When you are trying to find the best custody arrangement for your children after a divorce, many factors have to be considered by the court before a final deal can be struck and approved. One factor that can affect the proceedings is the child’s preference, but it’s important to know…
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If you receive child support payments from your ex, do you have to worry about that support complicating matters come tax time? To give you the short and simple answer, these payments are not taxable. You are not going to owe taxes on your child support payments when you go…
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Your child support is meant to cover many of the costs that come with raising a child, and that does include medical expenses. However, healthcare costs are not always predictable, and sometimes different arrangements need to be made in order to make sure that both parents are treated fairly and…
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If you are not the custodial parent, do you have to pay for your child’s college? You can be ordered to pay for college, even though most typical child support agreements end when the child meets the age of majority. A Peoria County post judgment modification lawyer from our firm…
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We are thrilled to announce that Butler, Giraudo & Meister, P.C. was recently awarded the 2024 John C. McAndrews Pro Bono Service Award by the Illinois State Bar Association. This award is intended to honor the extraordinary commitment of individuals, bar associations, law firms, and corporate legal departments that provide…
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Prenups get a bad rap, but they can actually be quite useful for many couples. If you are thinking about signing a prenuptial agreement, it’s important to know what kinds of things can be included. Some matters can’t be handled by a prenup, so you should talk to a Peoria…
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When making a custody arrangement, what’s best for the child or children obviously needs to be considered. Because of that, there is usually a particular type of custody arrangement that is most common. Unless there are good reasons not to ensure that both parents are in the child’s life, the…
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Going through a divorce can be expensive, and this is especially true if you have to solve all of your problems through the court. Fortunately, a Peoria divorce lawyer from our firm can help you find alternative methods of dispute resolution, like mediation and collaborative divorce. Many people think that…
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It’s no secret that splitting from your wife or husband can be expensive. However, there are some smart ways to save money during the divorce process. A Peoria County uncontested divorce lawyer can help you find them. What Steps Can I Take to Save Money During the Divorce Process? If…
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When a couple divorces, they normally go their separate ways and settle into their own residences. Sometimes one person keeps the family home and another moves out. If there are kids involved, they go back and forth to each parent’s home for visitation. A nesting arrangement can change that though,…
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Most divorces are complicated in their own way, but a military divorce can be complex right from the beginning. One of the big issues facing those who want to file for divorce from their military spouses is residency. Where do you file for divorce if your spouse is deployed or…
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Any custody battle can be stressful, but a high-conflict custody battle can really push you to your limits. Fortunately, there are some ways to deal with this kind of situation while minimizing stress and continuing to fight as hard as you can for a favorable agreement. A Peoria County child…
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If you cannot afford to pay child support in accordance with your current agreement, you need to act quickly before you begin missing payments. A backlog of missed payments can quickly add up, and you could end up facing harsh legal penalties if you do not fulfill your obligations. In…
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Being married to someone with a substance abuse problem can be draining and dangerous. When you get out of that situation by divorcing them, it can be a weight off of your shoulders. Do you need to show that your spouse has a problem though? Is it like building a…
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If you end up in a situation where you can no longer afford to pay alimony, you need to act quickly. Just stopping the payments can get you in serious trouble. Instead, you need to talk to a Peoria County alimony attorney who can advise you on what you should…
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When you are going through a divorce, you probably want to do everything that you can to protect your assets and ensure a fair outcome when all of your marital property is divided. Sometimes going through the courts is not the best option for you. A Peoria County marital property…
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Marital property is going to get divided up in the divorce. These days that means that even cryptocurrency is on the table when you are splitting everything up. If you or your spouse has cryptocurrency, it’s important to realize that this is going to be part of the deal. It’s…
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In most cases, arguments over custody take some time and hearings need to be scheduled around a busy family court calendar. That changes if it is believed that there is some danger to a child. This is when one parent can file emergency custody orders and try to get their…
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Dividing up property in a divorce is never easy, but deciding what to do with a family home and its mortgage might be one of the toughest decisions you have to make. Not only do you still owe money on it, but the property itself probably has quite a bit…
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Custody battles are often the toughest part of any divorce, but matters can be made even more complex if special needs children are involved. Caring for any child is a massive undertaking, but caring for a child who has special needs can require even more time and effort on behalf…
