If you’re getting divorced and have children, you may receive or have to pay child support. But, what does child support pay for and how does child support work in Illinois? It can feel overwhelming to navigate the complexities of child support by yourself. By taking the time to understand the basic concepts underlying child […]
Let’s start with a hypothetical situation. Assume John and Jane are married and John moves out of the house before Jane files for divorce. Months pass and John does not contribute any money to the care of the children. When Jane files for divorce, what happens to all of the months John did not pay? […]
Children’s issues are front and center in any divorce. In fact, you’ll have a parenting schedule and child support in place well before your final court date. But, how does a couple decide how to share time with the children? In most cases, it’s a collaborative effort. While there is no longer custody in Illinois, the […]
The word “settlement” has a bad connotation in the realm of divorce. No spouse wants to “settle” and assumingly take less than what he or she is owed or perhaps even compromise with a spouse that he or she no longer gets along with. However, the truth of the matter is that settlement should almost […]
There are two ways to proceed with any divorce case in Illinois: Settlement negotiations; or Litigation Litigation is what you think of when you hear the word “divorce.” It’s where you’ll spend seemingly endless hours in court, pay a small fortune, and deal with a contentious, disagreeable negotiation for months, if not years. This makes […]
Most divorce articles you read will tell you what to do as the spouse who files for divorce. But, what if you’re the spouse served with divorce papers? Then what? Getting served may catch you off guard. However, this is no reason to proceed through the divorce process in a clumsy way. In fact, it […]
Stay-at-home dads comprise 16 percent of the stay-at-home parent population whereas mothers comprise the other 84 percent. And, while statistics continue to evolve, one thing is certain: any stay-at-home parent faces potential financial difficulty after divorce. In most stay-at-home parent arrangements, one spouse is the sole breadwinner and the other remains at home to care […]
If you’re considering divorce, you’re considering all the financial factors that go along with it. For many, this means considering big things like property, bank accounts, retirement savings, and more. But, what about taxes? Few people are familiar with tax law. Even those who are sometimes struggle to make sense of what it’s going to […]
This title is counterintuitive to how you feel about the divorce process. After all, why would you want to draw out the fighting, litigation, costs, and other negative processes that necessarily come with divorce? The reason: Faster doesn’t always mean better. Depending on the unique circumstances of your case, working out a fair arrangement for […]
Many parents (wrongfully) believe that divorce is the most difficult part of a separation for children. However, the co-parenting that follows can often be even more of a challenge. This is especially true if parents are unwilling or unable to work together in the best interests of the children. Whether in DuPage, Kane, Kendall, or […]