Spousal support, also known as alimony or maintenance, is a financial consideration in many divorces. Specific guidelines determine if one spouse will provide post-divorce monetary support to the other. Understanding how Illinois calculates spousal support can help...
Family Law
How children benefit when parents share parental responsibilities
An Illinois divorce or separation is often challenging for families. It may prove particularly so when there are children in the middle. However, joint custody arrangements offer many benefits for the well-being and development of the children. Children experience...
Should you request a paternity test?
Many people associate paternity testing with court orders and dismiss the importance of the tests in other instances. There are cases when it is in the father’s best interest to pursue paternity testing as a precaution and a means to protect their legal rights....
What is parental time in Illinois?
Every state has different child custody laws that they use to assign parental responsibilities and rights, such as legal decision-making, financial support and visitation. In Illinois, visitation and custody are parental time. A parenting plan or a judge’s order...
What are the Illinois domestic adoption laws?
If you have been thinking about adopting a child for some time and are ready to start the process, congratulations! The decision to welcome a child into your life is a memorable milestone. As exciting as your adoption plans are, there are some Illinois laws you should...
Responding to a child who wants to be with the other parent
Following a divorce, children sometimes struggle with the new dynamic. While you and your ex work out what you believe is in the best interests of your children, your kids may have ideas or preferences of their own. How should you react if your child asks to spend...
Allocation of parental responsibilities during the holidays
As a newly divorced parent of minor children, the holidays can be a tricky time for you and your offspring. Regardless of the event, there are likely many memories and traditions tied to the time. In these already often stress-filled times, it can be difficult for...
What is nesting?
Divorce is a difficult process, no matter how you go through it. If you have children, the difficulties increase exponentially. Particularly during the first phases of divorce, there is the matter of breaking the news to the children and figuring out living situations...
The pros and cons of “bird nesting” during divorce
Bird nesting describes a co-parenting arrangement where the children remain in the family home and parents rotate in and out according to a set schedule. In some cases, the parents also maintain a separate shared residence for each to stay at when not on parenting...
How can you talk about divorce with your teenager?
Discussing divorce with your children will always be difficult. The breakup between the heads of the household can give the rest of the family uncertainty. According to Healthline, teenagers may have more understanding than younger kids. However, you still want to...