Peoria Family Law Blog

Often, people focus on some of the negative aspects of divorce, such as the amount of time and money that may be lost, stress during the entire process, the division of marital property, custody disputes and so on. However, it is important to note that there are a number of benefits associated with divorce. Not only can many people find peace of mind and a sense of freedom, but they may be able to pursue a variety of new opportunities after splitting up with their marital partner.

For starters, ending an unhealthy marriage can result in better emotional health. Someone who may have been depressed or angry during their marriage, or subjected to some form of abuse that was verbal or even physical in nature, may be much happier once they have brought the marriage to an end. Moreover, divorce can make it easier for someone to move to a new city, which may allow them to spend more time with their friends and family members or pursue a career opportunity that they have been dreaming about for years. Divorce can result in a fresh start and open many different doors.

Before you got married, you did the sensible thing and made a prenuptial agreement with your beloved. You outlined separate and marital property and what would happen to it if you split up. You never thought you would have to use it, but, unfortunately, divorce is now part of the picture.

Part of the process includes asset division, a usually highly-contested aspect of divorce. Illinois follows equitable distribution, which means that you may not each get exactly half, but instead a proportion that is fair to each of your financial circumstances without factoring in any marital misconduct. How does your prenup change the way the courts approach your property?

There are all sorts of issues that arise with regard to divorce, whether they are financial or emotional in nature. Everyone's circumstances are unique, and some people may face a more challenging divorce than others. For example, some people who have decided to end their marriage may find that outside pressures make the divorce process even tougher. Moreover, some people may find that divorce gives rise to other challenges in life, which highlights how essential it is to prepare for the different ways that divorce could affect you.

People often get divorced while middle-aged and for some people, this can trigger emotional difficulties such as a mid-life crisis. If you are struggling with this, it is vital to do what you can to lessen the emotional burdens associated with divorce. For example, you may be able to increase communication with your former spouse and work things out smoothly, or you might be able to give yourself peace of mind by having a clear idea of what your options are and the best way to approach your divorce.

In recent years, many people have focused on domestic violence, an issue that creates challenges for families in Illinois and across the U.S. In some instances, abusive people are held accountable for their actions, while other cases may involve someone being falsely accused of family violence. Moreover, certain details may be taken out of context or exaggerated and the harsh stigma surrounding domestic violence cases can spell disaster for someone who is dealing with divorce or other family law issues, such as a custody dispute. If you have been accused of domestic violence, it is important to understand how this could affect your divorce as well as your future.

Someone may be wrongly accused of intimate partner violence by a bitter ex or the other parent of a child as a way to gain an edge during a custody dispute. Sometimes, innocent people are adversely impacted by these allegations in many ways. For example, a divorce may be solely attributed to domestic violence, while these accusations could lead to an unfavorable outcome with respect to a child custody arrangement. People accused of this offense may have restraining orders taken out against them and their life may be thrown upside down in other ways that have nothing to do with family law.