Posted on May 21,2021 in fathers rights

The relationship between a parent and his or her child is a sacred bond. When that relationship is strained or damaged in some way, it can have lasting psychological effects on the child. Unfortunately, this is exactly what happens in many divorces - often to the father. Even though the law states that parents should be treated equally, this is not always the case. In many cases, the father faces a particularly difficult situation when it comes to divorce.

Navigating Divorce as a Father

It is very common for the father to be overlooked as a parent in divorce cases. If parental decision-making responsibilities or parenting time is contested by either spouse, the judge will step in to make the final decision. Many people still have implicit biases about the role that a mother and a father take in raising children, which can lead to unfairness in the decisions they make. As a father, here are a couple of things you should keep in mind when you are going through a divorce:

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 Posted on May 20,2021 in Divorce

The period of time right before you file for divorce is extremely important. There are so many things that you should be getting prepared for, but one of the most important decisions you should make before you begin your divorce is which divorce attorney you will hire to help you through the process. These days, most people find divorce attorneys by talking to family and friends or searching online. However, the thought of searching for an attorney online can be daunting, especially if you are trying to be discreet about your search. Privacy can become an issue in many divorces, but there are things you can do to help protect your privacy when you are looking for a divorce attorney.

Tips to Following When Searching for Lawyers

Anything you do online leaves a footprint. For people who want to peacefully conduct their search for a divorce attorney, privacy and cautiousness are key. If you are looking to hire an attorney to assist with your divorce, here are a few things to keep in mind during your search:

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 Posted on May 13,2021 in DuPage County Divorce Attorneys

When you are older and you get a divorce, there are many financial uncertainties that you must face. Getting divorced when you are close to retirement or in retirement can be scary. How will your retirement accounts be handled? Will you still be able to retire at the age you are planning on retiring? These are questions that run through the minds of divorcing spouses at any age, but they are especially concerning for older divorcees. Thankfully, the Social Security Administration (SSA) provides ways that you can claim retirement benefits through of your ex-spouse’s retirement benefits, without lowering the amount your spouse receives.

Qualifying for Social Security Benefits

If you are divorced, you may be able to claim benefits from your spouse’s work record, even if you did not work yourself. However, there are certain requirements that you must meet before you are eligible to receive benefits. You may be able to claim these Social Security benefits if:

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 Posted on May 06,2021 in Divorce

An engagement ring is an important part of getting married for many people. Engagement rings have a long history, dating all the way back to ancient Roman times when they were made out of things like ivory or iron. Diamond engagement rings did not become popular until the late 1940s when De Beers, a British jeweler, launched one of the most successful ad campaigns in history. The world became convinced that indeed, “Diamonds are forever,” making diamond engagement rings the “standard.” Now, the average American spends around $7,750 on an engagement ring, making it a valuable piece of marital property. One of the questions that many divorcing couples have during the property division process is about the engagement ring. Who gets to keep it?

Property Division Laws

Illinois makes a distinction between marital and nonmarital property during divorce. Illinois law states that any and all marital property is subject to division. Marital property includes any property that either spouse acquired during the marriage or any debt that either of them might have taken on. Nonmarital property is anything that either spouse acquired prior to the marriage. However, there are exceptions to that rule. Property that was acquired through inheritance, property acquired in exchange for that property, property acquired as a gift, and property that is excluded by a valid prenuptial or postnuptial agreement is not part of the marital estate.

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 Posted on April 23,2021 in Marriage

Marriage is a dream for many people, but for others, it is something that is not necessary. While some people need a ceremony to show their love in front of friends and relatives, others prefer to simply live together and act as a married couple without undergoing the legal process. When a couple wishes to live together but not get married, it is sometimes known as a common-law marriage. While it does work for many couples, any couple that enters into this type of relationship must understand what their rights are, and how to protect them.

What is a Common Law Marriage?

Not every couple that lives together is considered to be in a common-law marriage. In most cases, people that want to be considered common law must:

• Cohabitate for a certain period of time

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 Posted on April 20,2021 in Spousal Support

Alimony, formally known as spousal maintenance in Illinois, is sometimes ordered by a judge when two people get divorced. Spousal maintenance refers to payments one spouse will make to another, and it can be one of the most contentious issues in divorce cases. However, it is also one of the most misunderstood. If you are going through a divorce and want to seek spousal maintenance, or defend against claims for it, it is important to understand the truth behind some of the myths surrounding it.

Myth: Spousal Maintenance is Permanent

Spousal maintenance is meant to help one party get back on their feet after a divorce, and as such, it is usually ordered for a fixed time period rather than indefinitely. Maintenance can also end when the recipient remarries or starts living with a new partner, or after a petition for modification once the recipient is able to support themself. In some cases, spousal maintenance may be awarded only temporarily during the divorce proceedings, and payments will stop once the case is final.

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 Posted on April 15,2021 in Order Modification

The divorce process is often a long and difficult one for the people going through it. It is no wonder, then, that once it is over, the parties involved feel relieved knowing their divorce decree is final. However, while the orders included in a divorce decree are legally binding, that does not mean they cannot be changed in the future. 

The courts do not take post-decree modifications lightly, but it is possible to obtain one when a person’s situation changes significantly. If you have gotten a divorce and now wish to modify one or more of the orders, below are some of the most important things you should know about these modifications.

Three Terms that Require Modification

In most cases, there are three issues that may require post-divorce modifications. These are:

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 Posted on April 13,2021 in Parenting Time

Summer is quickly approaching, and while this summer may be a little different with the pandemic still ongoing, it is sure to be more hopeful than the last. This may mean that parents make plans that include their children, whether that is going on a trip or even just keeping their child for an entire week instead of just for two days on the weekend.

Summer schedules are typically very different than they are when school is in session, and that is not usually a problem when the two parents are married. After a divorce, on the other hand, this can become a much bigger issue. If you have gotten a divorce and are trying to determine what your summer will look like, below are some tips that can help.

Summer Co-Parenting Tips

Co-parenting with your former spouse during the summer may seem like a challenge, but following these tips can help make it easier. This summer, make sure to:

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 Posted on April 08,2021 in Divorce

Divorce is always an incredibly emotional process, but many people do not understand the legalities that go along with it. With so many important details to attend to, it is easy to make mistakes that can result in forfeiting your rights or making the divorce more expensive than it needs to be. If you are about to go through a divorce, it is important to avoid these common mistakes so you can protect your best interests while completing the process as quickly as possible.

Arguing Unnecessarily

It is not uncommon for couples to argue when they are going through a divorce. While an argument may arise between you and your spouse during the process, it is important to remember you should only engage in these disputes when necessary. Even then, you should only do so through your divorce attorney and not directly with your spouse.

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 Posted on April 06,2021 in Divorce Mediation

If you are going through a divorce, you may fear a long and bitter courtroom battle. Fortunately, this is not necessary for all divorce cases, and some couples find that choosing mediation is a much better option. During the mediation process, each spouse will meet with a mediator that is a neutral third party. The role of the mediator is strictly to foster compromise and communication to help the couple reach an agreement on their own without the need for a divorce trial.

Mediation holds many benefits, including the fact that it can be less costly and take less time than a divorce trial. Spouses may also be more likely to comply with the agreement because they had a hand in creating it. Still, if you are considering mediation, it is important to know how to properly prepare so you get the most out of it.

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