Posted on October 15, 2019 in Divorce

It is hard to say exactly how many people have ever cheated on their spouse or significant other. Most such surveys on the issue are based on self-reporting, and those who cheat are not known to be especially honest about their behavior. Additionally, each couple may have a different definition of what constitutes being unfaithful. Of course, the statistics of cheating matter very little to an individual who learns that his or her spouse is guilty of infidelity. While many couples are able to rebuild after instances of cheating, others never fully recover and may elect to pursue a divorce.

Is Cheating Grounds for Divorce?

Under Illinois law, marital infidelity is not technically grounds for divorce. A divorce in Illinois will only be granted on the basis of irreconcilable differences causing an irrevocable breakdown of the marriage. Obviously, a cheating spouse can cause irreconcilable differences, but family courts in Illinois have no interest in establishing fault in a divorce. This also means, however, that the spouse who was cheated on does not need to prove that his or her spouse was unfaithful. In filing for the divorce, the offended spouse must only prove that the marriage is beyond saving.

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 Posted on October 08, 2019 in Division of Assets

Spouses who are getting divorced can, and often do, fight about virtually anything, but issues involving money are often among the most difficult to resolve. This can be especially true if one or both spouses have substantial wealth or high net-worth. However, planning is important for divorcing couples, no matter how much money they have. If you and your spouse are considering a divorce, there are some things you can do to protect yourself and your assets.

Gather Relevant Information

When you were getting married, you probably did not wait until a week before your wedding to start looking for a caterer or venue for the reception. Unfortunately, many people approach divorce in exactly this way. They do not do anything about the situation until their spouse actually files the petition for divorce.

It is a good idea to start preparing as soon as divorce becomes a real possibility. There is absolutely no harm in getting financial information together. Most experts recommend going back about five years and gathering as much as you can, including account statements, transaction receipts, tax returns, credit card bills, investment paperwork, and any other items that could provide details about your finances. If you are unsure about a particular document, keep it just in case. Make copies of everything and have them available for your lawyer and the court once the proceedings get started.

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 Posted on September 30, 2019 in Prenuptial Agreements

For many years, prenuptial agreements were largely considered to be necessary only for the super-rich. Today, however, more and more couples are considering using agreements like these. In fact, according to a survey conducted by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, more than half of family lawyers who responded said that they had seen an increase in requests for prenuptial agreements from the generation known as “millennials” (roughly aged 18-34).

There are a number of reasons why millennials might see fit to use prenuptial agreements, including the fact that they are getting married for the first time at a higher average age compared to previous generations. This means that they generally have more time to accumulate assets, debts, and other obligations before getting married.

If you are soon to be married and you are considering a prenuptial agreement, there are five good reasons why such an agreement might be a good option:

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 Posted on September 23, 2019 in Child Custody

If you are a parent who is considering a divorce, there is a good chance that you probably worried about how your divorce will affect your children. While you most likely realize that children are resilient and able to adapt, it is understandable that you might have fears about how your kids will handle your divorce and the related concerns.

One of the best things that you can do for your children is to commit to cooperating with your ex-spouse when it comes to child-related issues. Cooperative parenting—also called co-parenting—starts with a comprehensive parenting plan. A parenting plan is also required under Illinois law for divorcing parents who wish to share parental responsibilities. Your parenting plan must contain provisions for dividing decision-making authority, each parent’s days with the children, and other important matters. It must also address whether one or both parents will have the right of first refusal for extra parenting time.

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 Posted on September 18, 2019 in Child Support

Many parents do not realize the amount of money it actually takes to raise a child. When child support payments become a part of your monthly expenses, you may find yourself in a financial predicament. Child support is designed to help a child with unmarried or divorced unmarried parents to enjoy the same quality of life that he or she would have with married parents. In Illinois, child support amounts are determined by analyzing each parent’s income, employment, health, and other factors. If you cannot afford your court-ordered child support, read on to learn about what your next steps should be.

Never Stop Child Support Payments Without Notification

Illinois takes child support nonpayment very seriously. If you cannot afford your child support, never simply stop payments. Missing payments or paying only partial amounts can result in significant negative consequences. Parents who fail to pay their support payments in Illinois can have their wages or bank accounts garnished, tax returns intercepted, a lien placed against their property, and their driver’s license suspended or revoked. In severe cases of child support nonpayment, parents can face passport denial and even criminal prosecution. Parents who own $5000 or more in past-due support can also have their name and photograph posted on the “Illinois Deadbeat Parent” website.

