In an ideal situation, both parents will be cooperative and fully involved in all decisions and actions regarding the upbringing of their children after divorce. The reality of most divorces requires the court to step in and help when parents are unable to agree. In...
Elgin Illinois Family Law Blog
3 self-care techniques for divorce
During a divorce, you have the responsibility for making many difficult decisions. At the same time, you have to continue to take care of your kids, hold down a job or run a business. Keeping up with everything can be demanding, but be sure to reserve some time to...
Your college-bound child deserves the support of both parents
You may be wondering whether child support will be enough to help you pay for your child's college expenses. In Illinois, those expenses are not solely your responsibility. You may petition the court for financial support from the other parent. State law says that...
What is nesting?
Even if your divorce is comparatively conflict-free, coming up with a comprehensive parenting plan is challenging. One of the most difficult aspects is figuring out your family's new living situation if you and your ex-spouse share custody of the children. The most...
Understanding legal and physical child custody
When you and your spouse divorce, you must share the responsibility you have for any children that you have together. Custody is a legal term for these responsibilities. The term custody may make you think of supervision of the children and care for their basic needs...
Retaining your 401(k) in your divorce
Past posts on this blog addressed the fact that your 401(k) is subject to property division during your divorce in Illinois. You may look at your 401(k) as one of the primary sources of income during your retirement years. Thus, having to divide up any portion of it...
Factors that affect whether you receive maintenance after divorce
Financial independence is a primary concern for people ending their marriage, particularly when one spouse supported the other financially. Perhaps you left a job to take care of your kids and home full-time, or you sacrificed your own career ambitions to support your...
How do judges determine child support amounts?
You already know that you must likely pay your former spouse child support, but you do not know the specific amount. What factors determine how much you must pay? Turn to Forbes for the answers you need to create a post-divorce budget. Being well-informed helps set...
5 mistakes to avoid in preparing a parenting plan for mediation
If you are facing divorce, helping your children adjust to the next chapter in their lives will be top of mind. Many divorcing parents choose mediation and sit down together to work out an effective parenting plan. In doing so, here are five mistakes to avoid. 1....
Is there a right time to tell your child you are getting a divorce?
As a parent, telling your child is one of the hardest parts of divorce. Every child reacts to big news in a different way. It is hard or even impossible to get a good grasp on how yours might take it. But you understandably want to make the process as easy as...
