Divorcing spouses without children can walk away from the relationship after their divorce is complete. Even if they are subject to spousal support orders or other court orders, they are not forced to interact with each other the way divorcing spouses with children are forced to interact.
In a high-conflict divorce case involving children, parents are often unable to work together to raise children through a cooperative co-parenting relationship. Parallel parenting may offer an opportunity for high-conflict parents to reduce interaction and mitigate conflict while prioritizing their child’s best interests.
Restricting Communication to Reduce Conflict
Research shows that conflict between…
Continue Reading Parallel Parenting for High-Conflict Divorce Involving Children

In Illinois, physical custody of a child is called “parenting time.” When a parent has concerns about a child’s safety with the other parent, he or she may ask the court to impose certain parenting time restrictions. For example, a parent may request that the other parent’s parenting time be supervised by a third party. This is sometimes called “supervised visitation.”
If your child’s other parent or another party is seeking to restrict your parenting time, contact a child custody lawyer for legal advice and support specific to your situation.
When Can the Court Limit a Parent’s Parenting…
Continue Reading My Ex is Trying to Restrict My Parenting Time, What Can I Do?

Being a stepparent can be challenging. However, it can also be deeply rewarding. Many times, a stepmom or stepdad becomes an essential figure in a child’s life, acting as if he or she was the child’s biological parent. However, stepparents do not have the same rights as biological parents. For example, if a stepparent divorces the child’s biological parent, the stepparent has to no right to parenting time with the child. For this reason and many others, some stepparents choose to legally adopt their stepchildren.
Stepparent Adoption When the other Parent Consents
The law says that children can only have…
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Divorced parents and parents who never married are often subject to child support orders. Child support is a method for splitting the cost of raising a child between parents who are no longer together and ensures that the child will receive financial support from both parents. In 2016, Illinois changed the way child support is calculated. The amount that a parent pays is now based on both parents’ net incomes, not just the paying parent’s net income. Lawmakers changed the child support calculation method in order to ensure that child support obligations are fair and reasonable, given both parents’ financial…
Continue Reading Getting a Fair Child Support Order When a Parent Makes Money "Under the Table"

Childcare, medical expenses, afterschool tutoring, clothes, and groceries are just some of the many child-related expenses parents must manage. When a child is disabled, there are often additional expenses including specialized medical care and educational serves. If your child has an intellectual disability such as autism spectrum disorder, fetal alcohol syndrome, fragile X syndrome, or down syndrome, you may be able to extend the length of time that you receive child support from your child’s other parent.
Understanding the Cost of Intellectual Disabilities  
Parents of children with disabilities often face a unique set of challenges both personally and financially. Raising…
Continue Reading Child Support for a Child with Autism, Down Syndrome, or another Intellectual Disability