Divorce cases involving children often raise difficult questions about parental fitness. When one parent suspects the other is using drugs or alcohol, they may ask the court to order drug testing. If you are facing allegations of substance abuse during divorce, understanding when and how judges can order drug testing is important.
Illinois divorce judges do have the authority to order drug tests when children are involved. If you are worried about drug or alcohol issues in your 2026 divorce, call our DuPage County divorce attorneys for help.
When Can a Judge Order Drug Testing in a Divorce?
Under…
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Imagine this: You and your ex are divorced, and you disagree about where your child should attend school. You want your child to stay at their current school where they have friends and familiar teachers; your ex wants to enroll them in a different district. You both want to know who gets to make this decision.
Sound familiar? This is a very common scenario for couples with minor children who are still in school. Where a child goes to school, and when you can change that school, depends on what your divorce decree says about decision-making authority. Some parenting …
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Divorce changes your family dynamic. You may need help finding ways to plan schedules, share information, and stay in touch with your co-parent. The right tools can make this easier. Today, parents often use apps to keep communication clear and reduce stress. These apps can also help you keep accurate records and avoid arguments.
Below are 10 helpful apps that many divorcing parents use to stay organized and reduce conflict. To learn more about your rights and build a parenting plan that works for your family, contact Goostree Law Group. Our Wheaton, IL child custody lawyer has walked many families…
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Divorce does not always have to involve a courtroom battle. In fact, despite what TV and film divorces portray, most divorces today do not involve litigation. Many couples in Illinois are choosing alternative paths that allow them to end their marriage with less conflict. In turn, this makes divorce less expensive and gives spouses more control over the outcome.
If you and your spouse are willing to work together, it may be possible to complete your divorce largely outside of court. However, it is important to understand what “staying out of court” really means. Likewise, having an experienced divorce attorney…
Continue Reading Can You Get Divorced in Illinois Without Going to Court?

The first time you appear in court for your divorce can feel intimidating. Your first divorce court appearance sets the tone for how the rest of your case will go, and you may not know what to wear, how to act, what will happen, or how long it will take. Understanding what to expect, both legally and logistically, can make the experience far less stressful.
As of October 2025, Illinois divorce cases continue to follow the procedures outlined in the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act. While every county has its own local rules, the process in DuPage…
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Many engaged couples want to start their marriage on strong financial footing, but few enjoy discussing what might happen if the relationship ends. Still, creating a prenuptial agreement — often called a “prenup” — can provide peace of mind for both parties. A well-drafted prenup does not only plan for divorce; it sets clear expectations about finances, debt, and property during the marriage itself. But what makes a prenup truly “ironclad” and legally enforceable in Illinois?
At Goostree Law Group, our Wheaton, IL family lawyers help couples write solid prenuptial agreements. We focus on your goals, interests, and Illinois…
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When a marriage ends, many couples find themselves wondering how exactly they should begin the divorce process. In Illinois, divorce begins with the filing of a petition for dissolution of marriage. Some people ask whether they should file for divorce together with their spouse, as a “joint action,” or if one spouse should file separately. The answer depends on your situation, your ability to work together, and what you want the process to look like.
Deciding how to file is an important step that can affect everything from how much a divorce costs to how long it takes. Since Illinois…
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Depending on your cultural background, the idea of an arranged marriage might feel outdated, unfamiliar, or even surprising. However, for some, arranged marriages are a completely normal, respected, and even expected tradition. While it may seem like an old-world concept in the United States, arranged marriages remain common across the world. Divorce statistics from these marriages raise important questions about stability and expectations in marriage.
Sometimes, people who come from cultures that do not have arranged marriages idealize the idea of having a partner chosen for you by the people who know you best. The truth is, whatever strategy you…
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Parents facing divorce or separation in Illinois hear terms like “custody,” “parenting time,” and “decision-making responsibilities.” These phrases carry enormous weight, because they determine how a child will be raised and how much influence each parent will have in that process. One question that parents often have is whether sole custody is possible in Illinois and, if so, what it means in practice.
As of September 2025, Illinois family law continues to use the relatively new term of “allocation of parental responsibilities” in the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (750 ILCS 5/600). While the…
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Divorce and legal separation create several financial questions, especially when adults have minor children. Parents not only need to work out their parenting time and decision-making arrangements, but also how they will handle the costs of raising a child once their marriage ends. Child support is an important tool for ensuring that children are cared for, but it often raises another question: How will it affect your taxes?
The short answer is thankfully straightforward: Child support is not taxable income for the parent receiving it, and it is not tax deductible for the parent paying it. But while the rule…
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Divorces involving complex finances can be highly contested and involve multiple appearances in court. One of the most difficult challenges in these cases is understanding what the marital estate is truly worth. Assets may include multiple properties, business interests, investment accounts, retirement plans, and sometimes hidden funds that one spouse would prefer to keep off the books. In these cases, our Wheaton divorce attorneys often recommend working with a forensic accountant.
A forensic accountant is a financial professional trained to investigate, analyze, and testify about complicated financial matters. In divorce, they play a critical role in uncovering hidden assets, valuing…
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Negotiating the terms of your divorce can be an exhausting process. By the time you and your spouse have agreed on property division, parenting time, and support, you may feel relieved and ready to move forward with your life. But even if both of you sign the agreement, the court still has the final say.
In Illinois, a divorce agreement is a binding contract between spouses, but it must meet specific legal standards before a judge will approve it. If the court finds that your agreement violates the law, is fundamentally unfair, or was reached improperly, it can be rejected.
Continue Reading Update: Seven Reasons Your Divorce Agreement Can Be Rejected in Court

Parents navigating divorce or separation in Wheaton or elsewhere in DuPage County are often most concerned about how much time they will have with their children. In Illinois, there is no “standard” custody schedule. Instead, courts and attorneys focus on crafting a parenting time plan that fits the child’s age, developmental stage, and emotional needs.
Goostree Law Group has decades of combined experience serving Illinois families, and we understand that custody arrangements are not simply about dividing days on a calendar; they are about helping children thrive after a major life transition. 
We offer free consultations, and our team…
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