for making important decisions regarding the child’s life. Generally, the court prefers joint custody, as it is widely believed that children are better off with both parents involved in their life and making important decisions instead of one parent having most of the say. However, there are situations in which sole custody is in the child’s best interests.

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