Peoria Family Law Blog

When your ex publicizes family law matters

On behalf of Butler Giraudo & Meister posted in Fathers' Rights on Tuesday, October 16, 2018.

Our law office realizes that a father may have to work through many challenges both during and after the divorce process. Unfortunately, some people can have an especially difficult time during this process because their former spouse wants to make things as hard as possible. Some may deal with false allegations that completely shatter them, such as claims that they were verbally or physically abusive even though they never abused any family member. Moreover, some people may want to publicize a family law matter by appearing on national television or posting personal information to their blog or social media profile.

When these issues become publicized, some people may feel hopeless and want to give up. However, if your former spouse has violated your rights in any way, it is pivotal to protect yourself. If false allegations have arisen, you should review your legal options and do everything you can to protect your reputation from further harm. Some people choose to publicize these matters because they want attention or pity, while others may do so in an attempt to throw their former marital partner under the bus and destroy their life.

Custody considerations involving special needs children

On behalf of Butler Giraudo & Meister posted in Fathers' Rights on Tuesday, October 9, 2018.

Any father may have a difficult time while ending their marriage, especially when it comes to child custody. With that said, custody can be particularly difficult for some parents to handle, such as those who have special needs children. If you are a parent of a special needs child, you may need to pay particularly close attention to the custody process and you should do all that you can to ensure that your child will receive the care that they need. When it comes to custody cases involving special needs children, there are some unique considerations for parents to go over.

First of all, some special needs kids may have a particularly hard time coping with their parents' divorce from an emotional or physical viewpoint. For example, constantly going from one home to the other can be especially difficult and it may be necessary to consider how your child will be impacted by the custody arrangement. Special needs kids may also have serious medical conditions or health requirements, and each parent's ability to make key decisions can also affect special needs kids in this regard.

Adoption, divorce and child custody

On behalf of Butler Giraudo & Meister posted in Fathers' Rights on Tuesday, October 2, 2018.

Divorce can bring many different questions and challenges, whether they involve finances (alimony, child support, etc.) or stress over going to court. However, divorce matters which involve children can be particularly tough, especially when it comes to child custody. Moreover, this may be especially true for some parents who have adopted their child. If you have an adopted child, you may be wondering how custody will be determined and what your options are. As with all custody cases, it is pivotal to know your rights and approach this issue carefully.

First off, every family is in a unique position. For example, you may have recently adopted your child, who is the biological child of your spouse, and you could be worried that this will have a negative impact on your pursuit of child custody. There are a wide variety of factors that the court will go over with regard to custody decisions and you should do everything that you can to prepare.

How can I be a better father after divorce?

On behalf of Butler Giraudo & Meister posted in Fathers' Rights on Friday, September 28, 2018.

If you've recently gone through a divorce in Illinois, the process has most likely been tough on your kids. That's why it's crucial for you to be the best father possible after a divorce, which will allow you to form a strong, loving bond with your child just when they need it most. Fatherhood.org offers the following advice on how you can improve your parenting skills and strengthen the bond with your kids.

Set a positive example

Modifying a parenting plan

On behalf of Butler Giraudo & Meister on Saturday, September 22, 2018.

Whether you arrived at your current parenting plan through agreement or had it ordered by the court after litigation, there may come a time when it no longer works for you and your children. Illinois law allows for the modification of a parenting plan when circumstances warrant it.

The most important thing parents need to know is that they should always apply to the court for an official modification order. This is true even if the other parent agrees to simply change things. However, if he or she has a change of mind in the future, you may find yourself facing the consequences of disobeying a court order.

When threats are made over custody and child support

On behalf of Butler Giraudo & Meister posted in Fathers' Rights on Monday, September 17, 2018.

We have covered a myriad of fathers' rights issues but in this post, we will look into threats over custody and child support, a problem that many fathers have had to deal with. Family law matters which involve children and finances can be very hard for both parties, especially from an emotional point of view. Sometimes, these strong emotions can lead to threats or even actual violence, which is especially concerning when children are involved. Across the state of Illinois, it is crucial for parents to do what they can to protect their children and their own interests and make sure that any threats are dealt with appropriately.

