Posted on April 17, 2025 in Child Custody

In a parental responsibilities or child custody case, a parenting plan refers to the detailed document used to address who makes decisions for children when their parents divorce or separate, accounting for the needs of everyone involved. When it is well-designed, it considers situations that may arise and how both parents will address them. These plans can look very different depending on many factors. An experienced DuPage County, IL parental responsibilities attorney will offer personalized advice for your case. 

How Do The Living Situations of Each Parent Affect the Parenting Plan?

Where parents live and what their work schedules look like will impact parenting time. For example, when one parent moves far away, the plan will need to address the distance and time it takes to bring the child from one home to the other. Sometimes, this means accommodating flight schedules and other issues that may arise when parents do not live near one another.

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 Posted on April 10, 2025 in Child Support

Joint child custody is a common arrangement for divorcing couples because it allows both parents to remain actively involved in a child’s life. Shared custody begs the question of whether or not child support is a necessity if both parents equally share care for a child. 

The short answer is that it depends on the unique circumstances and is particularly dependent on each parent’s income. If you are seeking child support with a joint custody parenting plan, an Illinois child support attorney can help you understand what options are available to you.

How Does Illinois Law Calculate Child Support?

The court uses the same process for calculating child support in every case. The basic steps include:

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 Posted on April 03, 2025 in Asset Division

Illinois is an equitable distribution state, meaning the law requires fair property division during divorce. Hiding assets to avoid losing all or part of them is illegal in the state and will sometimes have devastating consequences. Seeking the help of a Wheaton, IL divorce attorney is a key component of finding hidden assets and protecting your right to a fair share of marital property.

What Does Illinois Law Say About Hidden Assets?

Illinois law mandates the full disclosure of all financial information, including assets, income, and debt, during divorce proceedings. Unfortunately, spouses sometimes hide assets to retain ownership of property that would otherwise be divided or to minimize their support obligations. This is more common than you may expect in cases involving complex property division.

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 Posted on March 27, 2025 in Asset Division

The division of property can be a stressful and contentious part of separating, regardless of whether you are dealing with a contested or amicable divorce. State law determines how assets are divided, and Illinois is an equitable division state.

Unlike community property states, assets are not divided straight down the middle. Instead, property division is based on how you and your spouse contributed to assets before and during the marriage, as well as the unique details of your situation. You may be entitled to keep more than you know, and a DuPage County, IL divorce attorney can explain what constitutes equitable division.

What Is Considered Marital Property in Illinois?

According to Illinois law, property acquired during the marriage is marital property. This means it is subject to equitable division during a divorce. Examples of potential marital property include but are not limited to the following:

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 Posted on March 25, 2025 in Child Custody

 Many people think that mothers are favored for child custody in divorce, but times have changed. In Illinois, state law prioritizes the child's best interests and ensures both parents are treated fairly, regardless of gender. Illinois family courts do not favor mothers over fathers. Instead, decisions about parenting time and responsibilities are made based on the child's needs, each parent’s relationship with the child, and other factors.

In short, fathers in Illinois are entitled to the same rights as mothers. If you are a father getting a divorce, an Illinois divorce attorney at Andrew Cores Family Law Group can help ensure your rights are protected.  

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 Posted on March 20, 2025 in Divorce

 Divorce is often contentious and complicated, and it is seldom easy to navigate its twists and turns. It is even more challenging if you attempt to handle a contested divorce alone. Fortunately, many common contested divorce mistakes in Illinois are easy to avoid with an experienced Illinois divorce attorney advising you.

Misunderstanding of Illinois Divorce Laws

Illinois has a no-fault divorce system. This means that irreconcilable differences are the only grounds for divorce. The no-fault divorce process is more straightforward in some ways than the previous fault-based system, but there are still several legal requirements to be met: 

• At least one spouse must have resided in Illinois for at least 90 days before filing for divorce.

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 Posted on March 13, 2025 in Divorce

Social media has become a central part of everyday life, but during a divorce, your online presence can impact your case in ways you may not expect. What you post, like, or even look at could be used as evidence in court.

Whether you are considering blocking your ex, snooping on their profile, or venting about your divorce online, it is important to know how social media can affect everything from custody to asset division. Talk to an Illinois divorce lawyer for advice about how to manage your social media during divorce to make sure you stay out of trouble and position yourself for a strong divorce settlement.

Can Social Media Hurt Your Divorce Case?

What you post online can definitely be used against you in a divorce. Illinois courts allow social media content to be used as evidence, which means that a simple Facebook post, Instagram photo, or tweet could impact issues in the following ways: 

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 Posted on March 11, 2025 in Divorce

If you are considering divorce, you may be concerned about your ability to afford attorney’s fees, court costs, or other expenses. This can be a major concern during difficult times, especially when the economy is struggling and many people are unemployed. By understanding how to address the cost of divorce, you can take the legal action necessary to obtain the results you and your family need. Our Illinois divorce attorneys are here to help you through every step of the process.

The Facts About Divorce Expenses in Illinois

It is true: divorce can be expensive. This is particularly true if you do not have much money to begin with. In fact, recent statistics about the cost of divorce in Illinois suggest the following:

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 Posted on March 05, 2025 in Family Law

Grandparents hold a special place in their grandchildren's lives. Their presence offers love, support, and guidance, which helps to create a strong family bond. However, when family relationships become strained, grandparents may find themselves unable to see their grandchildren. This can be very painful, especially if a child has lost a parent or if a divorce or separation has caused family divisions.

In Illinois, grandparents have the right to ask for visitation with their grandchildren, but the law does not guarantee that visitation will be granted. Grandparents must first prove to the court that visitation is in the child’s best interests.

Speaking with an Illinois family law attorney about grandparents’ rights is a great step toward handling your concerns.

What Does Illinois Law Say About Grandparent Visitation?

Grandparent visitation rights are dictated by Illinois law, which says that a grandparent can ask for visitation only under specific circumstances. The law prioritizes parental rights and assumes that a typical parent's decision to deny grandparents visitation would be in the best interests of the child. However, a grandparent may ask for visitation if they can prove that the child would suffer serious harm if visitation were denied.

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 Posted on February 27, 2025 in Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements

A prenuptial agreement, or prenup, is meant to provide clarity and protection for both spouses in the event of a divorce. However, circumstances change, and you may find yourself questioning whether the agreement you signed before marriage is still fair. If you are facing divorce and wondering whether you can challenge your prenup, there are legal avenues that may allow you to do so and our Illinois family lawyer can help.

When Can a Prenup Be Contested?

Prenuptial agreements are legally binding contracts, but they are not always airtight. Illinois law allows a prenup to be challenged under certain conditions, including:

Lack of Voluntary Consent

A prenup must be entered into voluntarily by both parties. If one spouse was pressured, threatened, or coerced into signing the agreement, it may be invalidated. Courts take allegations of duress seriously, particularly if one spouse signed the agreement shortly before the wedding under intense pressure.

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