Even in the midst of a divorce, when big changes are already in motion in a household, other circumstances can arise that create an even greater divide between a parent and a child. Sometimes new developments at work or with extended family surface, placing a parent in a position where he or she must decide whether or not to relocate in the wake of a divorce. In other situations, one parent simply wishes to retaliate or distance him or herself–and the child the couple shares–from the other, with hopes of starting over after the separation. Whatever the reason for a…

Marriage is not for everyone; however, there are those people who enter into marriage believing they can make it work and last a lifetime. Unfortunately, even for those couples who give it their best, they may ultimately decide to divorce. Indeed, most recent statistics available show that more than 22 percent of couples marrying for the first time end up divorcing in less than five years, while 53 percent of all marriages dissolve by the 20-year anniversary. Although divorce proceedings are usually carried out in court, litigation is not always necessary to legally terminate your marriage. Alternative Dispute Resolution…

In Illinois, marriage dissolution, or what is most commonly referred to as divorce, is the sole means by which a couple can legally terminate their marriage. The termination itself requires a judgment entered by the court, which a judge will issue after the couple agrees to the terms of the divorce. If the couple cannot reach an agreement, then a judge will decide the marital and child-related issues, including the allocation of parental responsibilities and other matters, such as division of property and assets or spousal maintenance (alimony). It is not unusual for one of the spouses to decide to move…

People going through divorce usually worry about how assets such as a house, car, or retirement accounts will be divided when the divorce is final. With information and technology becoming increasingly intertwined in evolving societal norms, however, intellectual property is equally becoming an important category of assets owned by a married couple. Intellectual property includes things such as copyrights, trademarks, and patents. Is Intellectual Property Marital Property? Illinois law defines marital property as property, including assets and debts, the divorcing couple acquired after getting married. There are a few exceptions, but this law is broad enough to include in it…

The U.S. Census Bureau reported that, as of 2011, 11.4 million married-couple households, or 21 percent of all married-couple households in America had at least one spouse born in another country. About 13 percent (7.3 million) of households had two foreign-born spouses, and 7 percent (4.1 million) had one native-born and one foreign-born spouse. With those numbers likely going up, along with it comes serious implications involving children, especially those involved in legal separation or divorce. Taking Children Out of the Country Generally, taking a minor child outside the country is not an issue if you have proper documentation…

Illinois is an “equitable division” state, which means the judge presiding over your case will determine what is fair when dividing marital property between you and your spouse during a divorce. However, the judge does not arbitrarily decide what is fair and equitable. Rather, the judge must follow factors provided under Illinois law which are listed below.    What Constitutes Marital Property? Marital property under Illinois law means all property, including assets and debts, acquired by either spouse subsequent to marriage with very few exceptions. By this definition, property acquired prior to marriage is not included, except in certain special circumstances.…

Child support payments are a significant financial burden for some parents and an important source of funds for others. Whether you are a payor or a recipient, you should know when child support payments can and will stop.  Child Support Ends When the Court Order Says It Ends  Your child support order should specify the end point for paying child support. In most cases, child support will end when a child turns 18, the age of majority. However, if the child is still attending high school when they turn 18, child support must generally continue until the child graduates from…