When you start looking at assets and approaching a divorce, they’re going to fit into two main categories. First, you have marital assets that are owned jointly by both people and need to be divided. Secondly, you have separate assets that each person owns...
Elgin Family Law Blog
3 ways to communicate with a co-parent
One of the biggest difficulties newly divorced co-parents face is communicating with each other. The younger your children are, the longer you are going to have to do this for, so you may as well try to make it as painless and effective as possible. Here are some...
Good faith reasons to relocate with a child after divorce
If you do not have children and you get divorced, you can certainly relocate whenever you want. You have no obligation to continue to live near your ex. Once the divorce is complete, you are free to move anywhere you would like. If you do have children, though, this...
Should a non-disparagement agreement be part of your divorce?
It’s not uncommon for divorcing parents to include some type of non-disparagement clause in their parenting plan. Even if a divorce is amicable, emotions can get the better of people sometimes and cause them to say something to or in front of their children about...
How courts gauge a child’s best interests
Parents often feel that they understand what would be in their child’s best interests. During an amicable divorce, two parents may work together to come up with a custody schedule. They will agree to put their child first. However, if the parents can’t agree, then the...
What happens if co-parents don’t agree on an important decision?
When parents divorce or separate in Illinois, they usually share parental rights and responsibilities. It has become standard practice for judges to grant each parent a certain amount of time with the children and a share of decision-making authority. Parents have to...
Why wouldn’t courts use shared custody?
It used to be relatively common for courts to give one parent custody of their children and ask the other parent to pay child support after a divorce. Over the years, however, things have shifted. Courts now try to maintain a relationship between the child and both...
Do you have to return the ring when a relationship ends?
Many people pay thousands of dollar, if not tens of thousands, for engagement rings and wedding rings. These are incredibly expensive investments and symbols of the couple's relationship as they move toward marriage. Some couples pick the rings out together, while...
Is January really “divorce month”?
It seems everything has a label these days: generations, personality types and stages of life. There's also tax season, flu season, pumpkin spice season and holiday season, and now we have divorce season. According to several online sources, the divorce season kicks...
Grandparents’ rights in child custody cases in Illinois
Grandparents significantly affect their grandchildren's lives by offering affection, help and a sense of security. However, when family dynamics change due to divorce or other circumstances, grandparents may fight for the right to keep a relationship with their...