Sometimes when married couples go their separate ways they do not legally separate or divorce, but enter into an informal arrangement regarding property and finances. A higher earning spouse may volunteer to continue to make payments on a joint car loan or other debts accumulated during the marriage. They may even offer to send money…Read More
The Divorce Settlement Process
During the divorce settlement process, it is important for each spouse to only agree to the terms they are comfortable with, agreeing to some issues and disagreeing on others is par for the course, as is responding with counter offers in an effort to find common ground where possible.
Attorney Fees for Divorce
Getting a divorce can be costly, especially if there are unresolved conflicts or areas of disagreement that can only be resolved in court or if there are complex issues related to the division of marital property and debts. Certainly high conflict child custody battles can result in additional legal fees, where the best interests of…Read More
Initiating an Illinois Divorce
After securing an attorney to handle your divorce, the divorce officially begins when either you or your spouse files a dissolution of marriage petition with the court in the county where one or both parties reside marking the legal start date of the divorce. The spouse who files the petition or complaint is the plaintiff…Read More
Preparing for Your Initial Divorce Consultation
Experience Counts One of the first considerations is whether an attorney has experience handling family law cases similar to yours. It is certainly okay to ask how long an attorney has been in practice, how many cases they have handled, and whether they have had cases go to trial to gauge their courtroom experience. The…Read More
Social Security Benefits When Divorcing After 50
Because divorces often occur later in a couple’s marriage, many have questions regarding what, if any social security benefits they are entitled to under the name of an ex-spouse. This is especially true when a spouse has little work history of their own, perhaps even making them ineligible for social security under their own record….Read More
Unique Issues for Divorce During the Pandemic
Following the holidays, many more spouses tend to file for divorce, perhaps postponing their plans to allow children or other family members to enjoy the festivities before starting divorce proceedings. As the new year approaches, those considering divorce may wonder if there are any obstacles to getting a divorce during the pandemic and what unique…Read More
Divorce Mediation Protects Privacy
For many clients considering divorce, discretion and privacy is of the utmost importance. They are concerned about their private affairs or financial information becoming public through a court file. A pre suit mediation is a process for resolving many of the issues in a divorce before the divorce action is filed in the courts. If…Read More
How to Prepare for a Deposition in a Family Law Case
A deposition is a legal process to obtain sworn testimony outside the courtroom. In a family law matter, a party to a lawsuit, expert witnesses, family, friends or others may deposed if they have knowledge or information relevant to a case. The deposition provides an opportunity for counsel to glean the scope of a party’s…Read More
Social Media Infidelity Can Lead to Divorce
Infidelity is among the top reasons couples divorce and social media has made cheating on a spouse more prevalent. Social media platforms such as Facebook allow spouses to communicate emotionally or sexually with others outside the marriage, which can signal the beginning of the end for many marriages. Research points to the fact that heightened…Read More