The term “divorce coach” is one that few are familiar with. The word “coach” is usually used in connection with sports teams or mentorship. You will not find a divorce coach wearing a whistle or explaining football plays. However, divorce coaches do fulfill a similar role as sports coaches. A divorce coach helps a divorcing spouse navigate their divorce from start to finish, providing the emotional and practical support the spouse needs during this difficult time.
What Does a Divorce Coach Do?
Divorce is one of the most stressful experiences a person can go through. A divorce coach can do…
Continue Reading Should I Work With a Divorce Coach During My Kane County Divorce Case?

Originally published: May 23, 2014 —- Updated: September 12, 2022
The way Illinois describes child custody and visitation has changed in recent years. A parent’s power to make major decisions about his or her child’s upbringing is called “parental responsibilities.” The time a parent spends caring for his or her child is “parenting time.” Illinois courts encourage parents to work out the allocation of parental responsibilities and parenting time in a written agreement, but if the parents cannot agree, the court will make a decision.
If the parents have a “shared parenting” arrangement, each parent has the child…
Continue Reading Update: Understanding Child Custody More States Moving Toward Equal-Time Custody Arrangements

Originally published: April 29, 2015 —- Updated: September 2, 2022
UPDATE: Parents who get divorced or break up often face many complex legal issues related to child custody. To make the situation even more complicated, child custody laws change frequently. In 2022, Illinois no longer describes child custody in terms of physical and legal custody or visitation.
The way divorced and never-married parents care for their children is broken down into two categories: “Parenting time” is the time each parent spends with the child. “Parental responsibilities” refers to the responsibility for making major decisions about the…
Continue Reading Update: Understanding Child Custody

In Illinois, both spouses have a legal right to an equitable share of marital property. Some couples are able to negotiate the division of marital assets and debts without the court’s involvement. Others take the case to trial and let the court decide an equitable division of assets.
Before spouses can divide property, they must take a full account of what they own and what they owe. Unfortunately, some divorcing spouses try to deceive their spouse and the court about the true value of their assets. Here are five signs that your spouse may be hiding assets or lying…
Continue Reading 5 Signs of Financial Deception During Divorce

For art collectors and enthusiasts, paintings, photographs, sculptures, and other artworks may be some of the most valuable assets they own. Fine art has not only substantial financial value, it often has great personal significance. Both spouses may insist on keeping certain pieces which leads to contentious property division disputes. Furthermore, determining the value of a piece of art is not easy, and professional appraisers are often needed to value art assets during divorce. Unfortunately, some spouses may even use art as a vehicle for financial deception during a divorce. All of the factors can complicate the divorce process…
Continue Reading Addressing Fine Art in Your High-Asset Kane County Divorce

No one reaches the decision to divorce easily. Ending a marriage is one of the most emotionally burdensome experiences someone can go through. However, divorce is sometimes needed so that both spouses can end an unhappy marriage and move on to a better future.
If you have decided that you want a divorce but you have not yet told your spouse about your decision, you may understandably be dreading the conversation. Many people who seek a divorce still care about their spouse’s wellbeing and recognize how devastating the news may be to him or her. As you prepare to move…
Continue Reading How Should I Tell My Spouse I Want a Divorce?

Parents who get divorced have seemingly countless matters to figure out. Child custody, child support, and other child-related legal issues can be complex – legally and emotionally. If you are getting divorced and you and your spouse disagree on the terms of child custody, you may understandably be feeling overwhelmed. It can be hard to know where to even begin. This blog will discuss Illinois laws regarding child custody disputes and what to do if you need help with custody concerns during your divorce.
Essentials of an Illinois Parenting Plan
The parenting plan or parenting agreement forms the…
Continue Reading Handling Custody Disagreements in Your Kane County Divorce

Everyone who falls in love hopes that the relationship will last forever. Sadly, however, statistics show that this is simply not the case for every couple. Countless issues, from financial dishonesty to adultery, can lead to marital breakdown. Some couples are able to overcome these types of challenges while others cannot. Only the individuals involved in a marriage can determine if their relationship is salvageable. This blog will evaluate some of the signs that may indicate that divorce is on the horizon.
Indications Your Marriage May Be Over
Most marriages that end in divorce experience a slow breakdown over time.
Continue Reading Seven Signs It May Be Time to Get Divorced

Same-sex marriage has been permitted in all fifty states since June 2015. Homosexual couples have the same rights as heterosexual couples. They can get married, draft prenuptial agreements, get divorced, and be subject to child support and spousal support orders. However, divorce and family law issues are sometimes more complicated when spouses are the same gender. Read on to learn about LGBT divorce in Illinois and how you can get the legal help you need when divorcing a same-sex spouse.
Getting Divorced When You Are in a Same-Sex Marriage
Same-sex couples follow the same divorce procedures as opposite-sex couples. One…
Continue Reading How Does Divorce Work for Homosexual Couples in Illinois?

Intimate partner violence is shockingly common. The CDC estimates that approximately one in five women and one in seven men have been physically abused by an intimate partner at some point in their lives. Abuse may come in the form of physical violence, psychological manipulation, emotional abuse, or financial exploitation. Whatever the form it comes in, no one ever deserves to be abused by a romantic partner.
If you were threatened or abused by a boyfriend, girlfriend, spouse, or ex, you may want to consider getting an emergency order of protection.  
What a Protection Order Can Do For You…
Continue Reading How Can an Emergency Order of Protection Help Me Leave an Abusive Relationship?