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If you are trying to get custody of your child or children, you might be worried if you have less money than the other spouse. After all, isn’t financial stability a big factor in these kinds of decisions? It is, but it is hardly the only element that will be…
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Much of the time, even if the children spend most of their time with one parent after a divorce, both parents are awarded joint custody. This means that they both have input into big decisions concerning their kids, even if they only see their kids a few days per month.…
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Congratulations are in order for Attorneys Kelly R. Giraudo, Tamara A. Meister, Kayla M. Hickey, and Gabrielle M. Cunningham, of Butler, Giraudo & Meister, P.C., who have been recently recognized by the 2024 Super Lawyers list. More specifically, Ms. Giraudo has been recognized as a Super Lawyer for 2024, her…
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Co-parenting is rarely easy. Even if you and your spouse are on good terms, conflicts are bound to come up in joint custody arrangements simply because you are two different people who may have different ideas about how to best raise your children. It is important that you are able…
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When your child spends time in two households, there needs to be a complete parenting plan in place that can reduce confusion and ensure that the child’s best interests are always being watched out for. A Peoria County child custody lawyer can help you develop a parenting plan that can…
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It is not easy to make a co-parenting arrangement work. It can be especially difficult if one parent will not stick to a visitation agreement and let their children spend time with the other parent. You cannot just refuse visitation, even if you think that you have a good reason…
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When custody arrangements are made, the best interests of the child are the main thing that the court considers. This is why it is common for parents to be awarded joint custody, an arrangement that gives both parents responsibility and a chance to participate in the lives of their children.…
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Most families have two working parents these days, and that often means that daycare costs are now an important part of most budgets. If you get a divorce, those costs are still going to be there. So does this mean that child support will be calculated with daycare costs in…
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Now that same-sex marriage is legal across the land, you would think that the same-sex divorce process would be simple enough. A same-sex divorce is similar to a divorce between a straight couple in most ways, but there are some special considerations to make here. A Peoria County LGBTQ family…
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A spouse can actually refuse to sign the divorce papers they are served with. That doesn’t mean that they can put a complete stop to the process though. You are allowed to file for the dissolution of your marriage in Illinois even if your partner does not consent to it.…
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An uncontested divorce seems much simpler than a contested divorce. In fact, it seems so simple that you might think that there’s no reason to even have a lawyer of your own. We understand that logic, but we recommend that you talk to a Peoria County uncontested divorce lawyer anyway.…
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A temporary order can tell a divorcing couple how to handle a certain issue, like child custody, until their divorce goes through. These are often necessary because divorces do not get wrapped up in a day or two. The process often takes a lot of time, and it could take…
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Divorce can be a stressful process, and that makes it easy to make mistakes. Some of these mistakes can cause long-lasting problems, so you really want to be careful about how you compose yourself and how you deal with the many issues that are bound to come up during the…
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Going through a divorce is tough on everyone, but it can be especially hard if you have a child that you want to protect from the worst parts of the process. It can be difficult to protect a child from everything, but you can take some steps to mitigate the…
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If you are the victim of domestic violence, you certainly do not want to end up paying spousal support to your abusive partner. Unfortunately, that is something that can end up happening in some divorce cases. A history of violence can be considered by the court, but it may not…
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Losing your job is an incredibly stressful situation, as you may be unsure how you will make ends meet. Unfortunately, this matter may only be made more overwhelming if you pay alimony to your ex-spouse. It’s important to understand that losing your job does not automatically mean that your alimony…
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Having a prenuptial agreement can be beneficial for many couples, despite the reputation that prenups usually have. These are not just agreements that stop “gold-digging.” These documents can make it much easier to separate property and finances in a divorce. Still, there are some things that you should know before…
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People on disability are generally not going to be seen as the more financially secure spouse in a divorce proceeding. This means that it is extremely rare that the disabled spouse will be forced to pay anything. It is important to look at all of the possibilities though, just to…
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There are many factors for a court to consider when it is ironing out child custody and child support agreements. The best interest of the child is always the top priority, but if we had to name the next most important element it could be the financial situation of the…
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There are plenty of financial decisions to make during a divorce. You want to make sure that you are not rushed and that you do everything that you can to get your post-divorce finances off on the right foot. A Peoria divorce lawyer can help you do this as they…
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One of the biggest sticking points in many divorce agreements is often child custody agreements. Who gets the kids and when is obviously going to be a topic that is incredibly important to both parents, so it is important to find a way to sit down and come to an…
