Typically, marriage is the most important personal and legal relationship a person can have. However, there are certain rules that must be followed for a marriage to be considered legal. Aside from the legal requirements of marriage, the success of a marriage also depends on how well a couple handles issues related to communication, finances, conflict, parenting, expectations and much more.

People are often confused by the many terms tossed around in the legal profession, especially family law. Commonly, these terms include separation, divorce and annulment. It is important to know the difference between these terms so you can properly evaluate your situation, especially if you are experiencing marital problems. 

Sometimes, when the decision to divorce occurs, the feelings are mutual. The process is straightforward and moves along swiftly. However, many divorces are not so fortunate and do not move quickly—one party may want a divorce while the other party is opposed to the idea.

The term prenuptial agreement or premarital agreement, usually referred to as a prenup in the media, is a written contract that is created by two individuals prior to their marriage. The purpose of such an agreement is to plan ahead to determine what happens in the event of death, divorce or separation. The agreement sets forth a list of property and debts owed by each person, and defines their rights to the property after they are married. A prenup usually deals with distribution of property, assets, liabilities, spousal support, and even attorney’s fees.

The determination of child custody can be a very difficult topic in both separations and divorces. However, the issue becomes more complicated when domestic violence has occurred in the household. When an order of protection is entered in a case, it severely impacts the rights of one parent. 

The divorce process is a daunting experience for all parties involved. The Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act provides several guidelines for families to follow, including the distribution of property or assets, to ease the stress of the situation. 

When a child is involved in a divorce, one of the most important aspects of the final decree is child custody and visitation rights. However, sometimes a parent will not abide by a visitation schedule, and enforcement of the visitation order becomes necessary. The law provides a way for a parent with visitation rights to enforce the order and see his or her child.

Adoption can be a wonderful experience for everyone involved, and the process provides numerous benefits for the child and adoptive parents. Illinois law has several different types of adoption, with different guidelines and procedures for each. It is important to understand which type of adoption you are choosing in order to ensure that every step of the process is completed correctly.

If your former spouse is not paying his or her child support ordered by the court, the law provides several options for restitution. One of these options comes from the Income Withholding Support Act, which allows for an employer to withhold some of a parent’s paycheck and allocate it towards child support. This act is used primarily in situations where a parent is in arrears and not as an original source of payment for child support.

When a minor is accused of committing a crime, he or she can be tried in juvenile court as opposed to adult court. However, the need for skilled legal representation remains the same regardless of what court the child is tried in, and the consequences of a juvenile court conviction can be impactful on the child. Therefore, it is important to know the similarities and differences between juvenile and adult court in Illinois. 

In Illinois, when a couple divorces and one spouse is left economically disadvantaged, a judge may award that spouse maintenance, otherwise known as alimony. The length and amount of alimony depends on a number of factors dictated by law, and depending on the facts of the marriage, a judge can award different types of alimony to a spouse.

If a child is involved in a divorce, one of the most important aspects of the proceeding is to establish a child custody agreement. This agreement determines whether the parents have joint or sole custody, visitation rights, time sharing, decision making responsibilities and more. Once a child custody agreement has been set, there are only specific circumstances where it can be modified after the fact.