Few people look forward to having to visit a lawyer. In most cases, having to hire a lawyer means you are involved in a stressful, contentious process, especially when you are getting a divorce. Fortunately, it does not have to be that way.  A collaborative divorce is a process which allows the parties to work together through all aspects of a divorce without battling in court.  The end result is a self-determined written agreement for parenting, finances and property allocation, with fully informed guidance along the way.    
How Does it Work?
In a collaborative divorce, both parties have their own…
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I frequently receive phone calls from people who want to bring their elderly parent in to execute a Power of Attorney (also called an “advanced directive,” or “POA”).  Let’s say the call is from a Son in this case.  Dad, now in his late 80’s, conveniently put off any estate planning for all these years:  no will, no trust, no advance directives, even refusing to do so after Mom passed years ago.  Son knows what Dad wants, and also knows that his sister, or maybe Dad’s caregiver, has “borrowed” money from Dad in the past, or has an eye on…
Continue Reading Too Late! Power of Attorney vs. Mental Capacity

I frequently receive phone calls from people who want to bring their elderly parent in to execute a Power of Attorney (also called an “advanced directive,” or “POA”).  Let’s say the call is from a Son in this case.  Dad, now in his late 80’s, conveniently put off any estate planning for all these years:  no will, no trust, no advance directives, even refusing to do so after Mom passed years ago.  Son knows what Dad wants, and also knows that his sister, or maybe Dad’s caregiver, has “borrowed” money from Dad in the past, or has an eye on…
Continue Reading Too Late! Power of Attorney vs. Mental Capacity

The law in Illinois governing what was formerly called child custody and visitation underwent a significant revision in 2016. The terms “custody” and “visitation” eliminated  in favor of “allocation of parenting time and responsibility” or a parenting plan.
Parenting Plan
All parties to a divorce or parentage action in Illinois are required to submit a “proposed” parenting plan to the court. If the parties can reach an agreement, they may submit one parenting plan – if not, each parent is required to submit their separate plan.
A parenting plan will include two parts: First, the plan will include a schedule…
Continue Reading Parenting Plan in Illinois

The law in Illinois governing what was formerly called child custody and visitation underwent a significant revision in 2016. The terms “custody” and “visitation” eliminated  in favor of “allocation of parenting time and responsibility” or a parenting plan.
Parenting Plan
All parties to a divorce or parentage action in Illinois are required to submit a “proposed” parenting plan to the court. If the parties can reach an agreement, they may submit one parenting plan – if not, each parent is required to submit their separate plan.
A parenting plan will include two parts: First, the plan will include a schedule…
Continue Reading Parenting Plan in Illinois

There are three types of people who come to an initial consultation for divorce in our office.  The first type is someone who has already, firmly, made the emotional commitment to divorce.  They are ready to sign, ready to get that divorce on file. 
The second type is there much more reluctantly.  They have been served with a summons, or their spouse has told them that they have seen an attorney.  They know the divorce is inevitable, but they are leagues behind the other spouse in being emotionally prepared for what is ahead.
The third type of potential divorce client…
Continue Reading SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO? Discernment Counseling

There are three types of people who come to an initial consultation for divorce in our office.  The first type is someone who has already, firmly, made the emotional commitment to divorce.  They are ready to sign, ready to get that divorce on file. 
The second type is there much more reluctantly.  They have been served with a summons, or their spouse has told them that they have seen an attorney.  They know the divorce is inevitable, but they are leagues behind the other spouse in being emotionally prepared for what is ahead.
The third type of potential divorce client…
Continue Reading SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO? Discernment Counseling

What are “grounds”?    
Prior to 2016, Illinois allowed both fault and no-fault as grounds for divorce. Previous fault grounds for divorce included adultery, physical or mental cruelty, abandonment, drug or alcohol addiction, imprisonment for a felony, and impotence. In 2016 all fault grounds for divorce were eliminated. This left irreconcilable differences as the only ground, or reason for a divorce. Many other states also follow this model, making the divorce process simpler and less to blame for both parties.
Even before the fault grounds for divorce were eliminated, the relative guilt or responsibility of either party for the breakup…
Continue Reading Grounds for Divorce in Illinois

What are “grounds”?    
Prior to 2016, Illinois allowed both fault and no-fault as grounds for divorce. Previous fault grounds for divorce included adultery, physical or mental cruelty, abandonment, drug or alcohol addiction, imprisonment for a felony, and impotence. In 2016 all fault grounds for divorce were eliminated. This left irreconcilable differences as the only ground, or reason for a divorce. Many other states also follow this model, making the divorce process simpler and less to blame for both parties.
Even before the fault grounds for divorce were eliminated, the relative guilt or responsibility of either party for the breakup…
Continue Reading Grounds for Divorce in Illinois

One of the most common questions divorce attorneys hear from their clients is whether they will be able to collect, or how much they will have to pay, for spousal support (also called “maintenance,” and formerly called “alimony”). Suddenly, the family’s income must support two households instead of one. This can be particularly concerning for a spouse who has been out of the workforce while raising children, or for a person whose income is significantly lower than the spouse’s.  While spousal support is still an important aspect of any divorce case, Illinois is among the majority of states that has…
Continue Reading Spousal Support in Illinois

One of the most common questions divorce attorneys hear from their clients is whether they will be able to collect, or how much they will have to pay, for spousal support (also called “maintenance,” and formerly called “alimony”). Suddenly, the family’s income must support two households instead of one. This can be particularly concerning for a spouse who has been out of the workforce while raising children, or for a person whose income is significantly lower than the spouse’s.  While spousal support is still an important aspect of any divorce case, Illinois is among the majority of states that has…
Continue Reading Spousal Support in Illinois

Nearly every parenting agreement has a provision for “reasonable” communication with a child. After all, before the divorce, you were able to talk to your child every day in your home. It certainly seems reasonable to be able to hear about a good test grade or field goal, or say good night when your child is with the other parent.
So your parenting agreement may contain a more generic clause about daily telephone, text, or Facetime contact, or have a more specific directive that a parent can call between the hours of 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. It all falls under…
Continue Reading Telephone Contact with Children