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 Posted on September 09, 2019 in Child Custody

When parents get divorced and wish to share custody of their child in Illinois, they are expected by the court to create a parenting plan. This plan outlines how parental responsibilities will be shared as well as how decisions about the child’s upbringing will be made after the divorce is finalized. There are certain elements of a parenting plan that are required under Illinois laws, but many experts suggest including other aspects of childrearing in the plan as well.

If you are considering a divorce, it is a good idea to learn about what you must include in a parenting plan. A qualified family law attorney can help you make your parenting plan the foundation of a healthy co-parenting relationship.

Requirements for Illinois Parenting Plan

At a minimum, a parenting plan in Illinois must include:

• A designation of the parent who will have the majority of parenting time (custodial parent);

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 Posted on August 28, 2019 in Annulments

The concept of having a marriage annulled is one that is shrouded in confusion. Many people do not understand when annulment is a possible, or they assume that anyone can have their marriage annulled. In Illinois, an annulment is called a “Declaration of Invalidity of Marriage.” There are strict rules which dictate when a person can get their marriage invalidated, and only a small percentage of individuals qualify for annulment. Read on to learn about the annulment laws in Illinois as well as what to do if you need to end your marriage.

The Difference Between Annulment and Divorce

When a person gets a divorce, their marriage is ended. However, annulment does not end a marriage, it actually nullifies the marriage entirely. A couple who has had their marriage annulled makes it so that it is if the marriage never happened at all. In the eyes of the law, an annulled marriage never took place.

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 Posted on August 20, 2019 in Divorce

Making the decision to get divorced is never easy and the process of ending a marriage can be painful and tedious. Understandably, many spouses want their divorce to be over as soon as possible. If you have decided to end your marriage in Illinois, you may be wondering, “How long will it take for my divorce to be finalized?” The answer will depend on a wide variety of factors including the married couple’s life circumstances, wealth, and ability to cooperate during the divorce process.

Complex Assets and High Net-Worth Will Complicate Property Division

Illinois divides marital property according to equitable division laws. Instead of property being split exactly evenly with each spouse receiving 50 percent of the marital estate, property is divided according to what is fair or equitable. The more property and debt a couple has accumulated during marriage, the more work it will take to divide this property and debt during divorce. The amount of time it will take for property division decisions to be finalized will largely depend on how well the couple cooperates, the value of their assets, and the type of property owned. Complex assets like retirement plans, pensions, and stock options can be harder to valuate and divide than other assets. If the couple has other complex investments such as a family business, the divorce process will likely take longer than average.

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 Posted on August 14, 2019 in Divorce

The decision to end your marriage is never an easy one, but perhaps no other group has as difficult of a decision to make as parents. Many parents try everything they can to stay together, but ultimately decide that they simply cannot make their marriage work. If you are a parent who has decided to divorce, you probably spend a lot of time worrying about how the divorce will affect your children. While it is likely that the transition will be challenging for the whole family, children are fully capable of living a happy, healthy life with divorced parents. Read on to learn the top three tips experts say will help your children cope with your divorce.

Tip #1: Do Not Fight in Front of the Kids

The number one thing that mental health and child development experts say not to do during divorce is to fight with your spouse in front of the children. Because children naturally have a self-centered view of the world around them, they often think that parental arguments are somehow their fault. It is best to keep adult conversations away from the children whenever possible. If you need to have a heated discussion with your spouse, try to find a place which is out of kids’ earshot to do so.

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 Posted on August 06, 2019 in Child Custody

When parents get divorced or unmarried parents have a child together, there are often disagreements regarding issues of child custody and visitation. In Illinois, child custody is called the “allocation of parental responsibilities” and visitation is called “parenting time.” If you and your former spouse or partner have disputes about parenting time or parental responsibilities, you may require court intervention to help solve these problems. Illinois family court judges sometimes appoint a specially-trained attorney to help when parents have disputes regarding children. Typically, the attorney serves in one of three roles: child representative, attorney for the child, or guardian ad litem. Read on to learn more about the most common of these specially-trained attorneys, a guardian ad litem.

What Is the Purpose of a Guardian ad Litem?

Courts generally appoint a guardian ad litem (GAL) to represent the interests of a child, infant, unborn child, or other person who cannot advocate for themselves. The job of a GAL in a child custody case is to protect the legal rights of the child or children involved in the dispute. He or she will investigate the lives of each parent and anyone else relevant to the case. This may include interviewing parents and other parties, as well as visiting the child’s home and school and reviewing relevant documents. The GAL will then use this information to make a recommendation to the court about what he or she thinks is the best course of action moving forward.

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