All married couples have disagreements. In some cases, those disagreements lead one spouse to file for divorce. Most of the time, once someone initiates divorce proceedings, the marriage is effectively over and the divorce will go through. However, in some cases, the married couple reconciles and chooses to call off the divorce. Divorce proceedings can take over a year in some cases. While the divorce is pending, a married couple may elect to seek couples’ counseling in an effort to save their marriage. Sometimes these efforts succeed, and sometimes they do not. If you are uncertain about going through…
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No one deserves to be abused by their spouse. No matter what has happened between you and your spouse, there is never any excuse for your spouse to abuse you. Spousal abuse can take many forms. While domestic violence is the classic form of abuse, there are other ways one spouse might abuse the other. Financial abuse, where one spouse controls all the assets to keep the other dependent is also common. Psychological or emotional abuse can be just as damaging as physical violence. Excessive control is also abuse. For example, if your spouse does not “let you” do things…
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Most spouses going through a divorce are able to avoid costly and time-consuming litigation through the use of methods like mediation, attorney-facilitated negotiation, or collaborative divorce. Alternative dispute resolution tends to work very well when the divorce is amicable, but it can also work for spouses who are not getting along. It is possible for spouses to settle their divorce out of court without even needing to be in the same room. These alternative routes to divorce have become popular because they can speed up the divorce process, save both parties money, and lessen the impact of any conflict for…
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Divorce is never a walk in the park. However, it does not have to be the dramatic legal battle depicted in television and movies either. Alternative resolution methods offer couples the option of ending the marriage amicably, without the need for traditional litigation. If your divorce case is complex, but you and your spouse want to end your marriage cooperatively, collaborative divorce may be your best option.
The Basics of Divorce Using Collaborative Law
Collaborative divorce is a process through which a divorcing couple works together to resolve divorce issues, including property and debt division, child custody, and spousal maintenance.
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Going through a divorce can be a stressful and emotional time. In addition to the lasting impact on your family life, there can be many practical decisions about finances, property, and other assets that have to be made. However, if you have very few assets and meet other qualifying factors, you may be eligible for a Joint Simplified Dissolution of Marriage under Illinois Law. This is a quicker and less costly process, but it comes with strict requirements and neither party may seek any spousal maintenance during the process or after the divorce is finalized. An experienced divorce attorney can…
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If you are considering a divorce and have children, you know you will face a series of difficult choices. Decisions must be made on living arrangements, custody rights, child support payments, and other difficult decisions. If you and your spouse are willing to cooperate, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) is one tool available to you which can avoid the traditional divorce litigation process and risk leaving the final decision on these matters to a court. Besides addressing the division of marital assets, ADR can be used to determine parental responsibilities, parenting time, child support, and spousal support payments.
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If every marriage fell apart at the first sign of trouble, the divorce average divorce rate would be closer to 100 percent than to 50 percent. Staying married is notoriously difficult, even under the best circumstances, and committed couples often experience frustrations that are common in marriage. However, there comes a point in many marriages where one or both spouses need to ask themselves whether they are staying in a marriage for the wrong reasons. If you are married and are unsure about the future, here are three signs you may want to consider divorce.
You Are No Longer…
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A divorce in and of itself does not have the power to impact your credit score, but many behaviors that are commonly associated with divorce can easily change your financial situation for the worse. Changes to household income, disrupted bill payments, asset division, and debt refinancing can all impact your credit in ways that can affect you for many years to come. Fortunately, there are things you can do to improve your chances of financial success and protect your credit during and after your Illinois divorce.
Be Aware of Debt Payments
Divorce may legally dissolve your relationship, but it does…
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 Divorce orders are complex and legally binding documents. Divorced individuals in Illinois may not necessarily like the contents of their divorce order, but without seeking a modification in court, the order must be followed nonetheless. Many parts of the divorce order have an impact on a divorcee’s everyday life, especially if she shares children with her ex. It is important to understand that violating any part of a divorce order carries legal consequences. 
What Happens if I Have Been Charged with Contempt of Court? 
Charges for contempt of court usually follow a petition by one former spouse against the…
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When parents of children under 18 years old get divorced, child support payments are almost always involved. Under Illinois law, both parents are responsible for providing their children with reliable financial support and, using both parents’ incomes, Illinois has a formula to help determine roughly what child support payments will be. 
However, many parents in Illinois have income levels that far exceed the parameters laid out by the Income Shares formula. When this happens, it can be much harder to predict child support payments. If you or your spouse is a high earner, here are three things to know about…
Continue Reading High-Income Parents and Child Support in Illinois: Three Things You Should Know

Creating a new parenting agreement or modifying an old one can be a difficult task that requires parents to set realistic expectations and understand how Illinois family law works. In Illinois, child custody is divided into two parts: allocation of parental responsibilities, meaning important decision-making authority, and parenting time, meaning the time children physically or electronically spend with each parent. 
Although parents are encouraged to create a parenting plan that they both agree on, if they are unable to cooperate, courts may intervene. If you are facing a disputed custody case in Illinois, here are five of the…
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