If you recently split up with your spouse and they are unhappy with the outcome of a custody dispute, they may threaten you in a number of ways. Moreover, a non-custodial parent who is struggling to pay child support for whatever reason may also be exposed to serious threats. These threats may seem relatively minor, or they may be extremely significant, such as threats involving violence. These threats should be taken very seriously and they may also have an impact on custody.

Custody and child support, from a father's perspective

On behalf of Butler Giraudo & Meister posted in Fathers' Rights on Thursday, September 13, 2018.

If you are a father and are preparing for the process of divorce, you may have many questions on your mind and you could be worried about the outcome of your divorce. Or, perhaps you have already been through a divorce but you are worried about other family law matters, from securing your visitation rights to modifying your child support order because your financial well-being has changed considerably. Regardless, it is important to handle these matters with care and to not only realize your rights but to identify areas of concern and figure out the most practical direction forward.

From a father's perspective, family law matters may seem daunting. Some fathers may worry that they will have no chance when it comes to securing custody rights. However, things have changed in recent years and more and more men have been able to secure custody rights. Aside from child custody, there are other family law issues involving children which can be very stressful for fathers, such as child support. There are multiple reasons why some fathers have a hard time paying child support, such as those who have found themselves out of a job or men who are suffering due to a health problem they never saw coming.

Work-related challenges and your custody dispute

On behalf of Butler Giraudo & Meister posted in Fathers' Rights on Thursday, September 6, 2018.

If you have recently split up with your spouse, or divorce is around the corner, you could be going through a variety of difficulties related to family law. For example, you may be facing financial challenges due to spousal support payments or a child support order. However, family law issues which involve your children and your ability to spend time with your kids can be especially emotional. To make things more complicated, other issues you may be struggling with in life, such as problems at work, can also get in the way.

From wrongful termination to discrimination, disagreements with co-workers, concerns about your job security or even day-to-day stress, the workplace can be challenging for all sorts of reasons. However, it is important for you to do what you can to prevent these hardships from increasing the chances of a negative outcome with respect to your child custody case. Regrettably, some people have had to deal with temporary problems at work that have resulted in long-term difficulties regarding some aspect of family law.

Why are some fathers falsely accused of family violence?

On behalf of Butler Giraudo & Meister posted in Fathers' Rights on Friday, August 31, 2018.

Domestic violence is a very serious matter and we have covered a number of issues related to this topic on our blog. At Butler Giraudo & Meister, we know that family violence is a tough topic for some families in Peoria and all around Illinois. Aside from those who are subjected to abuse, which can make daily life incredibly hard, some people also struggle with this issue because they are facing false allegations. Aside from extreme stress and uncertainty, false accusations related to this offense can disrupt a father's life in many ways. So, why are some men falsely accused of family violence?

First of all, these accusations can have a major impact on the outcome of a dispute involving child custody. Some parents falsely accuse their other parent of their child of abuse because they want to win a custody dispute. This certainly is not the only reason why these false allegations surface, however. For example, someone may feel a great deal of resentment towards their former spouse because they decided to split up or had an affair. Accusing someone of family violence is one way to bring down someone's reputation and cause them to experience other hardships in life, such as difficulties with friends and loved ones and potential problems at their place of work.

Resolving a dispute over missed visits

On behalf of Butler Giraudo & Meister posted in Fathers' Rights on Tuesday, August 28, 2018.

When it comes to family law, there are all sorts of potentially complicated legal matters that can arise. However, those involving a couple's children can be particularly sensitive, especially when it comes to child custody. Moreover, disagreements involving child custody can arise long after custody has been awarded. For example, parents may find themselves in the midst of a dispute because one believes that they are not being allowed to spend enough time with their child. It is particularly important to approach these types of disagreements appropriately.

If you believe that your legal rights as a non-custodial parent have been violated, you should not hesitate to speak out and you may need to take your case to court. Unfortunately, many parents who have been in this position have been taken advantage of by custodial parents who believe that they have the ability to go against a custody decision. On the other hand, you could be a custodial parent who is facing unfair allegations involving some custody matter and you may be unsure of how you should handle these claims coming from your child's other parent.