Posted on October 06,2021 in Illinois Divorce

Pregnancy is supposed to be a joyous time full of expectation and excitement. Unfortunately, life does not always turn out how we expected. Some pregnant women find themselves in a marriage that they no longer wish to be a part of. If you are currently pregnant and you wish to divorce your spouse, you may have questions. Can you get divorced while you are pregnant in Illinois? How does pregnancy impact the divorce process? Will the father automatically be considered the child’s parent? How are child support and child custody handled in a situation like this?

Illinois Law Regarding Divorce and Pregnancy

In 2021, there is only one ground for divorce in Illinois: irreconcilable differences. As long as you meet the residency requirements and can assert that irreconcilable differences have led to the marriage’s breakdown, you will be granted a divorce. This is true regardless of pregnancy. However, there are ways in which pregnancy can impact divorce issues.

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 Posted on September 29,2021 in Illinois Divorce

In most divorce cases, couples will need to address multiple types of legal and financial issues as they work to separate their lives from each other and legally terminate their marriage. These issues can be especially complicated in a high net worth divorce, and if a spouse is a business owner, ownership of business interests may need to be addressed during the property division process. Whether a business is part of the marital estate or is owned separately by one spouse, a business valuation will usually need to be performed to ensure that the parties fully understand what this asset is worth. By understanding the procedures followed during a business valuation, spouses can ensure that they will be able to determine the value of their property and divide their assets fairly and equitably.

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 Posted on September 21,2021 in Illinois Divorce

Financial disclosure is a crucial component of any divorce case. Although we like to think of marriage as a romantic partnership – It is just as much a financial partnership. When you get married, you and your spouse entangle your finances. Undoing this financial fusion during divorce can be difficult under the best of circumstances and extremely challenging when a spouse is dishonest. Whether you are only thinking about divorce, or you have already filed your petition for dissolution of marriage, signs of financial deception should be taken seriously. A spouse who lies about his or her income, assets, and debts can trick you into a divorce settlement that is grossly unfair.

You Are Kept in the Dark About Finances

Some married spouses pay bills and make other financial decisions as a team. Others delegate financial decision-making to one spouse while the other spouse handles separate responsibilities. If your spouse is suddenly reluctant to discuss finances with you or gets angry when you mention financial concerns, this may be a red flag. Rerouting mail, hiding financial documents, and deleting computer files or financial software like TurboTax and QuickBooks may all be signs that your spouse is hiding the truth.

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 Posted on September 16,2021 in Illinois Divorce

Whether you are only contemplating the possibility of divorce or you are certain your marriage is beyond saving, you probably have questions about the divorce process. You may wonder what the divorce process entails or what steps are needed to end the marriage. You may also have conflicting feelings about whether or not to hire a divorce lawyer. Hiring a lawyer is not required to get divorced in Illinois. However, there are significant benefits associated with hiring an attorney during your divorce.

Your Lawyer Can Help You Explore Your Options

There is no one-size-fits-all divorce, and each case is unique. Many people are surprised to learn just how complicated it is to divorce, personally, legally, and financially. It is typically much easier to get married than it is to undo a marriage. Understandably, the divorce process can be overwhelming, and many divorcing spouses do not know where to begin. Your lawyer can help you explore options like mediation and discuss whether these options are feasible given your situation.

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 Posted on September 10,2021 in Child Support

Any parent can confirm the fact that having children can get very expensive. Childcare, tuition and other school expenses, and extracurricular fees are just some of the child-related costs parents may encounter.

Many divorced and unmarried parents receive financial assistance from the other parent in the form of child support payments. However, some parents may experience financial difficulties that leave them unable to pay child support. If you or your child’s other parent are currently unemployed or facing another financial hardship, you may wonder how this can influence child support payments. Read on to learn how Illinois courts handle child support when a parent is unemployed and what you should do if you need to modify or enforce your current child support order.

Does a Parent Have to Pay Child Support if They are Unemployed?

A statutory formula determines the amount that a parent pays in child support in Illinois. Both parent’s net incomes are taken into account so that the payment amount is appropriate and reasonably affordable. You may ask, “If a parent has no income, does that mean that he or she is absolved of his or her child support obligation?” The short answer is no. Unemployment does not automatically terminate or decrease a parent’s child support obligation. However, the parent may be able to reduce his or her child support obligation by successfully petitioning the court for a child support order modification.

