Private equity partners, venture capitalists, and hedge fund managers and employees deal with intricately detailed financial transactions every day. These employees are typically very well compensated for their skills and knowledge, and their divorces can end up being more complicated than a typical divorce by orders of magnitude. 
Just one of the areas of compensation that may need to be handled in such a divorce is carried interest. Carried interest is a complex area of finance that usually needs to be viewed as part of a spouse’s overall income. Its involvement in divorce often makes necessary the help of financial…
Continue Reading What is Carried Interest and How is it Handled in a Divorce?

Anyone who is a parent knows that to care for a child is to expect the unexpected. Children are constantly growing, learning, and making mistakes, and their needs are constantly in flux. While child support payments are ordered after a divorce or separation and are meant to cover a child’s basic needs, a sudden change in circumstances can make caring for a child become much more expensive. If you are wondering whether you can petition a court to modify your child support payments to cover new expenses, read this brief overview and contact an Illinois child support attorney. 
Can I…
Continue Reading Which Parent Pays for Unexpected Child Expenses?

Some couples want to separate from each other but know for sure they do not want to get divorced. Other times, couples are unsure whether their separation will be permanent but may know that their marriage cannot succeed if they continue living together as-is. Whatever the reasons may be, a legal separation might be a better alternative for some couples than a permanent divorce. If you and your spouse are considering going your separate ways, it is important to talk to an Illinois family law attorney who can help you make the best decision for you. 
Why Get a…
Continue Reading Can a Couple Remain Legally Separated Forever?

Couples with a high net worth often have a broad portfolio of assets they use to diversify their investments and ensure their risk is spread out across both high-risk and low-risk areas. Rented real estate presents a prime opportunity for couples who can afford the down payments to have an asset that is all but guaranteed to increase in value while also providing rental income. 
Jointly owned investment properties are considered part of the marital estate and must be divided in an Illinois divorce. A couple may strongly disagree about how they want to manage both the value and…
Continue Reading How is Commercial Real Estate Divided in a Divorce?

Domestic violence is a poison that infects every area of a victim’s life. Victims often live in fear for many years before they feel prepared to take action, frequently due to a legitimate belief that domestic violence will escalate or worsen if the abuser discovers the victim is trying to leave. 
Sadly, divorce is usually a heated affair, and false accusations of domestic violence are easily leveled by spouses trying to get the upper hand in matters of child custody. This makes it essential to ensure accusations of domestic violence are backed up with proof. Collecting this proof, however,…
Continue Reading How Can I Prove Domestic Violence in My Divorce Case?

The vast majority of married couples know that differences in financial decision-making have the potential to be a source of conflict. Even when financial differences are not the main source of conflict in a relationship, divorce is well known for the devastating impact it can have on both spouses’ finances as they transition to life beyond marriage. 
For all couples, and perhaps especially high-net-worth couples, managing finances responsibly during divorce is of utmost importance. Although assets will need to be divided, they can still be managed in a way that allows couples to maximize their portfolio’s potential before, during,…
Continue Reading Five Tips for Continuing to Handle Your Investments During Divorce 

Many divorced parents of minor children remarry before their children reach adulthood and move out of the home. And while stepparents, stepsiblings, and the half-brothers and -sisters that come later are a very common feature of American family life, blended families are not without their problems. One of the most difficult parts of putting together children from different families is the inherent differences in opinion between the newly married parents, as well as the children’s parents from previous marriages, regarding how discipline should be handled. 
Nearly all parents agree that children need structure and discipline, but there are widely varied…
Continue Reading Can a Step-Parent Discipline a Child in Illinois?

While fiercely litigated divorces and heated child custody disputes were more common in the past, Illinois family courts today try to ensure all children are provided with opportunities to have warm relationships with both parents. Unless there is a good reason to do otherwise, the assumption is that both parents will be involved in a child’s life. While parents are encouraged to resolve parenting disputes on their own or with the help of a mediator, when a judge does have to get involved, one of the factors she can use to determine whether a parent is suitable to spend time…
Continue Reading What Can I Do if My Spouse is Trying to Alienate Me From My Children?

Among all the other important questions an engaged Illinois couple must ask each other is whether they want to sign a prenuptial agreement. Even if a couple feels completely committed to a each other, discussing a prenup can bring up some sticky issues. Is it bad luck to discuss a divorce this early? How much do you really want to share financially? Here are some things to think about as you consider whether a prenup is right for you and your fiancé. 
Potential Benefits of Signing a Prenup
While every couple starts their marriage off on a high note,…
Continue Reading Should Every Illinois Couple Create a Prenuptial Agreement?

With the help of a mediator or collaborative divorce team, most parents can come to an agreement about a parenting plan during their Illinois divorce. But for some families, the presence of domestic violence, substance abuse, or the death of a parent can make negotiating and planning difficult or impossible. 
When parents cannot make decisions in a child’s best interests, a judge will do so. While a judge has to use discretion and good judgement, a “child’s best interests” is not a completely subjective term. Rather, the Illinois legislature gives up at least 15 factors that a judge could…
Continue Reading How Do Illinois Judges Determine a Child's Best Interests?

The family has never been as varied or flexible in its structure as it is today. While many families are still made up of the stereotypical two-parent mother-father household, many more families are built from strong, single parents–including people who are successfully co-parenting despite never having been married. If you recently discovered someone is expecting your child, you may be wondering if you have parental rights. Read on to learn more about establishing paternity and custody for fathers who have never been married to their child’s mother. 
Do I Need to Establish Paternity? 
Before you can establish any kind of…
Continue Reading Can I Get Custody of My Child if I Was Never Married to the Mother?

Even in the most amicable of circumstances, divorce is rarely easy. Yet a couple that is committed to negotiating a divorce settlement peacefully can nearly always do so, especially with the help of a great Illinois divorce attorney-mediator. A mediator is a neutral third party that helps a couple express their priorities, communicate calmly, and focus on achieving mutually satisfying results. If you and your ex can communicate reasonably, here are four issues that mediation can help resolve in your divorce. 
Asset Division
Every divorcing couple must divide their marital assets. A lot is at stake, both financially and personally,…
Continue Reading Four Issues Mediation Can Help Resolve During Divorce