Divorce is simply a part of life for many people in the United States and in most parts of the world. Almost everyone has a family member, friend, or other acquaintance who has had their marriage end. Relationships, including marriage relationships, are often the subject of examination and study for a number of reasons.

Many people across the country take advantage of the adoption process to fulfill their dreams of having a family or to complete their family. Families in Illinois are certainly no exception. In light of this, there are a number of laws in place in the state regarding not only the adoption process, but also laws relevant to related situations and occurrences. Some of these laws may be well known, while others seemingly are not.

When a family goes through a divorce, individual family members may reach out to others for support and guidance. Oftentimes, this may involve joining a support group or educational class about the process of divorce and issues that may need to be addressed during a divorce with children. It is likely not surprising that many people may turn to the Internet in search of such a group in today’s tech-savvy world. A recent article discussed the prevalence of online support classes and how beneficial such classes are to those who participate in them. Divorce Classes Some version of …

There is more than one way to end a marriage in the state of Illinois. Although the legal process of divorce may be the most common form of dissolving a marriage, some couples who wish to end their marriage may also be able to obtain an annulment. An annulment also involves a legal proceeding, but differs from divorce in that a party seeking an annulment is attempting to have their marriage declared invalid. Unlike divorce, if an annulment is granted, it erases the marriage and it is as if it never happened in the eyes of the law.

Family Law Cases are Becoming More Common

Today, it seems more couples than ever are choosing to live together, whether or not they plan to marry. In fact, a committed couple eventually deciding to move in together is not only acceptable, but may even be expected in our current culture. Despite the prevalence of this practice, there are some important considerations and preparations a couple should take before making the decision to share a home, as a recent article points out. Preparing for the Move While making the decision to live together is likely an exciting and even romantic time for most couples, there are also some serious …

Prenuptial agreements are gaining popularity and are no longer seen as being exclusively for the wealthy. Many people want to ensure they are protected prior to entering into marriage and may have good reason to do so. However, not all prior prenuptial agreements are upheld in the event of divorce. Oftentimes, the spouse who signed the prenup will challenge its validity in order to have the agreement declared invalid so they will not be held by its terms. The question arises: what makes a prenup invalid in the state of Illinois?

Summer vacation and a break from school means different things for different families. For some parents who got divorced or made the decision to do so, it may have been a summer of adjustment and even grief. Divorced and divorcing families certainly go through a lot, from changes in finances to emotional challenges. Having navigated these circumstances all summer, and perhaps getting into some sort of comfortable routine, the task of getting kids ready to go back to school may seem more daunting than ever. However, there are some things newly divorced or divorcing parents may want to consider…

Some divorce cases, such as those of the very wealthy or those of the celebrity variety, are much more common to be made into news stories and discussed in the media than divorces between regular folks. Interestingly enough, it is often the case that no matter who the parties to the divorce case are, some of the same issues are present in divorce cases across the board, albeit on a different scale. A recent article discussed the high profile divorce case of a super wealthy Chicago couple, busting some divorce case myths along the way. Although the article is written in the context of this …

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

When the parents of a child are no longer a couple or when their relationship fails, they often have a difficult time reaching an agreement when it comes to custody of any children they have together. Of course, many factors can contribute to the breakdown of a family unit, whether marriage was involved or not. When a couple no longer has romantic feelings in common, but still have a child in common, conflicting opinions may cause issues to quickly arise. When these parents cannot come to an agreement about child custody, the law in Illinois steps in to set a schedule for child visitation.

January 1, 2016 Update: The Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (IMDMA) underwent some significant changes. Removal of the at-fault divorce, such as the heart balm provision used in divorces involving adultery, was one of those changes. This essentially means that, while still emotionally painful, adultery holds no legal implications in divorce.