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Abusive partners have always used methods of control against their victims, but with the latest advancements in technology, they have more tools at their disposal. The abuse of “smart home” devices and cell phones are just two examples that are cropping up in divorces around the nation. Thankfully, victims can protect themselves from a technologically savvy abusive spouse. Learn more in the following sections, including how a seasoned Illinois divorce lawyer can provide victims yet another layer of protection while they are seeking a divorce or separation.
Abuse Using “Smart Homes” and Other Advanced Technology
While technology abuse may not seem like much of a threat, the truth is that perpetrators are using advanced devices like smart home systems to make the lives of their victims unbearable. For example, they may remotely turn the lights off and on, or they may turn up the heater to an unbearable temperature. Unfortunately, when victims try to explain the abuse, law enforcement and other officials may dismiss their claims as “crazy” or petty.
A college degree is almost essential in today’s job market, which is why so many parents set up an educational savings account for their children. Unfortunately, that account may be subject to division if the parents end their marriage. Learn how you can protect your child’s savings account during your Illinois divorce, and discover how a seasoned divorce lawyer may be able to help improve the overall outcome of your case.
How Divorce Can Endanger Your Child’s College Savings
Going from one household to two can have a significant impact on your family’s overall financial trajectory - and that includes your child’s college savings account. That is because the household, which used to share expenses, now has two sets of bills. Add in the possibility of child support and alimony, and there is even less money to go around. As such, it may be difficult for parents to continue contributing to their child’s college savings account. Another issue is that some savings accounts are considered marital assets, so they may be split like other assets. Yet, even if the account is not split (such as with a 529 plan), there is a risk that one parent may wrongfully spend the money that has been saved.
Most people view divorce as a failure of their marriage, but relationship experts say this is not always the case. In fact, people often grow and mature during their marriage, and divorce can be a part of that process. Learn more in the following sections, including how a seasoned divorce attorney can help you successfully navigate the ins and outs of an Illinois divorce.
Human Relationships Can Promote Personal Growth
When you are single, the only person you really have to worry about is yourself. In contrast, marriage encourages you to put the needs and feelings of others before your own. Relationships can also help you see where you need to grow. For example, marriage can reveal your tendency to act with selfishness or immaturity. It can also help you to see where you need to act more responsibly (i.e. managing money, etc.). Of course, few people enter their marriages with this mindset, which is why divorce is typically seen as a failure. Yet, experts say that choosing a divorce - especially when you have grown apart or outgrown your relationship - can be the most mature decision one can make. It can also indicate you are not overly fearful of change and personal growth, both of which are unavoidable when you end a relationship.
One of the first questions that divorcing parties ask is how long the process will take. Unfortunately, the answer is not a simple one, especially since there are so many variables involved. For example, a contentious divorce is likely to take far longer than an amicable one. Still, there are some generalizations that can give you an idea as to how long the process might take for you and your spouse. Learn more in the following sections, including how a seasoned divorce attorney may be able to take steps to expedite your Illinois divorce.
Method of Divorce Can Affect the Duration of Your Case
Couples used to have to go through court for a divorce, but the process is both long and costly. As such, the system has added new avenues for divorce. For example, a couple may choose to mediate their divorce instead of going to litigation. Alternatively, they may use their attorneys to work out a negotiated settlement, or they may seek out arbitration. All of these avenues typically take less time than a litigated divorce, and they are usually less expensive.
The Great Recession endangered the retirement of thousands of Americans, but experts from the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College recently found that divorce can be just as detrimental. Much of this is due to the splitting of assets and the decrease in income that ensue once proceedings begin (or sometimes even before), but parties can mitigate their risks. Learn more in the following sections, including how a seasoned divorce lawyer can help.