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 Posted on August 26,2021 in Child Custody & Allocation of Parental Responsibility

When it comes to co-parenting, it is best to be as prepared as possible. This is one reason Illinois requires divorcing parents to submit a parenting plan to the court that describes the important details of their co-parenting agreement. If you are a parent who is thinking about divorce, it is important to understand what Illinois expects from parents during the divorce process, including what you will need to address in your parenting plan. You and your soon-to-be ex can agree on the terms of the parenting plan and submit the plan jointly, or submit separate parenting plans to the court for consideration.

The Allocation of Parental Responsibilities and Parenting Time

Illinois does not use the terms “child custody” and “visitation” to describe parenting duties anymore. Instead, child custody is broken down into two main components:

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 Posted on August 20,2021 in Illinois Divorce

There is no doubt that divorce can affect nearly every aspect of a person’s life. However, the financial implications of divorce are often some of the most difficult consequences to deal with. The financial impact of a divorce is especially apparent when spouses have substantially different incomes. Spouses who chose to be a homemaker or stay-at-home parent may find that they lack the employment history and job skills needed to find suitable employment after divorce. Spouses who are disabled or otherwise unable to work may also be at a great financial disadvantage. There could also be a significant income disparity if both spouses work but one spouse makes much more money than the other spouse.

If you are getting divorced and you make significantly less or significantly more than your spouse, it is important to understand how this income inequality can impact the process and outcome.

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 Posted on August 17,2021 in Child Custody & Allocation of Parental Responsibility

If you are a parent who is thinking about getting divorced, you may understandably be concerned about how the split will affect your kids. Divorce is difficult for everyone regardless of the time of year. However, dealing with a divorce during the back-to-school period can be even more stressful. As with many aspects of a divorce, planning how to handle parenting and school issues in advance can help make the process easier for everyone.

Plan How You Will Handle Child Custody and Child-Related Expenses

As part of your Illinois divorce, you will be asked to submit a parenting plan to the court which explains how you and the other parent will share parenting time and parenting duties. Even if you have not officially filed for divorce, you can still create a written plan detailing when your children will stay with each parent to ensure that you and the other parent are on the same page. Plan in advance which parent will have the child on what days and how parents will handle school events like parent-teacher conferences and back-to-school nights. Consistency and structure will help your child cope with the divorce. Make sure to also address how the parents will pay for school supplies, extracurricular fees, and other school-related expenses during the split.

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 Posted on August 06,2021 in Illinois Divorce

A divorce case can take several months or even years to resolve fully, especially when the couple disagrees on property division, child custody, and other divorce issues. Understandably, many divorcing couples struggle to live under the same roof during the divorce process. If you are getting divorced, you may wonder, “Who gets to stay in the marital home during a divorce?” The answer varies from case to case. However, there are two legal avenues available to divorcing spouses in Illinois that may allow them to obtain exclusive possession of the marital home.

Exclusive Possession of the Marital Home During an Illinois Divorce

As with all property division issues, divorcing spouses have the option of reaching their own agreement regarding possession of the home after divorce. Some divorcing spouses are able to negotiate an arrangement through their lawyers or during mediation. Others end up in divorce litigation. Spouses may also disagree about who should get to remain in the marital home while negotiations or litigation are ongoing.

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 Posted on July 28,2021 in Illinois Divorce

One of the most consequential aspects of the divorce process is the division of property and debts. In complex divorce cases involving high-value or difficult-to-value assets, property division is also often one of the most complicated parts of the divorce. Cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tether, Binance Coin, or Dogecoin must be addressed along with all other forms of property. However, valuing cryptocurrency and understanding how it should be divided is often a major challenge. If you or your spouse own Bitcoin or other forms of cryptocurrency, make sure you understand how this unique asset will be handled during your divorce.

Virtual Currency in an Illinois Divorce

Cryptocurrency is difficult to understand because it is completely unlike traditional forms of currency. This digital asset also exists outside of the government’s control. Furthermore, the value of cryptocurrency fluctuates dramatically.

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