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 frequently appointed…
Continue Reading How a Guardian Ad Litem (GAL) Could Affect Your Divorce Case

All divorce cases begin the same way – one side files a petition for the dissolution of marriage with the court. However, sometimes the divorce never makes it any further along in the process because of a problem with the marriage or the petition. Moreover, several issues may cause the court to dismiss the petition at the very start of the process.
At The Stogsdill Law Firm, P.C., we have handled numerous divorces in our firm’s decades-long history, from simple uncontested settlements to complex, high-conflict trials. Our DuPage County, IL family law attorneys can review your divorce petition to make…
Continue Reading Reasons Your Divorce Petition May Get Thrown Out of Court

Ending a marriage is often an emotionally difficult experience, but it can be especially hurtful when a divorce was caused by infidelity. If you find your spouse cheating, you may struggle to trust future partners. You may also feel that your ex-spouse’s mistress or paramour caused you significant harm.
In some states, a person can file a civil tort claim for criminal conversation or alienation of affection. In this type of case, someone can sue the person who broke up their marriage, asking the judge to award damages based on loss of consortium, mental anguish, and loss of support. However,…
Continue Reading Can I Sue a Mistress or Paramour for Causing My Divorce?

A lot is at stake financially during an Illinois divorce. Your marital property, retirement accounts, savings, and other assets are all subject to division. Even your credit score can be impacted by divorce.
Many people have concerns about how their spouse might handle assets during divorce proceedings. After all, the National Endowment for Financial Education estimates that almost half of married people admit they have deceived their spouse financially. If you are worried your spouse could waste, destroy, dissipate, or otherwise try to wreck your marital estate, you need to understand financial restraining orders.
Continue Reading What You Need to Know About Financial Restraining Orders

Divorce does not have to mean courtroom battles, hostile negotiations, and years of conflict. Nearly 95 percent of divorces in 2025 are settled out of court, and collaborative divorce is an excellent way of doing this.
Collaborative divorce offers an alternative approach that prioritizes cooperation, transparency, and solutions that work for both spouses. If you are considering divorce but want to avoid litigation, understanding what the collaborative process involves can help you decide if it is right for your situation.
The collaborative divorce process is fundamentally different from traditional divorce litigation. Instead of preparing for war, you and your spouse…
Continue Reading What to Expect from the Collaborative Divorce Process

Even when fathers do not willingly participate in their children’s lives, they still have a financial obligation. If the father of your child is not cooperating, you have legal options. Illinois law gives you clear tools to establish paternity even when the father does not respond. You can still protect your child’s rights. Our experienced DuPage County, IL paternity lawyers can offer guidance through the legal process. We protect your rights and advocate for you and your child.
What Does It Mean To “Establish Paternity” in Illinois?
Illinois uses the Parentage Act of 2015 to guide how paternity is established.
Continue Reading Can I Get a Paternity Order if the Father Doesn’t Cooperate?

Even though same-sex marriage has been legal in Illinois for years, civil unions have not gone away. They are still an option for both same-sex and opposite-sex couples who want many of the same rights as marriage without using that label. Many couples find civil unions to be a flexible option that fits their goals and beliefs. If you are considering making your relationship legally official, you should speak to a representative today. Our Wheaton, IL family law attorneys will explain the process and help you decide if this option is right for you.
How Do Civil Unions Work in…
Continue Reading Are Civil Unions Still a Thing in Illinois?

Divorces and custody cases come with hard questions. These usually include who will make important decisions on behalf of the children, where the children will live, and how parents will divide parenting time. Illinois law no longer uses the terms “custody” and “visitation,” instead referring to these as “parental responsibilities.” But what does that actually mean — and what do parental responsibilities technically include under Illinois law?
For parents in Illinois, understanding this term is important for knowing why and how family courts do what they do. At The Stogsdill Law Firm, P.C., our Wheaton child custody attorneys bring…
Continue Reading What Do "Parental Responsibilities" Technically Include in Illinois?

Most parents understand that child support typically ends when their child reaches age 18 or graduates from high school. However, Illinois law has two situations where parents may be required to support adult children. These include college expenses and children with disabilities. These payments are different from traditional child support and have different requirements. They can last for longer or shorter than normal child support.
The Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act deals with these types of adult support separately. There are also different standards for when courts will order them. As of September 2025, Illinois is one of…
Continue Reading When is Adult Child Support Ordered in Illinois?

In Illinois, many couples approach divorce wanting to reduce conflict as much as possible. Collaborative divorce offers a way to resolve issues outside of the courtroom through negotiation. However, not every couple succeeds in this process. When collaboration does not work, it is important to know what happens next.
At The Stogsdill Law Firm, P.C., our Wheaton, IL family law attorneys bring more than 100 years of combined experience to every case. We excel at the collaborative divorce process, but we also offer tough negotiation and litigation when collaborative methods fail.
What Is Collaborative Divorce?
Collaborative divorce is a divorce…
Continue Reading What Happens If Collaborative Divorce Fails?

While marriage creates automatic rights and responsibilities when it comes to children, unmarried parents have a unique set of matters to think about when it comes to issues like custody, child support, and visitation. In Illinois, these issues are managed by the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act, even if you were never married to your child’s other parent. The first step towards dealing with child custody is to understand what the law says and what that means for you.
Although people still use the terms “custody” and “visitation,” Illinois law recognizes child custody under the updated terms…
Continue Reading Child Custody for Unmarried Parents in Illinois

Public employees in Illinois are often covered by government pension plans, which can present a unique challenge when it comes to dividing assets during a divorce. One of the most important tools for dividing retirement accounts in Illinois divorces is the Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO). However, when dealing with pensions and retirement accounts specific to public employees, the process is a bit different than that of a QDRO for a non-state employee.
In this blog, we will explore how QDROs apply to public employees in Illinois divorces, including how to ensure that you are properly protected when setting…
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When parents divorce in Illinois, the court must decide how parenting time and parental responsibilities will be allocated. In many cases, joint custody, known under Illinois law as the shared allocation of parental responsibilities, allows both parents to remain actively involved in their child’s life. While the specific arrangement depends on the family’s circumstances, certain patterns tend to emerge in joint custody cases.
As of August 2025, Illinois law continues to prioritize arrangements that serve the child’s best interests, which include maintaining strong relationships with both parents when possible. Our large, well-respected firm has Wheaton child custody lawyers…
Continue Reading Common Joint Custody Scenarios After Divorce