The Retirement Risk Index
Ideally, your retirement should allow you to sustain your current lifestyle. Unfortunately, after the Great Recession, approximately half of all American households were at risk of not meeting that goal. With some 40 percent of all marriages ending in divorce, that number may be increasing on a daily basis - especially since divorce can increase one’s risk of not meeting their retirement goals by 7 percentage points. Thankfully, if parties understand how divorce endangers their retirement, and they learn how to mitigate against the potential issues that may arise along the way, they can decrease their risk of not meeting their retirement goals.
Cell phone linking while you are married can make life simpler; you and your spouse can easily share photos, documents, and pertinent personal information (i.e. locations, banking information, etc.). Unfortunately, that same technological feature can be your undoing in an Illinois divorce. Learn how you can protect your personal digital information in the following sections.
Email Accounts and Linked Cell Phones
Of all the information that your spouse can access from a linked cell phone account, emails are perhaps the most concerning. That is because most people now receive legal advice through email. Bank account alerts may also be sent through email. As such, divorcing parties are encouraged to change the password to their email accounts before they even initiate a divorce. If you are not the initiator, change your passwords as soon as you receive notification of the impending divorce.
Although divorce is a highly unique experience, there are some common challenges that couples may face. Fail to overcome them, and you could suffer extreme losses. Avoid them, and you may be able to improve the overall outcome of your case. Learn more, including how a seasoned divorce lawyer can help you successfully navigate the legal aspects of your Illinois divorce.
Having Unrealistic Lifestyle Expectations
In an Illinois divorce, the money and other assets acquired during the marriage are equitably split, and the time they have with their children is divided. These losses, when compounded with the grief that is often felt at the end of a marriage, can cause parties to have unrealistic expectations about what they deserve or need from their settlement. For example, a party may be dead set on keeping the family home, even though they cannot reasonably afford it. Alternatively, a parent may insist that they get their children for all holidays and the entire summer, even though they know their spouse wants some of this time as well. Unfortunately, holding on to these unrealistic lifestyle expectations can do them far more harm than good.
Although adoption is usually a positive experience for families, it can take an emotional toll on the prospective parents. Sadly, few are aware of the challenges that they are likely to face, and so they may not be fully prepared for the process. Learn more in the following sections, including where you can find support during the adoption process.
Understanding the Challenges of Adoption
Adoption, in and of itself, can be a stressful process. There are many forms to complete, and parents often worry whether they will be considered a “suitable” parent by the adoption agency. In addition, there may be challenges that are specific to the type of adoption that a parent is pursuing. For example, a mother may change her mind in an infant adoption, and the prospective parents may have to start the process over - and that can be painful if they have developed an attachment to the child.
Additional Emotional Challenges Parents May Face
Divorce can negatively impact all involved parties, but children tend to be at the greatest risk for long-term complications and maladjustment. Part of this is due to their lack of control in the situation, but there are also other factors that can influence their ability to cope with divorce (i.e. a history of abuse or neglect, parental alienation, developmental disabilities, etc.). Thankfully, parents can mitigate many of the risks by making intentional efforts to safeguard their child’s best interests during and after the divorce process. Learn more on how to effectively do this while parenting in separate homes, and discover how the assistance of a seasoned divorce attorney can help to improve the final outcome of your case.
Allowing Your Child to Love Both Parents
Perhaps one of the biggest mistakes that parents make in divorce is they get jealous over the time that their child spends with their former spouse. Alternatively, a parent may be so emotionally distraught that they feel they “need” their child around to be okay with their new way of life. Unfortunately, both scenarios (as well as any others that may hinder your child’s ability to freely love both of their parents) can cause permanent damage to your child’s well-being.
Divorce can be a financially crippling process, especially if you are not adequately prepared. Thankfully, with the right tools and knowledge, you can increase your chances of a favorable outcome. Learn more about managing your finances during and after an Illinois divorce, including why, how, and when to get started. You shall also learn how a seasoned divorce attorney can assist you in navigating your way through the process.
Understanding the Potential Financial Risks
While there are many potential risks of divorce, those that involve your finances are often the most devastating and long-lasting. For example, you could:
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