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Any divorce can be tough to manage, but one where there are a lot of assets to allocate can be particularly stressful to navigate. One thing that many of our clients ask us is “How can I protect my business?” In many cases, your spouse is owed at least part…
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Any divorce can be stressful, but a high-conflict divorce can be especially tough to navigate. In cases like these, our clients face more than the typical divorce stresses, usually due to the actions and attitude of their soon-to-be former spouse. If you think that your divorce process is going to…
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When you get married, you often end up accumulating debt together. When you get a divorce, any of those remaining debts need to be dealt with. A divorce agreement might also require one spouse to make alimony payments to the other spouse. Do your marital debts and alimony payment arrangements…
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When calculating alimony payments after a divorce, the court can look at a wide range of factors before it comes to a decision. It is also important to note that it is not just financial factors that get weighed. So if you are worried that your financial situation does not…
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When you are getting a divorce, you know that property is going to need to be split up. Knowing that, can’t you just take some of your assets and put them in a completely separate account? If it only has your name on it, then the money inside of it…
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Figuring out which spouse gets which property is one of the most important parts of the divorce process. Unsurprisingly, it can also be the part that causes the most conflict. If you have a lot of property, this process can be difficult. One problem we see frequently concerns rental properties…
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Divorce is never easy, but it can be especially stressful when you are dealing with an emotionally abusive spouse who is doing their best to make every stage of this process even more difficult. Having an experienced Peoria divorce lawyer on your side can be helpful. An attorney from our…
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You know that everything has to be divided up in a divorce, and that is easy to do when it comes to some assets. If you have a joint bank account, for example, splitting that in half is generally not going to be too much trouble. What about when you…
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Getting a divorce can be stressful enough without having to deal with court dates and expensive litigation. Many of our clients ask us if it is possible to get a divorce without going to court. The answer is yes, but there are some things that you have to know before…
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Butler, Giraudo & Meister, P.C. has recently been named to the Public Interest Law Initiative's (PILI) 2023 Pro Bono Recognition Roster. Our firm was one of 44 law firms and corporations to be recognized. Specifically, law firms named to PILI's 2023 Pro Bono Recognition Roster met at least two of…
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If your spouse has committed adultery, you may think that this is a good enough reason to take them to court and divorce them. Many people would agree with you, but adultery alone is not actually grounds for divorce in Illinois. If that seems confusing, a Peoria County contested divorce…
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There are a few different ways to approach disagreements in divorces. One is mediation, but divorce mediation is not ideal in every single situation. A Peoria divorce lawyer from our firm can evaluate your case and determine whether or not entering into this kind of negotiation is a wise idea.…
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Sometimes when people file for divorce, their spouse decides that they are not going to be cooperative and go along with the process. Whether they do not want to get divorced themselves or they simply wish to gum up the works, having a spouse who won’t cooperate during a divorce…
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Creating a pet custody plan during an Illinois divorce can be incredibly complicated, especially when both parties have a strong bond with the animal. For the overwhelming majority of couples in Illinois, pets are more than just property; they are an integral part of the family. However, unlike other states…
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It is natural for children to feel the impact of a divorce just like parents do. This can be a huge shakeup of their lives, and they probably have a variety of feelings that they are working through and new worries preoccupying them. It is imperative that you stand by…
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Most grandparents want to have a relationship with their grandchildren, but sometimes they are stopped from doing so. If you are a grandparent who wants to visit with your grandchildren, do you have legal options? You might. If you have the chance to ask for visitation rights, a Peoria County…
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If you are meeting with a divorce lawyer for the first time, it pays to be prepared. Part of that means ensuring that you have all of the right paperwork and information with you at this initial consultation. Here are some of the things you should know about this first…
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Any divorce can get complicated when we get to the part where property gets split up between both spouses. The presence of a family-owned business can make this process even more complex. Many people wonder if they are entitled to a share of their spouse’s business when they get divorced.…
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Establishing paternity is always important. We understand that some parents are reluctant to be named on a birth certificate, but the benefits of establishing paternity far outweigh any potential negative consequences. If you have questions about how this process works, a Peoria County paternity lawyer from our firm can help…
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If you have been served with divorce papers, you have a few options. Which works best for you is dependent on a whole range of factors, but we have one thing that we recommend to every person going through a divorce. Consult a Peoria divorce lawyer from our firm. How…
