Even if you are part of a couple with high assets and the prospect of a comfortable post-divorce future, you may feel vulnerable when facing divorce.If you enjoy using social media, you may feel the urge to go online, dish on your divorce and elicit comforting support from your scores…
Read More

Divorce is a highly emotional experience for anyone, but for a father it can be an even more devastating event. Here are five tips to help you survive divorce, maintain your equilibrium and keep your status as a caring father intact. 1. Maintain good behavior Keep the welfare of your…
Read More

Couples argue more about money than anything else. The issues involving money are draining in themselves, and financial issues are often at the heart of a divorce—especially a high-net-worth divorce. Here are eight of the top money-related reasons for the dissolution of marriage among wealthy couples. 1. Skewed financial prioritiesMany couples do not discuss…
Read More

Big changes happen in life, and for a divorced parent, one such change is an employment opportunity that requires relocation.If you wish to move to another city with your child, will the court approve the necessary modification to your parenting plan? First stepsUnder Illinois law, you must first inform the other…
Read More

The state of Illinois affords people who are in civil unions the same protections that those in traditional marriages enjoy.The purpose of SB1716 is to aid committed couples in many areas of their lives, including dissolution and property disposition. Illinois rulesAll adult couples qualify for civil union status. However, partners who…
Read More

Ending a marriage brings changes in the lives of both parties. However, a survey of women in various stages of divorce revealed unexpected consequences as they faced the future.Many of the survey participants cited "financial surprises" in a post-divorce world. The 2018 surveyIn 2018, the online marketplace Worthy launched a…
Read More

During the property division phase of a divorce, some people draw a blank when the subject of dividing retirement accounts takes center stage.The process can become complicated, so it is a good idea to brush up on your understanding of retirement accounts that are marital property and learn how the…
Read More

If you and your spouse have decided to divorce, the welfare and upbringing of your children will be top priority. Illinois law requires that divorcing couples develop a parenting plan that includes “caretaking functions” for the benefit of their children. Creating a parenting plan A parenting plan is a written…
Read More

Perhaps you and your spouse have decided to end your marriage. There are significant assets involved, and your next step is to seek legal counsel.A high-asset divorce can be very complex. Pulling together the appropriate documents will provide a useful starting point for your meeting with an attorney. The stakesIllinois…
Read More

Your employer is offering you a great new position, but you and your 10-year-old daughter would have to move to Chicago. This would require modification to your child custody agreement. Will the court approve such a request? Major changes matter You may have heard that courts are generally opposed to…
Read More

They say great minds think alike, and divorcing couples can apply that maxim to the creation of a good parenting plan. The court wants to know how you and your soon-to-be-ex intend to care for your children after the divorce. Here are four important points to include in drafting a…
Read More

When you walked down the aisle, you likely expected to remain married to your spouse forever. You also may have gained a new family, comprising your spouse and his or her parents, siblings and other relatives. During your divorce, though, you must understand how to turn your in-laws into ex-laws…
Read More

Effective marriages often require both sharing and splitting household responsibilities. If you elected to stay home to raise your children while your spouse went to work, though, your credit score may not be as high as you would like. Alternatively, you may have no creditworthiness at all. Stay-at-home moms often…
Read More

A person's odds of winning the lottery are astronomically low. Whenever someone does win, it is a momentous occasion. Over the last Fourth of July weekend, two Illinois residents won the Lucky Day Lotto, one winner in Chicago and one in East Peoria. A lot of Illinois residents play the lottery.…
Read More

There are many things you should do to get ready for a divorce. You need to get your personal finances in order and evaluate your resources so that you end up with an equitable division of the assets you share. Divorces entail a lot. There is much to contend with during this…
Read More

With the popularity of smartphones on the rise, everyone seems to use some type of social media. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other platforms offer excellent opportunities for meeting new friends and staying in touch with old ones. While going through a custody dispute, what you post on social media may be…
Read More

When a divorce includes children, the situation can be especially distressing for the father. As a divorced dad, you may not get to see your kids as often, and your ex-wife may not consult you on every issue that arises. One fear you may have is that she will decide to…
Read More

Societal beliefs about marriage and divorce have changed a lot over the years, leading to fewer marital unions and more endings than in past generations. Even the average age of people who tie the knot has gotten higher.Furthermore, seniors go through divorce more than before. Causes include more financial security and economic…
Read More

Like most parents in Illinois, you want what is best for your children. With a joint custody arrangement, both you and your ex continue to parent your kids after a divorce. Even if you remain on good terms with your former spouse, though, co-parenting often presents some unique challenges. If…
Read More

When it comes to divorce, many different factors require consideration. The situation becomes even more fraught and complicated with children in the picture. One primary concern of a divorcing couple with children should be to ensure their children's best interests come first in terms of decision-making. A lot of work goes into…
Read More

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other social media platforms seem to be everywhere these days. In fact, you probably cannot walk into a restaurant or store without seeing someone documenting the experience on social media. While most posts are harmless, some could complicate your divorce proceedings. Whether you are thinking about filing…
Read More

The holiday season is naturally a time of great expectations. However, they can also test the strength of a marriage.Sometimes couples face the new year with trepidation, which is one reason January is a prime time for divorce filings. The first Monday and moreDivorce inquiries abound at the first of every…
Read More

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…
Read More

Although divorce is a difficult time for both mothers and fathers, it can be particularly difficult on fathers. This is due to the fact that mothers are sometimes favored in divorce hearings and procedures for a variety of reasons. For example, judges may consider a mother the more natural caretaker for…
Read More

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…
Read More

If you are facing divorce, you are also facing the issue of child custody. Developing a mutually acceptable co-parenting plan is no doubt high on your agenda. You can avoid contentious, emotionally-draining litigation if you and your soon-to-be ex can find your way to satisfactory custody arrangements through the process…
Read More

