Divorcing as a parent can be intimidating. You will have to view your bond with your child through a legal lens and make a case for a parenting arrangement that aligns with the court’s standards. You will also have to familiarize yourself with some potentially unfamiliar terminology. A Cook County, IL family law attorney can guide you through the custody proceedings and keep you informed of your rights.
Since 1984, The Law Offices of Curtis Bennett Ross, L.L.C. has stood as a devoted advocate for families across Cook County. As an experienced divorce lawyer and a certified guardian ad litem,…
Continue Reading Three Important Terms to Know in Illinois Child Custody Cases

A divorce can be taxing in more ways than one. If you are going through financial hardship during your divorce, you can request temporary support to help ease the burden. If you are concerned about making ends meet during the legal proceedings, consider reaching out to a Skokie, IL divorce lawyer.
As a Certified Public Accountant and a family law attorney with over 30 years of experience, Attorney Curtis Ross is qualified to assist with financial matters in your divorce. We can provide you with strong advocacy and legal advice to help you request temporary support while your divorce…
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When a couple cannot agree on how a divorce should be handled, the divorce is referred to as contested. While this may bring to mind drawn-out courtroom battles, a contested divorce does not have to escalate to full-on hostility and years-long factual disputes. A skilled Cook County, IL divorce attorney can help to make the process as painless as possible through careful preparation and well-reasoned arguments.
At The Law Offices of Curtis Bennett Ross, L.L.C., we are here to assist you through the hurdles that come with a contested divorce. Attorney Curtis Ross is a solo practitioner with over 30…
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In Illinois, parents have an obligation to financially support their children, whether they are married or not. To make sure this obligation is met, a divorce with children will usually come with a court order of child support. 
As the custodial parent, you may wonder what you are allowed to spend child support on. As the non-custodial parent, you may be concerned about where exactly your funds are going. A Rolling Meadows, IL family law attorney at The Law Offices of Curtis Bennett Ross, L.L.C. can address your questions about child support. If necessary, we can take legal action…
Continue Reading What Is Child Support Used to Cover in Illinois?

In divorces and other child custody cases, the courts will closely examine the child’s living situation to determine what is best for him or her. However, the judge may only be seeing things from an outsider’s perspective. To rectify this, a guardian ad litem (GAL) may be assigned to the case to investigate the child’s situation. The role of the GAL is to make a recommendation to the judge based on the child’s best interests.
If you are concerned about your child’s welfare in a custody dispute, our Cook County, IL family law attorney is certified to act as a…
Continue Reading When Is a Guardian ad Litem Necessary in a Child Custody Case?

 When a married couple separates, one spouse may need help adjusting to his or her new financial circumstances. In Illinois, judges can include spousal support in a divorce decree to aid struggling spouses. At a judge’s discretion, spousal support may last for only a short while or for a long stretch of time. Regardless of what you stand to gain or lose from spousal support, a Rolling Meadows, IL divorce attorney can stand up for your best interests.
Attorney Curtis Ross has over 30 years of experience handling divorce cases on behalf of his clients, and he is qualified…
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The Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) takes allegations of abuse seriously. All it takes is a rumor reaching the ears of a mandated reporter to prompt an investigation. Regardless of whether the allegations are grounded in fact, you should exercise extreme caution when dealing with a DCFS investigation. Depending on what the department finds, an investigation could result in you losing custody of your child. A Chicago family law attorney can advise you on how to respond to a DCFS investigation and work to protect your rights.
At our firm, we are highly experienced with matters of child…
Continue Reading What Should I Do if I Am Being Investigated by DCFS?

Most people are aware that divorcing couples need to divide their assets, but if you have never been divorced before, it can be hard to imagine everything that entails. Splitting money in a shared account and dividing stocks and bonds might seem straightforward, but when it comes to deciding what to do with your home, it can quickly become much more complicated. 
You may feel strongly about keeping your home, especially if your children have grown up there and you are their primary caretaker. Unfortunately, a judge can force you to sell your home during divorce, even if you…
Continue Reading Can I Be Forced to Sell My Home in an Illinois Divorce?

When two spouses in Illinois agree on the value of a business during divorce, they may assume that’s the end of it. After all, if neither party is disputing the number, why would the court get involved?
But under Illinois law, the judge has the authority, and in many cases the obligation, to question that valuation and even order a formal business appraisal, particularly when financial complexity, ownership interest, or the potential for future disputes are at play. Even a couple’s agreement can be overridden in the interest of equitable division.
This issue is especially relevant in divorces involving…
Continue Reading Can a Divorce Judge Order a Business Valuation Even If Both Spouses Agree on Value?

Filing for divorce is a monumental decision, and some people think they have made up their minds only to later discover that they are having second thoughts. What happens if you regret the decision to get divorced, not just emotionally, but legally? Can you stop the process once it starts? Can you undo a divorce after it is finalized?
In Illinois, the answer depends on where you are in the legal process. Timing, paperwork, and cooperation between spouses all play a role. A trained Illinois divorce attorney and mediator — especially one at The Law Offices of Curtis Bennett Ross,…
Continue Reading Can I Stop or Undo My Illinois Divorce?

Arguably, the most emotionally charged part of an Illinois divorce is often the allocation of parental responsibilities, commonly known as child custody. Understanding the nuanced laws that govern the court’s decisions and outline your rights as a parent is critical. It ensures that you approach the process confidently, and a knowledgeable Skokie, IL parental responsibilities attorney can help.
What Are Decision-Making Responsibilities in an Illinois Custody Case?
In Illinois, “parental responsibilities” is an umbrella phrase encompassing the allocation of decision-making rights and parenting time, formerly known as legal custody and visitation, respectively. The decision-making component is divided into four…
Continue Reading What Are the Components of Parental Responsibilities in Illinois?

If you are getting a divorce, the idea of splitting your hard-earned retirement savings with your spouse might feel frustrating and even unfair – especially if your spouse did not work as hard as you have or did not work at all. You may have spent decades contributing to a 401(k) or pension, only to find that it is now considered marital property and your spouse is likely to walk away with a significant portion. In Illinois, this outcome is not unusual.
Understanding why complex financial issues like dividing retirement savings are such a major part of divorce can…
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When a couple starts to question the future of their relationship, taking action can be scary. Often, people jump straight to divorce without knowing that legal separation is an option. Others simply do not know the difference between the two. Understanding your options is vital to ensuring you make an informed decision, and an experienced Illinois divorce attorney can help.
Legal Differences Between Separation and Divorce
Under a legal separation, you and your spouse can separate your lives very similar to how you would in a divorce. This typically includes dividing assets from the marriage, such as real estate, bank,…
Continue Reading Legal Separation vs. Divorce in Illinois