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Most divorces are difficult, but one can be especially hard to navigate when you have pets together as a couple. Who gets custody of the pets when a couple separates? That can depend on a few different factors, but a Peoria divorce lawyer from our firm can help you make…
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If you are filing for divorce, you probably expect alimony payments to be a part of the arrangement. Whether you are the paying spouse or the one receiving alimony payments, you are likely wondering how long this arrangement will last. Multiple factors are considered when determining alimony payments, but one…
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Any divorce can be complex, but filing for divorce from a member of the military can carry its own unique complications. A Peoria divorce lawyer from our firm can help you navigate this process and account for any additional steps that need to be taken. What Special Considerations Are Made…
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When you are getting a divorce, your life insurance policy is probably not one of the first things you are going to think of. However, it is important to know how your policy will be affected once you and your spouse split. A Peoria County marital property division lawyer can…
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Alimony is sometimes referred to as spousal support. So it stands to reason that if your former spouse gets married, your obligations to pay spousal support should stop or at least be modified. Before you make any deviation from your current alimony agreement, you should talk to a Peoria County…
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In Peoria County and across Central Illinois, child support generally ends on a child’s 18th birthday, though this is not always the case. There are a number of circumstances under Illinois law for which child support may extend beyond age 18, such as education or disability. Alternatively, there are circumstances…
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An Illinois family law court will rarely order permanent alimony. This is not to say, though, that you should not fight for a temporary alimony order that is fair and reasonable. One fair and reasonable request may be considering inflation over the months and years following your divorce. Continue reading…
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Divorce is a complicated issue, and for many people, it signifies both the end of one chapter and the beginning of another chapter in their lives. Unfortunately, however, divorce is often the most difficult for the children involved. As a parent, you want to do what's best for your child,…
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The division of assets is one of the most complicated yet important steps of the divorce process. This is when a married couple's shared property is legally split between both spouses, and the decision can be made by a judge or by the spouses themselves. In Illinois, any assets that…
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Divorce can be stressful because there are many different considerations that need to be made throughout the legal proceedings. Various aspects of a person's life are affected by a divorce, such as finances and living arrangements. If you are considering divorce or just beginning the divorce process, you might be…
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Initiating a divorce when you've experienced domestic violence is an extraordinarily hard task for many in similar situations. It's also vital to understand how the domestic violence you've endured will impact your child custody arrangement, especially if you fear for your child's safety while they are in the custody of…
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Though you and your ex-spouse may have conflicting feelings, it's vital to do what you can to work together on behalf of your children. However, this is not always easy or viable for every family. If you believe you and your spouse can co-parent effectively, keep reading to uncover some…
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Congratulations to Susan H. Butler and Kelly R. Giraudo, who have been named Leading Lawyers for 2023, along with Tamara A. Meister, who has been named an Emerging Lawyer for 2023. Notably, LeadingLawyers.com recognizes less than 5% of all lawyers licensed in each state as a Leading Lawyer, and less…
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The divorce process can be incredibly complicated, especially when it comes to the financial side of the proceedings. If you're at all familiar with the divorce process, you probably have heard of spousal support (AKA alimony). This is when one divorcing spouse provides court-ordered financial assistance to the other spouse…
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You probably have heard that divorce is a highly stressful process. A person's entire life can be different once their divorce is finalized. Not only are there countless important decisions to be made, but the legal proceedings can be costly if the process is prolonged. It's no surprise that many…
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In situations where one parent has primary or full custody, the other parent (also known as the non-custodial parent) might need to pay child support to financially provide for their child. Calculating how much a non-custodial parent owes can be complicated, especially if circumstances change. Many parents with shared custody…
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Butler, Giraudo & Meister, P.C. is proud to announce that Super Lawyers has recognized Attorneys Kelly R. Giraudo, Tamara A. Meister, and Kayla M. Hickey, for 2023. Ms. Hickey was named a Super Lawyer Rising Star for 2023, and Ms. Meister was recognized as a Rising Star for the fourth…
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The financial side of the divorce process can often be daunting for spouses. A person's financial status after a divorce is typically much different than their financial status during the marriage. Mostly this is because shared property is divided between divorcing spouses, but there are also many legal fees and…
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There's a common misconception that prenups are only for high-net-worth couples, but any married couple can benefit from a prenuptial agreement. Spouses can protect their assets by establishing how marital property will be handled both during and after marriage. However, it's common for financial status to change throughout the course…
