Posted on August 28, 2018 in Divorce

Despite the fact that over 800,000 divorces occur throughout the United States each year, many Americans still view divorce as a worst-case scenario. Divorce can bring a number of complications into your life, including child custody battles, disagreements about property division, and in many cases, a move away from your old home. However, for many married Americans, divorce represents a way out of an unhealthy relationship.

Why a Divorce Can Be Better Than a Bad Marriage:

According to studies conducted by The United States Census Bureau, 41% of first-time marriages end in divorce. While many Americans falsely believe that divorce represents a failure in their lives, in reality, divorce can represent the healthiest option for you and your loved ones. Below are five reasons a divorce could be the best decision you can make: 

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on August 23, 2018 in Divorce

For the thousands of Americans that go through the divorce process each year, change can be a welcome sight. For many couples, divorce represents a breath of fresh air after fights over their relationship, parenting responsibilities, and finances. Many people elect to move away from the area they lived in during their marriage and find a new place for them and their family to live. If you are considering a post-divorce relocation, there are many things you should think about before making the move. Below are five considerations you should evaluate before deciding on your new home:

1. The Real-Estate Market

When deciding on a new place to live after your divorce, it is important to understand the landscape of the real estate market. Are the housing prices higher or lower than your previous town or city? Is the rental market diverse enough to enable you to find the right fit for you and your children? Are there affordable neighborhoods with vibrant and safe community atmospheres? Asking these questions before you dive in to a new location can be immensely important in ensuring you find the house that is right for your family. 

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on August 21, 2018 in Child Custody

When dealing with the emotions of divorce, children often struggle to come to terms with the end of their parents’ relationship. The uncertainty that comes with the major changes in their lives can cause children to experience stress, anxiety, and depression. For children going through a divorce, the more emotional support they can get, the better. Because of this, many courts elect to appoint an attorney to deal with issues related specifically to the children involved in a divorce case. 

This type of attorney is most commonly referred to as a guardian ad litem (GAL), and they are routinely appointed in cases involving child custody disputes, domestic abuse incidents, and issues related to child support. If you are in the midst of a divorce, and you believe the well-being of your children may be at risk, asking your legal team about the possibilities of appointing a guardian ad litem may be critically important in ensuring your child ends up in the healthiest living situation. 

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on August 16, 2018 in Child Support

According to the United States Census Bureau, upwards of 25% of American children under the age of 21 have one parent living outside their primary household. While ultimately, the role of the custodial parent is the most critical aspect of proper childhood development, many children rely on financial support from their non-custodial parent. Child support payments can be crucial in helping a parent pay for essentials such as food, school tuition, school supplies, and many other vital ingredients to a healthy upbringing. 

Throughout the United States, as many as 21.4 million children live with only one custodial parent. If you are expecting to take on the challenge of being a single parent, child support can be monumental in ensuring a financially healthy future for you and your family. Finding competent and experienced legal representation can make all the difference in guaranteeing your family receives the child support you deserve. 

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on August 09, 2018 in Alimony

Every divorce is completely unique in various ways, but almost all divorces come with unanticipated complications. Whether these complications include child custody, asset division, or prenuptial agreements, divorce proceedings can be long, tiring, and emotionally trying. In the vast majority of divorce cases, finances become a top priority for both parties and their legal teams, and in many cases, the biggest financial issue becomes the financial dependency of one of the spouses. 

Spousal maintenance (also known as alimony or spousal support) ensures that a spouse who earns less than their ex-partner does not suffer from financial problems in the aftermath of the divorce. A spousal maintenance plan requires a higher-earning spouse to make payments to their ex-spouse for a certain period of time following the divorce, allowing them to meet their financial needs until they can become self-sufficient.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on August 06, 2018 in Child Custody

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are approximately 827,000 divorces each year across the United States. While divorce can be a traumatizing and emotionally challenging time for the spouses that are separated, kids can also face immense emotional trauma as they attempt to cope with the prospect of their parents’ separation. 

Divorce represents a change of monumental proportions in children’s lives. For young children, divorce can bring on an increased sense of dependency. For older children, divorce can increase levels of independence and even lead to substance abuse, academic decline, and disinterest in prior activities. Since you want what is best for your children, you should be aware that a joint-custody plan can often be the healthiest option for families.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on July 27, 2018 in Divorce

The divorce process can be consuming and draining. As former-spouses begin the process of establishing new lives apart, financial complications, custodial issues, and other details can make the divorce more complicated than initially anticipated. When a couple decides that a divorce is their best option, they have two choices. They can enter a courtroom and let lawyers, and ultimately a judge, decide on issues of custody and alimony, or they can proceed with mediation — a process in which the two former-spouses sit down with attorneys and a mediator and decide together how to best deal with financial and custodial issues.

In the state of Illinois, mediation represents a way to amicably and cooperatively work to find the best ways to deal with issues such as division of marital property and parental responsibilities. In the event that issues arise and cannot be resolved in a mediation setting, moving the case into a traditional family law setting is always possible. 

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on July 24, 2018 in Domestic Violence

According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), roughly 20 people are abused by an intimate spouse every minute throughout the United States. Tragically, an average of 10 million Americans face domestic abuse every year. Due to pressures the victims face from their spouse, only 34 percent of domestic abuse victims receive medical treatment for their injuries.

For victims of domestic abuse, divorce can represent the only permanent way to find refuge from their abuser. Unfortunately, even in cases of domestic abuse, divorce is never as simple as most Americans assume. For a litany of reasons, finding a dedicated divorce attorney is critical in ensuring you and your family can safely remove yourselves from a dangerous and unhealthy situation, and receive the guidance you deserve.

How an Attorney Can Help

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on July 20, 2018 in Divorce

Adjusting to life after a divorce can be incredibly difficult for the separating spouses as well as the entire family unit. For children, coming to terms with the separation of their parents can be an emotionally turbulent process. When courts are asked to intervene in issues of custody, sole physical custody is the most commonly pursued form of child custody among divorcing parents. Sole physical custody is defined simply as a custodial arrangement in which one parent has custody of the children for more than 50 percent of the time.

According to the United States Census Bureau, approximately 25 percent of all children nationwide reside with one parent. Adjusting to life as a sole custodial parent can be extremely challenging, especially as one simultaneously copes with the emotions of a divorce from his or her former spouse. If you are preparing for the divorce process and exploring the possibility of sole physical custody, contacting an experienced divorce attorney can make all the difference in ensuring your children live the life they deserve.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on July 16, 2018 in Divorce

According to US News and World Report, as many as 800,000 Americans are divorced each year. Divorces can be emotionally trying, psychologically challenging, and incredibly complicated. While most people struggle with the emotions of a separation from their former-spouse, it is important to have an eye on the logistical side of the separation. Understanding the financial implications of a divorce can make all the difference in ensuring a financially stable future for yourself post-divorce.

From retirement plans to the nuance of taxes, understanding how your financial situation will be altered after your divorce can be a tall order. If you are moving into a new chapter in your life and preparing for divorce, hiring an experienced divorce attorney can help ensure a healthy and sustainable financial future for you and your family. Consider the following fundamental tips that can help you help yourself during your divorce.

Continue Reading ››