Sometimes a seemingly small disagreement can spiral out of control and you and your spouse begin talking about divorce—but is that what you really want? Divorce is final, the marriage is over. However, legal separation is another option to consider, and in certain instances, it may be the only option.…
Read More

Dissolving a marriage is often an emotional and stressful process. However, it can be even more stressful for an Illinois business owner. Fortunately, a business owner can take a few steps to protect his or her company during the divorce process.First, it is important to gather records, including contracts, financial…
Read More

Negating separateness.Now, there are certainly legions of people who will simply give a befuddled shrug upon hearing the above words and ultimately find upon explanation that, indeed, they impart no personal meaning.If, though, you perchance happen to be an Illinois resident who is a member of a wealthy family and…
Read More

Divorce is often stressful. The process, however, can become even more complicated if credit cards are a part of the equation. An applied understanding of the law may help those going through divorce proceedings in Illinois to fight for their best interests when credit card debt is involved.Illinois is known…
Read More

Getting a divorce can be emotionally and financially draining no matter how amicable the process may seem. One aspect of divorce that can be particularly challenging to resolve is spousal maintenance, formerly known as alimony. The state of Illinois utilizes formulas to determine the amount of maintenance that should be…
Read More

Dissolving an Illinois marriage can be emotionally and financially devastating. It can be difficult to know where to start when getting ready to proceed through the divorce process. A few tips may help people to start off strong when embarking on this type of family law proceeding.First, it is essential…
Read More

A civil union in the state of Illinois is a relationship between two individuals that is recognized legally. People who are in civil unions can be either the opposite sex or the same sex. In addition, both parties in a union must be 18 years old or older.A civil union…
Read More

A family home in Illinois is where memories are created. These typically include family gatherings during the holidays, or bringing of new babies home from the hospital. However, this same home, filled with such good memories, can become a point of contention for a couple going through divorce in Illinois.…
Read More

Dividing debt and property can be a major financial task during the process of dissolving a marriage. After all, both one's debt and one's assets have a huge impact on one's life going forward. However, there is another hurdle to overcome during the divorce process in Illinois: tax implications. People…
Read More

The process of getting divorced can understandably take a toll on a person, both emotionally and financially. The financial cost of getting a divorce goes beyond legal fees, however: It can also include having to maintain two homes and watch electricity bills and other costs double. This can have long-term…
Read More

Going through the divorce process in Illinois can take its toll, both emotionally and financially. Every divorce proceeding is different, as couples have varying financial situations and may require unique custodial arrangements for their children. However, a couple of tips may help navigate the process in a financially beneficial manner.…
Read More

Dealing with the process of dissolving a marriage in Illinois can be challenging no matter how wealthy a person is. Unfortunately, amid the emotions that come with getting divorced, many people forget essential aspects when drafting their divorce orders. Some tips may help people to draft personally beneficial divorce orders.…
Read More

Getting divorced in Illinois can understandably make a person feel turned upside down emotionally. However, a person can also feel in limbo financially. Some tips may help people to protect their financial statuses when going through the process of divorce. One important aspect concerning finances that often gets overlooked during…
Read More

If anyone said marriage would be easy, they were clearly wrong. Likewise for anyone who says divorce is easy. In fact, divorce is often a very difficult, emotional process. Matters become even more tangled when children are involved. A recent article on divorce and custody disputes says there are ways…
Read More

You can pay a traffic ticket, examine government plans, sit on a jury, pay taxes and register to vote at the Peoria County Courthouse. A much more personal process begins when a person goes there to file for a divorce, however. Anyone faced with the prospect of the end of…
Read More

So much has changed in the past 35 years, but the Illinois Supreme Court proudly bucks the trends and fashions, standing firm on common law marriage. More than three decades have passed since the state's high court said in 1979 that it would uphold state policy and law that discourages…
Read More

We all know people who have moved from Peoria in search of greener pastures. And we all know people have returned home after trying other cities, towns and states. What might be news is that Americans are typically moving less today than in the past. Statistics show us Americans are…
Read More

Like many of our readers, Peoria has gone through good times and bad. It has survived the tough days and is ready for better ones.That is what parents who face a child custody battle must do as well. Get through the difficult days of divorce, behaving as a responsible adult…
Read More

As regular readers of our Peoria family law blog know, we have written more than once about the rising divorce rate among Baby Boomers. The Baby Boom was this nation's largest generation, and as it enters retirement age, more and more of its graying members are seeking divorces. In so-called…
Read More

Before a couple takes that way down the aisle, there are a number of conversations they should have first. Where to honeymoon? Will they have kids? Who sits near the strange uncle at family dinners? And so on. A recent in U.S. News and World Report says that one important…
Read More

No one should enter into marriage lightly and no one should enter the divorce process lightly either, writes a social psychologist. She emphasizes that parents should be especially careful when considering divorce, and also when choosing what kind of divorce they will have. She says it's up to you to…
Read More

When you face divorce, you face a blizzard of questions about how you will deal with the end of your marriage. How will your kids handle it? How will child custody be decided upon? How will property be divided? And so on.All are important questions, as is this one: "How…
Read More

Another Father's Day has come and gone. For some dads, it's an annual reminder of how little they see their children. Some fathers to the north of Peoria recently spent the day celebrating Fatherless Day, a day to raise awareness of kids who don't see their fathers because of death…
Read More

This Sunday is Father's Day, a time to honor and celebrate dads and their important roles in their children's lives. Some fathers facing divorce might have some apprehension about the day, however. They worry that they might not be on equal footing with their spouse in a divorce. A group…
Read More