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Divorce can be a difficult process for many reasons, but the financial aspects of divorce can be especially daunting. Because married couples often have a considerable amount of shared assets, determining how these assets will be distributed is often a lengthy and emotional process. Subsequently, many divorcing spouses worry about…
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Less than two decades ago, most child custody cases ended with a mother winning primary or even full custody of their child. This is because it used to be widely believed that women are naturally more adept at caring for children. However, this is unfair to fathers who want an…
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Co-parenting a child with someone other than a spouse or partner can be a difficult task, especially if you don't get along with the other parent. Co-parenting relationships can become even more strained if one of them exhibits narcissistic behavior, which could have substantial effects on the other parent as…
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Divorcing couples in Illinois have the option of filing for either a contested or uncontested divorce. If you're unfamiliar with the divorce process, you might be unaware of the importance of the difference between these two divorce processes. A contested divorce is when one spouse accuses the other spouse of…
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If you've ever been involved in the divorce process, you probably understand that divorce can be complicated and costly for various reasons. Divorce is inherently a stressful time in anyone's life, but the financial aspects can make the process even more adverse for some people. Are you an Illinois resident…
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While it's become increasingly common for couples to create prenups before getting married, not as many people are aware of postnuptial agreements. These are similar documents that are created during the couple's marriage to manage spousal assets. Married couples can create a postnup regardless of if they made a prenup…
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Figuring out the logistics of the divorce process can be daunting for various reasons. While a judge typically determines how assets and debt are divided in the process, retirement plans are not split as easily. Are you considering or already in the midst of the divorce process? If you're planning…
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The financial side of the divorce process can be daunting. Married couples accumulate not just shared assets but also shared debt. Both assets and debts must be fairly split in a divorce. If you're beginning the divorce process, you may be wondering how debt is split between divorced couples. Need…
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Figuring out custody arrangements can be tricky any time of year, but figuring out joint custody during the holiday season can be difficult. If you're a divorced parent, you may be wondering how other divorcees split custody during the holidays and how arrangements are decided. Our attorneys are on your…
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Many people filing or preparing to file for divorce might wonder about how to serve divorce papers to their spouse. The divorce process can be daunting without quality legal assistance. Read on to learn more about this step of the process and how a Peoria Divorce Lawyer can help you…
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If you and your spouse have a combined net income of $1 million or more, then you are considered high net individuals. With this, many of the high-value assets that you worked hard to earn are at stake if you and your spouse decide to divorce. Continue reading to learn…
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In the years following your divorce, you may have undergone some significant life changes. For one, you may have gotten remarried. With this, you may be unsure of whether you will still receive your child support payments. For more information, read on to discover how a seasoned Peoria divorce lawyer or Pekin…
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After your divorce, you may need to relocate for a variety of reasons. But even if your reasons are valid, you still need permission from the Illinois court before packing up and leaving with your child. Follow along to find out why you need court approval before relocating with your…
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If you are considering divorce, you may be hesitant in not knowing how long the proceedings are going to take. And likely the last thing you want to happen is for this emotionally draining process to be extensive. Continue reading to learn how long this will take based on your…
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The divorce process is unique for every couple. One main difference, however, is that each couple must choose between undergoing an uncontested divorce or a contested divorce. Read on to discover the difference between the two and how a seasoned Peoria divorce lawyer or Pekin divorce lawyer of Butler, Giraudo…
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Odds are that if you are getting a divorce from a narcissist, the process will be a rather high-conflict one. But there are ways in which you can maneuver through this high conflict with ease. Read on to discover the tips for handling your spouse's narcissistic tendencies and how a…
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Even if you have a contested divorce that needs to undergo the litigation process, there is still a possibility of little conflict between you and your spouse. Read on to learn what tips can help you and your spouse work toward a low-conflict divorce and how a seasoned Peoria divorce lawyer or Pekin…
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There are a lot of assets on the line when it comes to divorce. But aside from dividing real estate, family businesses, bank accounts, etc., you may even have to divide your expensive personal items. Continue reading to learn what assets may be up for grabs and how an experienced…
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Gray divorce refers to a divorce involving spouses who are generally over the age of 50 and who have been married for a considerable amount of time. Though these matters entail many of the same issues as other types of divorce, gray divorces have unique matters related to issues like…
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