Chicago Office
Wheaton Office
Archive, May 2015.
Misconduct during Pregnancy: Punishment against Mothers
In our society, parental rights are fundamental rights, meaning they are the type of rights that are guaranteed to citizens of the United States by virtue of the Constitution. Because of this fact, to terminate parental rights, the government needs to prove that there has been some behavior or misconduct so bad that it causes harm or a threat of harm to the well-being of a child, and therefore the government has the right to intervene on the child(ren)’s behalf.
Illinois Premarital Agreements
Reasons for Premarital Agreements
When You Are Entitled to Spousal Support
Spousal support is one of the biggest issues in a divorce. Also referred to as alimony or maintenance, spousal support requires that one former spouse continues to financially support the other former spouse for a period of time or permanently. There are several different types of maintenance that can be agreed upon or ordered by court. However, it must first be determined whether either spouse is entitled to receive support from the other.
Child Support Tax Considerations
Taxes affect nearly every aspect of our lives, and divorce is no exception. It is important that you consider the tax implications to all of the decisions that go into your divorce, especially if there are children involved. Child support, custody, and other issues surrounding the children can have a major impact on your future taxes.
Grounds for Filing for Divorce in Illinois
Petitioning the court for a divorce can be one of the most complicated and stressful times of your life. In Illinois, the court still requires that a person filing for divorce give a specific reason for why the marriage is ending, also known as giving grounds for the divorce. As such, Illinois is considered a “fault” state for divorce, but the law does also allow a “no fault” reason to end a marriage.
One in Seven Divorces Caused by Social Media
The use of technology and social media to connect with others has been an increasing cause of divorce across the country, and the world, for a number of years as more spouses use social media websites. In fact, a new survey conducted by the company Censuswide shows that nearly one in every seven divorces occurs because of social media.
Illinois Divorce and Property Distribution
One of the biggest issues that arises during the divorce process is the distribution of property to each spouse. Who gets the house, cars, furniture, personal effects, and more must all be agreed upon by the spouses or the court in a divorce. Illinois decides issues of property through a process known as “equitable distribution.”
The Putative Father Registry: Protecting Fathers’ Rights
In Illinois, the state adoption agency is required to notify fathers if their children are being placed for adoption. All putative fathers, or men who might be a child’s father but were not married to the child’s mother at the time of birth, are encouraged to register in the Putative Father Registry in order to have a say in a potential adoption of their child.
Imputed Income for Child Support
Even though parents can and do choose to end their relationship with each other, the parental bond with their children endures. Both parents are legally obligated to support their children, even if they do not choose to maintain a relationship with them. Because of this continuing obligation, child support issues are often the most intensely contested areas during a divorce or custody proceeding.
Long Distance Visitation: Making it Work
For divorced parents who live far apart, or even in different states, the challenge of finding a visitation schedule that works for both parents, is acceptable to a judge, and serves the child’s best interests can be a daunting task. The complications of divorce and custody determinations are made even more complex when one parent moves for work or other reasons.
Rights and Responsibilities of Birth Parents
The adoption of a child can be exciting and stressful at the same time. To reduce the strain on both birth parents and adoptive parents, it helps for all parties to know their rights.
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