Chances are you and your spouse engaged in the tradition of gift giving between yourselves and with other members of the family. Whether for birthdays, holidays, anniversaries, or other special occasions, presents are a way of showing love, appreciation, and gratitude. Now that you are considering divorce, what happens to these mementos that—in some cases—might be worth a lot of money?

As if going through divorce proceedings is not stressful enough, you may also be receiving threats of foreclosure by a financial institution that holds the mortgage on your home. This type of “insult to injury” situation is actually relatively common, so you do have options to address foreclosure proceedings under state law.

Couples do not just wake up one day and decide to divorce. There are indications that spouses are growing apart and that dissolution of the marriage is inevitable, which usually develop in the weeks and months before filing divorce paperwork. During this period of irretrievable breakdown, one spouse may be tempted to destroy or waste marital assets—often out of spite and with the view that destruction of property is preferable to letting the other person have it.

When parents and their children have lived in different states throughout the duration of the marriage, extremely complicated issues arise regarding child custody in a divorce case. In Illinois, the key for handling disputes is jurisdiction—a court’s authority differs when handling divorce matters versus child custody battles. Jurisdiction may be proper over one aspect of the case, but not appropriate for the other. Because of the highly complex nature of the legal issues involved, it is wise to retain an Illinois divorce attorney with experience in interstate child custody issues.

Congratulations are in order if you have recently gotten engaged and are embarking on the planning phase of your upcoming wedding. As you are preparing the guest list, booking a venue, and making arrangements for the reception, the legal aspects of your nuptials may be the furthest from your mind. However, there are some important tasks you need to address as your wedding day approaches—matters that can ensure you are getting your marriage off on the right foot. Discuss your specific circumstances with an Illinois prenuptial agreement attorney, and consider these “must-do’s” before …

When an adult suffers from a condition that renders him or her unable to handle personal and financial matters, an Illinois court may appoint a guardian to handle these tasks. If you are the individual appointed to care for the needs of a developmentally disabled person, there are certain obligations and responsibilities you undertake as a guardian. In sum, you have two duties: You manage the ward’s personal care, and are also accountable for his or her financial affairs. Your role is an important one under the Illinois statute, so it is important to work with an experienced …

The purpose of spousal maintenance is to provide one partner with the financial means to support himself or herself according to a reasonable standard of living after a divorce. The award of alimony to one spouse is subject to modification based upon a variety of factors; however, the Illinois statute is clear on the circumstances that will terminate support:

If you have a temporary order of protection issued by an Illinois court to protect your safety and that of your family, it can be terrifying to think about what the abuser may do when the designated time period expires. By its terms, a typical restraining order may last anywhere from a few weeks up to a couple of years, depending on the circumstances.

A major change in Illinois child custody law went into effect in 2016—a move that represents a shift to what some would call a more modern approach to addressing the needs of minor children in a divorce. Under the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act, the law now requires divorcing spouses to work on a plan for allocation of parental responsibilities and parenting time.

As the parent of a minor child who does not live under your roof, you no doubt cherish the time you spend together. While a court may establish your rights to parenting time, whether by agreement or as part of a divorce case, you do not have much guidance to tell you the best ways to exercise your responsibilities to maintain a strong, healthy relationship with your child.

When you think about divorce in Illinois, you may see images of drawn-out, antagonistic legal battles involving repeated court hearings where spouses fight over children, the division of property, and spousal support. However, not all cases are so adversarial and can actually be resolved through mediation under appropriate circumstances.

The Illinois budget crisis has been in the news often, but it has had an unfortunate, relatively unknown impact on the victims of domestic violence. According to an April 3, 2017 report in Crain’s Chicago Business, there have been no new funds dedicated to the state’s domestic abuse programs; some of these groups offer legal advice and counsel to individuals seeking to protect themselves and their families from violence.