In Illinois, and any other state for that matter, victims of domestic abuse and violence may seek safety through what is called an Order of Protection. An Order of Protection is a legal court document, signed by a judge, that explicitly orders one individual (the abuser) to stay away from or to stop a certain behavior toward another individual (the victim.) The person who files for the order is referred to as the “petitioner”, while the person against which the order has been filed is known as the “respondent.” If the respondent fails to adhere to the rules listed in the Order of …

Filing for divorce is one of the most stressful events a person can experience. In some cases, ending a marriage can cause psychological damage. Fortunately, there are several things that you can do to make the process easier and healthier for everyone involved. Many respond to the end of a marriage with grief and anger, or feelings of fear and anxiety. These feelings often catch you off guard. As you proceed through your divorce, it is important to be compassionate and kind to yourself. Try to avoid thinking of your divorce as a battle. Write down details and questions to ask your divorce…

Planning to marry after a divorce is usually a joyous time. Before jumping in and saying “I do” for a second time, however, there are some important steps you should take in order to ensure that your marriage can beat the odds and last for the long-term. According to the American Psychological Association, there are three key issues that couples need to address before remarrying after a divorce: Resolve feelings about previous marriages – before marrying your new partner, it is important that you have addressed any lingering emotional issues from your previous marriage. This is …

In Illinois, there has been an increase in the number of children who die due to abuse and neglect. For the fiscal year ending in June of 2013, the number of children who passed away from abuse and neglect was the highest it has been in 30 years.  The saddest news about this total is that some of these deaths may have been avoided. An Illinois Senate subcommittee has been questioning state officials from the Department of Child and Family Services about this steep increase.  Acting director of the DCFS, Denise Gonzales, admitted that over 100 children died due to mistreatment and …

The process of settling a divorce can involve many court appearances.  In most cases, the attorneys representing each spouse will act in the spouse’s best interest.  But, on occasion, a spouse may be asked to appear in court in order to supply evidence about related issues, such as child support, child custody, or the division of property.  The following are some tips that can ensure that you make the best appearance possible. Dress for Success You only have one chance to make a first impression.  Dressing appropriately for divorce court is very important.  The proceedings of a …

One of the major causes of contention during a divorce is the division of property.  While a judge can control the distribution, it does not make the fighting stop.  Arguing about property division can also add a lot of time to the litigation process and more legal costs.  Since both spouses are responsible for accumulating the property of a marriage, it can be more advantageous to divide this property together as well. The first step is to create a record of what is commonly owned.  It is important to include all assets or risk the penalty of omitting property.  Then it is important …

“Domestic violence” is a term that we hear from friends, family, teachers, the television, etc. However, there is sometimes a bit of confusion as to what exactly domestic violence, or abuse, can include. Abuse does not solely mean physical violence. According to Illinois State Police, domestic abuse can also refer to harassment (creating disturbances at work, repeatedly telephoning, following or watching you, threatening to harm you), making a child or other person watch abuse, forcing you to do something you don’t want to do, or denying a disabled person access to needed care…

Grandparents are integral parts of any family. They offer advice and insight to parents who are raising their own children.  They also can overly spoil their grandchildren with affection, attention and love.  And in some cases, the grandparents have a limited legal right to visitation of their grandchildren in Illinois, especially when the parents divorce. There are certain requirements that must be met for an Illinois court will grant visitation to grandparents.  The first is that the children must be at least one year old.  The other requirement is that one of the following …

The current lawmakers in Washington DC have been historically slow in creating new laws.  There has been too much conflict between the liberals and conservatives on the hill.  But a new law that has been proposed looks to unite both sides of the aisle with an issue that is beyond politics.  That bill is called the Children in Families First or CHIFF Act. The bill was introduced by State Representatives Kay Granger(R-TX) and Karen Bass (D-CA).  Granger said that “every child deserves a family. Parents looking to adopt internationally are already at the mercy of …

Aspects of the divorce process often breed disputes.  The division of property can present issues if one spouse feels like they deserve more or because some assets are difficult to divide.  Children are also a sticking point in most divorce cases as it can be difficult to agree on custody and child support.  Other possibly contentious issues include spousal support. An uncontested divorce is when these issues are settled without the help of the divorce court.  Both spouses come together to agree on these issues by themselves. This process can allow a divorce to be settled quickly and …

Divorce can be an emotional and heartbreaking experience for a family or individual. However, a new study, published in the Journal Social Psychological and Personality Science, suggests that individuals who have endured hardships, like divorce, are more appreciative of the good things in life. The authors of the study note, “The worst experiences in life may come with an eventual upside, by promoting the ability to appreciate life’s small pleasures.” Conducted by Alyssa Croft, Elizabeth W. Dunn and Jordi Quoidbach, their research reveals how “individuals who had dealt with more …