Elgin Family Law Blog

Like many parents in Illinois, if you and your spouse are planning to divorce, your primary concern is making the transition as easy as possible for your children. You may be surprised to learn that, despite your differences, it is possible for you and your spouse to work together successfully as you continue to parent your children.

Often, the way parents behave toward each other can make a difference in the stability children feel following a divorce and the positive adjustment they make in the years afterward. You may not be able to control many things during this emotional time, but you can control the way you interact with your child's other parent, and this can potentially produce a healthier atmosphere that is relatively conflict free.

When older couples in Illinois decide to get divorced, their concerns are different from younger individuals going through the same process. While many younger couples focus on custody and support issues, most older couples focus on upcoming retirement and financial security. Additionally, many older couples have more assets that they need to divide, and the way they can divide these assets is not always clear cut.

With gray divorces increasing, it is important for couples who have decided to follow this path to understand what property division at this stage of their lives entails. The first thing older couples must accept is that their financial status will change since they are going from one household to two using the same amount of income. This also means that both partners will have to give up some things to gain others. Couples must accept that some of the assets that must be divided are their retirement accounts, which is not always done in a 50/50 split as there are laws that regulate some of the splits.

Taxes are something people may not like to think about. This can particularly be the case at a stressful time like a divorce. The reality though is that taxes can have significant impacts on important divorce issues. One such issue is property division.

There are all kinds of assets that could end up being up for division in divorces. Types of property vary greatly in the kinds of tax implications they can have. What particular tax ramifications a given piece of property has the potential for can greatly impact what overall financial effects getting the asset in a divorce would have for an individual. So, tax matters can have impacts on how desirable, or undesirable, a given asset would be when it comes to property division.

Just as no two marriages are exactly the same, neither are any two divorces. Children in different families may have various reactions when learning of their parents' plans to divorce. In fact, individual children within your own family may respond differently from one another as well. One of your kids may become a bit more reclusive than usual. Another may be quite vocal regarding how he or she feels about the situation.

Like most good parents in Illinois, you want to provide the love and support your children need to move on in life in as healthy a manner as possible. You also want to protect your rights as a parent and do what you believe is best for your children. When it comes to your new parenting plan, however, the court will have the final say. There's a lot you can do ahead of time to map out an agreement, such as discussing possible custody options with your soon-to-be former spouse.