Today marks the first day where divorcing couples can now petition Illinois courts for custody of their pets! Public Act 100-0042 is effective as of January 1, 2018, which amends the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (IMDMA) to award ownership of, and responsibilities for, any companion (service animals not included) animal a couple […]
On November 2, 2017, the House Ways and Means Committee introduced H.R.1, also known as the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.” Several provisions within are set to impact divorce, and property settlement. And, though its passage into law is still far away, and the bill is likely to undergo several revisions and changes between now […]
You’re getting divorced and your soon-to-be former spouse is ordered to pay either child support or maintenance, or perhaps both as separate or unallocated support! This alone might cause some to worry. After all, who’s to say that your spouse will pay the support he or she was ordered to pay? Wage garnishment is the […]
If you have minor children, you’re going to have a parenting plan as part of your divorce. However, not all parents understand what a parenting plan is going into their divorce. And, more importantly, not all parents understand what to expect as parenting plans are drafted, finalized, and implemented. In this article, we explore the […]
When you first begin the divorce process, it’s difficult to think about the long-term implications of your decisions. You may want to litigate certain issues, or fight with your spouse over items or issues that, in the future, are inconsequential. However, divorce is about more than just the money you have sitting in your bank […]
There are complications that arise throughout divorce cases. However, few complications arise well before the case even starts. But in a select few cases, there are spouses who refuse to accept the divorce and try to refuse, even if the case appeared to be an uncontested divorce. Don’t fret: Your spouse’s refusal to sign the […]
Most couples encounter two major issues in a divorce: parenting time and financials. Typically, parenting time is resolved well before the end of a case, leaving the property and debt division center stage. There’s just one problem: the financial issues are what push many cases from settlement to litigation. In fact, the most significant mistakes […]
It’s almost guaranteed that you’ll have to testify at some point in your divorce proceedings. Most often, this occurs at your final court date, or “prove up.” During this court date, both you and your significant other will stand before the judge and testify to certain facts in your Judgment and Marital Settlement Agreement. Your […]
Like any case in court, a divorce can be risky. If you don’t settle – meaning you don’t come to an agreement with the other side about issues in the case before trial – you’re leaving it entirely to the judge to decide your fate. And, while a pre-trial conference can give your DuPage County […]
In almost any divorce, spousal support isn’t designed to last forever. In fact, it’s designed to provide temporary relief to an individual who needs it after a divorce. The key word here is temporary. Maintenance in Illinois is calculated according to a statutory formula. The formula directs attorneys to take 30 percent of the paying spouse’s gross income and subtract 20 […]
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