People who decide to get divorced face many unknowns, particularly when it comes to property division. When two people dissolve their marriage, the law entitles both of them to marital property. Also referred to as marital assets, marital property is anything that was acquired during the marriage. There are some exceptions to this rule, but most possessions gained after the wedding belong to both spouses.
The operative question, then, is how is this marital property divided? Who, for example, gets the family car? This article will discuss that question and the mechanics of property division. Be sure to speak…
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Divorce can not only be emotionally taxing, but it can also drain your finances. Legal fees, alimony, child support, and property division all can affect your economic situation. However, dissolving your marriage does not need to break the bank. There are strategies that you can use to ease the financial burden that many people experience in divorce. 
This article will discuss three ways to lower the cost of your divorce. Consult an Illinois divorce attorney about other ways you can keep your economic future as secure as possible.
Stay Out of Court
One of the best ways to avoid wrecking…
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Divorce can be devastating for children. Research shows that kids whose parents get divorced are more likely to develop anxiety, behavioral issues, or learning challenges than others. They can become withdrawn and have problems developing healthy relationships.
It is common for a child’s relationship with his or her parents to also be impacted. Children sometimes blame their parents for the marriage ending. In some cases, children blame themselves.
On top of that, life after divorce takes a lot of adjustment, especially for children:

• The child no longer comes home to mom and dad at the end of the day; now

…
Continue Reading 4 Tips for Staying Close With Your Child After Divorce

When two people get divorced, they are both entitled to marital property. Spouses can divide their possessions among themselves or a court can do it for them. Either way, asset division is a process that can be very difficult, depending on the value of the assets and how complex they are. Some assets like real estate, for example, may need to be sold in order to be divided fairly.
However, you may not want to sell the property you are entitled to. Some spouses, for example, prefer not to sell the family home in a divorce. Having an Illinois asset…
Continue Reading Will I Have to Sell My Property in an Illinois Divorce?

For many spouses who go through divorce, alimony — also known as spousal support or spousal maintenance — is a lifeline. This is especially true for stay-at-home parents who will struggle to re-enter the workforce after the divorce. A divorce court will issue a spousal support order if it feels that one spouse needs the financial help.
However, alimony is rarely paid forever. There are certain scenarios in which your ex can stop making spousal support payments, some of which will be discussed in this article. Remember that the best way to know if your alimony is in jeopardy is…
Continue Reading When Can My Ex Stop Paying Alimony in Illinois?

Getting divorced in Illinois is challenging, especially if you disagree with your spouse on any issues. The process can be even more challenging, however, if you have the wrong attorney representing you. A divorce lawyer can muddle a simple divorce if he or she is:

• Incompetent
• Ignorant
• Unprofessional
• Dishonest
• Overworked

On the other hand, a great Illinois divorce attorney can turn a complicated, messy divorce into a straightforward process with minimal complications.
Here are five signs that it might be time to find a new Illinois divorce attorney.
Dishonesty
A good lawyer knows how to use the law to your…
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Sexual intimacy is widely considered to be a crucial part of marriage. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for a married couple to experience a lack of sexual intimacy. This happens when:

• A spouse suffers from sexual dysfunction.
• A spouse withholds sex from the other.
• The spouses lose sexual attraction to each other.

Some couples believe that a lack of sexual intimacy is important but not a reason to get a divorce. Others feel that if there is no sexual intimacy, the marriage cannot (or should not) survive. You must do whatever you feel is best in your situation.
Legally,…
Continue Reading Is Lack of Sex a Reason to Get Divorced in Illinois?

There is a lot of emphasis placed on the divorce process, and for good reason. Getting divorced in Illinois is a massive legal undertaking that requires a skilled divorce attorney who knows how to navigate the process.
As if that is not difficult enough, many people who get divorced must cope with the five stages of grief, also known as the Kübler-Ross model. This model is usually used to explain how people feel after the death of a loved one. Because the human mind often treats divorce as a loss similar to death, the five stages of grief also…
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In any child custody dispute, an Illinois court tries to accommodate both the rights of the parents and the best interest of the child. When those two things conflict, the court will side with the child’s interests. To determine what is in the child’s best interest, courts can use several tools at their disposal, one of which is a psychological evaluation.
A psychological evaluation of one or both of the parents can be ordered by the court if the judge is concerned that the parent may be harmful to the child. However, a spouse can also request that the…
Continue Reading Should I Have My Spouse Evaluated in a Child Custody Dispute?

When navigating an Illinois divorce, splitting assets in an equitable manner is crucial to the dissolution of the marriage process. But what if your spouse is not as forthcoming about his or her finances as you are? There are three common methods your spouse may use in an attempt to hide assets in your divorce. Understanding these tactics can ensure that, if your spouse does attempt to hide assets, you can be ready to identify his or her deceitful actions and make sure they do not influence your final divorce decree and damage your financial future.  
The knowledgeable attorneys…
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Not all divorces are equal. Some divorces come suddenly and shockingly, while others are expected and a long time in coming. In the latter case, the spouses may have separated for months before the divorce. One of the spouses could have moved out, and one or both spouses may have found new romantic partners.
While there is no law against having an affair, it can affect your divorce and you should check with a qualified Illinois attorney before starting a serious relationship before your marriage ends. This article will discuss three ways an affair can affect your divorce.
Your…
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When a couple gets divorced, one party is often required to financially support the other. This is referred to as spousal support, spousal maintenance, or alimony. Illinois law gives courts wide discretion in deciding whether alimony must be paid, how much payments should be, and how long they should last.
That being said, many factors go into consideration when a court makes decisions about spousal support. This article will discuss some of those factors and when a spouse may receive alimony for life. 
Keep in mind there is no actual formula that will tell you if you are entitled…
Continue Reading How Can I Get Lifetime Alimony in an Illinois Divorce?