By Jeffery Leving:
It’s time the government takes more action to address the cost of child care.
Child care has become so expensive that parents are being forced to quit their jobs to care for their children, contributing to the labor shortage and costing the government billions in lost income and sales tax revenue, according to a new study from the Council for a Strong America and the business group ReadyNation.
The study found the economy is losing out on an estimated $122 billion a year, and that not having child care, or inadequate child care, costs individual parents more than $5,000…
Continue Reading Helping parents cover high cost of child care benefits families and our economy

By Jeffery M. Leving:
A parent’s chemical addiction can have negative – even dangerous – effects on their children. Tragically, addiction to prescription opioid painkillers or illegal opioids like heroin, alcohol, methamphetamine, cocaine, prescription drugs that boost mood like Valium, inhalants, sleeping pills or other substances is far too common in Illinois and across the country.
How might it be problematic for an addicted parent to supervise their child?
Addiction can prevent an otherwise good parent from keeping their kids safe as well as from creating a healthy home environment with routine and structure. In a more serious situation, the…
Continue Reading Remedies in Illinois family law when a parent has drug or alcohol addiction

By Jeffery M. Leving:
You and your soon-to-be-ex-spouse told your family and close friends about your divorce, and you discovered the most favorable way to break the news to your children. Have you thought about what you should say to your employer? Whom should you tell about your marital split, and how can you restructure your career to accommodate your life as a newly single person.
Let your boss know
One of the few people at the office with whom you may need to share the news of your divorce is your boss. You may have meetings with your legal representative…
Continue Reading Divorce and work – what should you know?

By Jeffery M. Leving:
The asset division determination portion of a divorce can have a negative impact on a business or professional practice. Business owners can take steps to reduce this risk. Ideally, the business owner would already address this possibility with a prenuptial agreement. If drafted wisely, these agreements can help to shelter business interests in a divorce.
Absent a prenup, the first step generally involves determining whether the business interests are marital or nonmarital property. If the business began prior to the marriage, the business owner likely will argue that the business is nonmarital property and not eligible…
Continue Reading Dividing business interests in a divorce

By Jeffery M. Leving:
Divorce is never an easy process, but it becomes even more contentious if one spouse refuses to agree to the dissolution of the marriage. This is not uncommon. In fact, it is so common that the state of Illinois has developed a procedure for these specific types of situations.
How does the divorce process work in these situations?
The exact process can vary by state. In Illinois, it generally starts with one party filing a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage with the court. After you file the Petition with the court, you must correctly provide notice…
Continue Reading What if my spouse does not agree to a divorce?

By Efar Veronique:
A desperate man was saddled by the court with an enormous child support payment and child support arrearage, that he couldn’t afford to pay, and for a child that was not even his. He was worried that he would lose his license, lose his job and lose his liberty.
He called attorney Jeffery M. Leving for help. The caller told Leving that he mistakenly signed a voluntary acknowledgement of paternity for the minor child, back in 2006 when the girl was born. A voluntary acknowledgement of paternity, or “VAP,” is a document typically signed by the biological…
Continue Reading Duped dad prevails in court, won’t go to jail

Article provided by Jeffery M. Leving:
Father-child relationships are magical. A father-child bond forged from years of caring, playing, teaching, learning, talking, setting boundaries and supporting enhances almost every aspect of the child’s life. These relationships can be challenging, but they are irreplaceable.
The evidence is overwhelming that an involved father can make all the difference in creating a positive trajectory for his child’s happiness, health and stability.
The importance of a father’s engagement with his child
Fathers play an extremely important role in their children’s lives, even when the father and child do not live together or only have limited contact.
Continue Reading Father involvement has profound, positive impact on child well-being

Article provided by Jeffery M. Leving:
We know that more often than not shared parenting is the best option for children of divorced parents. Study after study has supported this reality. In one example, the American Psychological Association examined 1,846 children who were in a sole-custody arrangement and another 814 in joint custody situations. Researchers with this study found children in joint custody arrangements reported fewer behavioral and emotional problems. They also had higher self-esteem and school performance when compared with children in sole custody arrangements. In another report, a clinical psychiatrist reviewed over 50 studies on joint physical custody…
Continue Reading How can fathers best secure equal custody time?