Signing a prenuptial agreement before you walk down the aisle and say your “I do’s” may not seem like the most romantic idea. A lot of couples have the idea that a prenuptial agreement amounts to preparing for a divorce before you have even managed to get married. However, this is not the case. A prenuptial agreement in Illinois can do more than decide who gets what in a divorce. It can protect you during the marriage, and it can also serve you well in the event that your marriage lasts until one of you has passed away. Aside from…
Continue Reading 3 Reasons You Need a Prenuptial Agreement

The number one priority in a child custody case is the child’s best interest. In the vast majority of cases, the court will want a child to spend some time with both parents. Unless one parent presents a demonstrable risk to the child’s wellbeing, a shared custody situation is the most likely outcome. Using collaborative divorce to reach a custody agreement is often the best option. However, when this is not possible, there are a number of factors the court will consider in order to determine what type of arrangement would be best for the child. Your attorney will be…
Continue Reading How Do Illinois Courts Decide Child Custody Issues?

Dividing up the marital estate in an Illinois divorce is often a difficult task, but when marital property includes valuable assets, this can make asset division even more complex. If you and your spouse have decided to end your marriage but have amassed many high-value assets, you may want to seek the legal assistance of a skilled Illinois high asset divorce attorney for help in reaching a fair and appropriate divorce settlement.
Equitable Distribution
Illinois is an equitable distribution state, meaning that all marital property is divided between the spouses in the way deemed most fair for each spouse’s situation…
Continue Reading How to Divide Up High-Value Assets in an Illinois Divorce

It is estimated that there are just under 100,000 attorneys in the state of Illinois. With so many law firms to choose from, it is critical for a potential client to know how to weed out those attorneys who will aggressively advocate for them and those that simply want to settle up cases as quickly as possible and just collect their fees.
When a person is facing serious legal issues, it is important to find the best attorney for their situation. The first step is speaking with those attorneys who specialize in the client’s needed area of law. If you…
Continue Reading Questions to Ask Your Illinois Divorce Attorney

In the United States, a woman is killed as a result of domestic violence every six hours. One in four women in this country will be a victim of domestic violence at some point in their lives. Statistics show that every nine seconds, a woman is battered by her partner. Seventy-five percent of domestic violence victims have children living in their homes. Studies show that the closer a woman is to leaving and divorcing her abuser, the more dangerous the situation becomes.
At Botti Marinaccio, LTD., our legal team is well aware of these tragic statistics. If you are a…
Continue Reading Help for Illinois Domestic Violence Victims

It is fairly common when a person is going through a divorce to vent about their frustrations about their soon-to-be-ex on social media. Many people who do this believe that since they are in control of their privacy setting, what they are posting is not “public” view, not realizing that their spouse’s attorney can actually gain legal access to these posts if they feel it would be useful evidence in the divorce. This is why it is important to be cognizant of everything you post since it could end up costing you money or even parenting time.
Understanding the Full…
Continue Reading What Qualifies as Social Media Evidence in an Illinois Divorce?

The process of untangling marital finances is complicated and often very messy. Divorce is already a tough process in many ways, but when significant financial issues are at stake, an already degrading relationship between spouses can quickly become hostile. Every divorce is different, with its own unique challenges and complexities, but there are certain steps divorcing spouses can take to prepare themselves financially for a high-asset divorce. 
Be Cautious When Acting on Advice
Everybody has an opinion when you get divorced. You may have a friend whose attorney recommended they take a specific action that yielded positive results; your…
Continue Reading Three Tips to Help You Financially Prepare For Your Cook County High-Asset Divorce