Parental alienation is when one parent deliberately tries to undermine the other parent’s relationship with their child. This can be devastating for both the child and the alienated parent. While Illinois courts recognize this, it can be hard to determine what constitutes parental alienation. If you think you are the victim of parental alienation, speak with a knowledgeable Skokie, IL family law attorney to understand your options.
What is Parental Alienation?
Parental alienation is when a parent manipulates a child’s feelings toward the other parent, hoping to damage or even eliminate the child’s relationship with that parent. This can happen…
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It is inevitable that some marriages will not last, and there are many different reasons why couples decide to end their marriages. Sometimes, one spouse does something that causes irreparable damage to their relationship. Perhaps the couple did not work well from the outset, and as time went on, they grew bitter towards each other. Other times, a marriage starts out great, but the couple simply grows apart and falls out of love. 
Whatever the reason, there are also different strategies for couples to use during a divorce. If you still respect your spouse and you are interested in…
Continue Reading Can Uncontested Divorce Help Us Avoid an Ugly Divorce? 

When people realize they are ready for a divorce, in addition to the questions they might have about what it will mean for their parenting, their home, and their finances, many wonder how long the entire process will take. After being in an unhappy marriage and finally making the decision to end it, you likely want to get it taken care of as fast as possible so you can move on with your life.
However, the amount of time your divorce will take depends on the type of divorce you end up having. This article will explain how long…
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Illinois courts generally prefer joint custody arrangements. Even if one parent has primary visitation rights, both generally have a say in important decisions that affect their child, including making choices about their education. As homeschooling grows in popularity, divorced parents are finding themselves entangled in disagreements when one parent wants to homeschool the child, but the other is opposed. Some children benefit immensely from the social setting of being in school, while others are far more suited to a homeschooling arrangement. Likewise, some parents would be excellent at teaching their own children, and others would struggle. When you and your…
Continue Reading My Ex Insists on Homeschooling Our Son. What Can I Do?

One of the most common questions new clients ask at their first meeting with our Illinois divorce lawyer is how long the divorce itself will take. For many people, the decision to end their marriage was not an easy one, and they just want to be able to move forward with their lives and futures as quickly as possible.
The answer to that question is that there is no solid answer. Every case is different, and even the most agreeable of divorces can quickly turn contentious, resulting in long, dragged-out battles. The following are the four different categories of divorce…
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Although divorce rarely happens under optimal circumstances, certain issues can make the divorce process considerably more difficult. Mental illness, which affects one in six U.S. adults, is one factor that can make divorce harder for everyone – not least the person struggling with the mental illness. 
Parents with mental illness who have minor children may feel more threatened by divorce. Not only can the stress of divorce exacerbate mental health disorders, but the prospect of having a mental illness scrutinized in front of a court as parents make decisions about child custody can be very intimidating. 
If you are…
Continue Reading Does Mental Illness Mean Losing Your Kids in a Divorce? 

Around 21 million Americans have at least one addiction. Twenty percent — approximately 28 million adults — have an alcohol use disorder. People who abuse alcohol, drugs, or gambling not only hurt themselves but can also harm their relationships with others. Marriages involving a spouse who has an addiction can be deeply impacted, with some ending in divorce.
Illinois does not recognize fault in divorce. This means that when you file for a dissolution of marriage, the court will not blame either spouse for causing it. If one spouse was addicted to alcohol, drugs, or gambling, for example, it…
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If you are divorcing, you know how much stress it can cause emotionally, mentally and physically. If you have children, remember that parental separation or divorce is often traumatic for children, too. The effects of divorce impact each child differently, with most children in the same age group experiencing similar issues.
As part of your divorce, you will need to create and submit a parenting plan that outlines various parental duties and parenting time arrangements. To protect the best interests of your children, you need to customize your parenting plan with their ages in mind. If you need help tailoring…
Continue Reading Why a Child’s Age Matters When Creating a Parenting Plan

Divorce comes with many kinds of challenges. Spouses who decide to end their marriage often face financial, emotional, and mental difficulties. For homemakers or stay-at-home parents, these challenges are sometimes more pronounced. This is particularly true of financial difficulties stemming from divorce. Homemakers usually are not part of the workforce and have trouble finding gainful employment after the marriage ends.
As with many divorces, however, an experienced Illinois divorce attorney can help minimize these challenges or prevent them completely. If you are a homemaker facing divorce, consider discussing the following courses of action with your lawyer.
Ask for Interim Spousal…
Continue Reading 3 Things Homemakers Should Do in an Illinois Divorce

When people hear “restraining order,” they usually think of domestic abuse. These restraining orders, called Orders of Protection, are issued against abusive spouses. In some divorce cases, however, a court will issue a financial restraining order. As the name suggests, the purpose of this order is to protect against certain types of financial abuse.
In some divorces — particularly those involving high-value assets — one spouse might try to hide, spend, or destroy assets before it is divided between the parties. If you have reason to believe your spouse will do this, ask your Illinois divorce attorney to petition…
Continue Reading 3 Things to Know About Financial Restraining Orders in Divorce

Financial assets are a major part of the divorce process. They need to be accounted for and divided between the spouses. They also play a role in determining which spouse pays family maintenance, such as spousal support and child support, and how much maintenance payments are. When making these decisions, a court will take into account:

• Bank account balances
• Investments
• Real estate
• Pensions
• 401Ks

But what about less traditional financial assets like cryptocurrency? Crypto is considered a financial asset and can impact divorce in several ways, which this article will discuss. If you are storing cryptocurrency, make sure to consult…
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Many couples who feel their marriage is failing file for divorce. But Illinois law offers another option that some couples find appealing: legal separation. Being legally separated allows two spouses to live separately but remain legally married. It is seen as a halfway point between marriage and divorce and has several benefits.
Sometimes, however, divorce may be the better choice. The best way to know which is best for you is to consult a skilled Illinois divorce attorney who can explain to you the pros and cons of each option.
This article will discuss what legal separation is, why…
Continue Reading Can I Live With My Spouse if We Are Legally Separated?

Whenever a legal proceeding involves a child, such as a divorce or child custody case, a court can appoint a guardian ad litem. A guardian ad litem (GAL), which is Latin for “a guardian for the lawsuit,” is a person who advocates for a child’s interests in any court proceeding that involves an underage or mentally incompetent child. In Illinois, GALs are attorneys who have gone through extra training.
If you have questions about appointing a GAL for your child, it is best to consult with a family law attorney who can advise you.
This article will discuss what…
Continue Reading Can I Change My Child’s Guardian Ad Litem in Illinois?