Often times in divorce or legal separations in Illinois, family circumstances call for reason that one spouse should receive support payments from the other after the couple goes their separate ways. Spousal maintenance, also called spousal support or alimony, is a continual transfer of money from one former spouse to the other, typically on a monthly basis, as required by the divorce decree. Spousal maintenance is not automatic and is different than and separated from child support payments. In divorce negotiation, parties may decide upon a settlement that includes a spousal maintenance …

The Chicago Tribune reports that there have been limited successes when it comes to home visits and interventions by medical personnel when it comes to the prevention of child abuse. This study was performed based on several U.S. based studies as well as ten different international based analyses. The United States Department of Health and Human Services reported that there were approximately 675,000 documented cases of child abuse in 2011. This number represents about one percent of the nation’s children. In approximately nine percent of these cases there were incidents of sexual abuse…

NOTE: As of July 2017, the law governing child support in Illinois has changed. Please see our Child Support page for more information.

Most people have a good idea of what a divorce is, but it can be as diverse as the types of people involved.  Sometimes children are the main focus of a divorce while exes sort out custody and support.  Other times the division of property takes a center stage, especially when large assets like businesses are involved.  There are also different types of divorce. At the basic level, a divorce is a legal proceeding which ends a marriage.  As Illinois is a no fault state, the grounds for divorce is merely the existence of irreconcilable differences.  There are also requirements that must…

The Chicago Sun-Times is reporting that 17-year-old rap star Keith Cozart, aka Chief Keef, has been sued for child support and other expenses related to the birth of a now 14-month-old child. The lawsuit seeks a current child support order from Chief Keef, as well as retroactive child support, health insurance coverage, medical expenses, daycare expenses, and attorney’s fees for the lawyer hired by the child’s mother. Keef reportedly signed an acknowledgement of parentage of the baby girl, who was born in November, 2011. The mother of the child is now also 17 years old. When contacted for…