If someone is making you feel unsafe, getting a restraining order – legally called an order of protection – can give you safety and peace of mind. But what happens if the order expires and the behavior continues? Or if you need protection from different people at different times? What about several people at the same time? Is there a limit to how many orders you can get?
If you have real reasons to fear for your safety in 2026, you have the right to get as much protection as you need. A Rolling Meadows domestic violence attorney can help
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Latest from The Law Offices of Curtis Bennett Ross Blog
How Does Having a Special Needs Child Affect My Child Support in Illinois?
If you have a child with special needs, you may worry about how their extra care will affect child support payments in 2026. Unfortunately, parents of children with special needs get divorced much more often than other parents.
This can put a lot of strain on whoever ends up taking the most care of the child. Children with disabilities often need more medical care, therapy, and support than other children. Illinois law understands this and allows courts to change child support to meet these needs. If you need help with child support questions, our Cook County family law attorney can
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Can I Challenge a Petition for Spousal Support?
During a divorce, spousal support (also called alimony or maintenance) may be a major point of contention. Spousal support is a court-ordered form of financial assistance that is paid from one spouse to another, usually for a specific time period, when the court determines that support is necessary to prevent one spouse from suffering undue hardship. If you are against the idea of paying support, a Cook County, IL family law attorney can help protect your interests and represent you in court.
At The Law Offices of Curtis Bennett Ross, L.L.C., we have over 30 years of legal experience, allowing
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What You Need to Know About Paternity in Illinois
For many parents, paternity is not an ongoing concern, but rather a given. For unmarried fathers and other non-traditional families, however, establishing paternity is a critical priority. If you are unsure about your rights as a biological father or need help asserting your parental rights, consider working with a Rolling Meadows, IL family law attorney.
At The Law Offices of Curtis Bennett Ross, L.L.C., we are well-versed in the laws surrounding paternity in Illinois. With over 30 years of legal experience, our solo attorney can provide you with qualified counsel and strong advocacy. We represent mothers and fathers in
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What Is Domestic Violence?
Domestic violence in any form is a harrowing thing to live through. All too often, the victims of abuse are pressured into silence under the threat of harm, further isolating them from critical resources. If you are experiencing abuse in your family or household – or you know someone else who is – you should know that you can take legal action for your protection.
At The Law Offices of Curtis Bennett Ross, L.L.C., our Cook County, IL family law attorney can help victims of domestic violence pursue orders of protection in a timely manner, as we prioritize our clients’
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What Are My Rights as a Parent in a Custody Battle?
When you and your ex have different ideas about how to handle custody, you may end up in a prolonged legal dispute over your child. If you are unfamiliar with Illinois law, you may feel like you are at a disadvantage during the proceedings. During this stressful period, having a lawyer is very important.
At The Law Offices of Curtis Bennett Ross, L.L.C., we can provide you with legal counsel to help protect your parental rights. With over 30 years of legal experience, our Skokie, IL child custody attorney has represented numerous clients in family law disputes, so you
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Three Important Terms to Know in Illinois Child Custody Cases
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,
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Can I Get Temporary Support During My Divorce?
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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Tips for Getting Through a Contested Divorce
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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What Is Child Support Used to Cover in Illinois?
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
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When Is a Guardian ad Litem Necessary in a Child Custody Case?
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
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How Long Does Spousal Support Last?
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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What Should I Do if I Am Being Investigated by DCFS?
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
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Can I Be Forced to Sell My Home in an Illinois Divorce?
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
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Can a Divorce Judge Order a Business Valuation Even If Both Spouses Agree on Value?
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
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Can I Stop or Undo My Illinois Divorce?
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,
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