Moving to a new city or state for a new job, or just to be closer to family is a decision many people make without a second thought. However, if you have a custody order, then you may not be able to simply pick up and move. You may first have to get the permission of the court.

Child custody and visitation are some of the most difficult issues to resolve in a divorce or separation. Sometimes a court enlists in the help of a Guardian Ad Litem (GAL) to provide unbiased information and opinion to help resolve the dispute. If a court appoints a GAL, then both parents must understand the GAL’s role and how they may impact their child custody case.

Divorce is one of the most turbulent times anyone may experience. It can drain a person both emotionally and financially. As unpleasant as divorce can be, there are many factors that further complicate the decision to initiate a divorce. These factors include fear about splitting assets, child custody disputes, and determining alimony payments. Factoring in a spouse with a substance abuse problem can make the decision to divorce more difficult than usual.

A child’s feelings and attitudes towards their parents change over time. These changes can be influenced by changes at school in a child's social groups and by his or her experiences surrounding the divorce of a child's parents. In some cases, certain changes can support a custody or visitation modification. To be sure, mistreatment by a parent or stepparent can support a change in custody. The same can be said for illegal activities or activities that endanger the child, like drug or alcohol abuse.

Deciding child custody and visitation can be complex for divorcing parents. This is particularly true if you did not choose your custody and visitation arrangement or would like a change in custody. Whether you have agreed to your child custody arrangements or a court ordered it, it is still important to understand the basics of custody and visitation according to state law.

You should not live in fear of another person. If you are divorcing or separating from your partner and he or she is harassing or abusing you, you may be able to request an order of protection to protect yourself from further harm.

There are not many issues in a divorce that are as difficult as deciding which parent a child will live with post divorce. Even after a court has decided child custody and visitation, one parent may want to request changes to custody throughout the child’s youth. There are several reasons why a noncustodial parent would want to seek a change in custody; such reasons may include:

One of the most difficult things to deal with is an allegation of domestic violence in the middle of a family law case. Because judges rightfully take domestic violence claims seriously, even unfounded allegations can drastically affect the way a family law case moves forward. Sometimes, even parenting time is cut off. If you are the subject of domestic violence allegations, you need to understand your rights.

Many people are under the mistaken impression that prenuptial agreements, or “prenups,” are only for people who enter into a marriage with significant personal assets, or who stand to inherit substantial assets at a later date. While it certainly is the case that wealthy people often use prenuptial agreements to protect assets in the event of a divorce, these types of agreements can also greatly benefit people who may have more modest means. For this reason, it is very important for anyone considering getting married to discuss how a prenuptial agreement may be able to help them with an …

Determining child support payments can be a difficult task—one that is further complicated for unmarried parents. Compared to more “traditional cases”, unmarried parents have many unique considerations to keep in mind when determining visitation rights, paternity, and child support.

October was Domestic Violence Awareness Month. In Illinois, state representatives have taken notice by drafting and implementing new survivor-oriented legislation to help make it easier for survivors of domestic violence and abuse to protect themselves, their family, and to hopefully eradicate themselves from a bad situation.

When considering filing for divorce, many people get nervous about when they think about the possibility of having to testify in court. While most divorce cases settle long before trial, testifying as part of the divorce case may be required.