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Parenting changed the moment the first in vitro fertilization baby was born back. One would think that, since then, the law would manage to sort out what happens to a fertilized embryo if the prospective parents should ever divorce. Yet, as many couples learn, this is not the case. In fact, in the last 25 years, little progress has been made regarding the rights of each divorcing individual to either procreate or not procreate – but that could all soon change.
In a case that is set to be heard by the high courts in Colorado, an individual’s Constitutional right to procreate or not, and whether one outweighs the other person’s, will finally be ruled upon. Learn more about how and why this upcoming case is different than the previous IVF divorce cases, discover what the court’s potential decision could mean for your case, and gain insight as to how an experienced divorce lawyer can help improve the outcome of your situation.
With more than 1.3 million employees nationwide, Walmart is America’s largest employer. In the past, it has been criticized for its lack of benefits, but the company has started to respond to the concerns, needs, and desires of its employees. Raising its hourly wage to $11 an hour was just a start; they have also added more benefits for parents – including those who are considering adoption. Learn more, including how an experienced attorney can help you successfully navigate your way through the complex and nuanced process of adoption.
Paid Maternity and Paternity Leave
Although some Walmart employees may be covered for maternity or paternity leave under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), their time away from work under this program is unpaid. To obtain compensation, new parents would have to request maternity or paternity leave. Starting in February, the company will extend the amount of time that parents can request – going from eight weeks of paid maternity leave to ten and two weeks of paternity leave to six. It is not clear if the company will continue to compensate full-time employees at a half-time rate when the changes go into effect, or if they will be able to also receive the full compensation benefit as salaried employees.
Although divorce can negatively impact all involved parties, children tend to be the most vulnerable. In fact, studies have shown that children may experience behavioral, mental, and emotional issues during a divorce, and some of those effects can carry on into adulthood. Thankfully, parents can mitigate the potential damage with compassion, empathy, and few tried and true tips for helping children cope. Learn more about them, and discover how an experienced divorce attorney can improve the outcome for you and your child during an Illinois divorce.
Be Empathetic to Your Child’s Position and Feelings
Part of the reason that children struggle so much with divorce is that they are powerless in the situation. They have no choice; they can only cope and eventually accept. To complicate matters even further, children rarely have any advance knowledge that divorce is on the horizon, so the news may leave them feeling like their entire life has fallen apart, and all in a matter of moments. Also, because children may not have a clear understanding of divorce, they may think that they can “fix” the issue, or they may blame themselves. Some also fear that their relationships with one or both parents may suffer, or they may be afraid of the changes. Be empathetic to their position and feelings, and do your best to comfort them when it is needed. Be clear but empathetic about how life will change.
Bankruptcy is designed as a way of helping honest people who are struggling to pay their debts. It can give you a fresh start at managing your budget and spending while allowing you to get established on a more secure footing. The details involved in each individual case are unique, but there are certain types of situations in which filing for bankruptcy makes the most sense.
When to Consider Bankruptcy
There are a number of common scenarios in which bankruptcy may be the best available option. These include:
1. When you are a small business owner and overwhelmed with debt. Starting, promoting, and maintaining a business requires both time and money. When outstanding debts threaten your ability to operate, filing for bankruptcy can provide the relief you need, and may even help keep you from going under.
2. When dealing with a job loss. Even those who work for large, secure employers can find themselves facing sudden layoffs and other types of job losses. Bankruptcy can help protect you from creditor harassment and alleviate debts, providing some much-needed relief while you look for a new job.
Divorce can be an emotionally trying process, full of sadness, anger, and regret. Unfortunately, letting those feelings run the proceedings can cause serious issues for everyone involved. Learn how reducing the level of contention in your Illinois divorce can mitigate against such issues, and discover how an experienced divorce lawyer can assist you through the complex legal process.
Understanding the Potential Implications of a Contentious Divorce
Contentious in divorce can drive up your stress levels, which can increase the odds of you experiencing health issues during the proceedings and long after. For example, studies have indicated that extreme stress in divorce may increase one’s risk of developing depression and heart-related health conditions. The extended amount of time that it typically takes to complete a contentious divorce can further increase the risk of such complications.
Another major concern in contentious divorces is the cost; arguments during negotiations can rack up legal fees, appeals in court add to the fees, and certain assets or debts may cause issues for either of the parties during the proceedings. These are not the only ways that a contentious divorce may cost you, however; high-contention divorces often lead to vengeful spouses that attempt to hide money or run up debts under your name.
Divorce, in and of itself, does not typically cause credit issues, but events and situations that arise during the proceedings could negatively impact your credit. Thankfully, divorcing parties can mitigate against potential credit problems that may occur during and after their divorce proceedings. Learn how, and discover what an experienced divorce attorney can do to improve the overall outcome of your case.
You May Need to Refinance the Family Home
If you and your spouse have agreed that you will keep the family home and that it should be only in your name, you will likely need to refinance. On the one hand, refinancing removes your spouse, which takes away any rights they might have otherwise had to the home. On the other, it typically requires a hard hit to your credit report, which can decrease your score. It may also result in a higher debt-to-income ratio for you. Consider carefully whether these issues are worth keeping the home over, or if it might be more prudent to sell the house and split the settlement.
Gray divorce – one that occurs when the couple is nearing retirement – has been on the rise for a while now. Experts say there are several reasons for the trend, but the main contributor is that, with no job and no children, couples have more time alone together. In that extra time together, many are finding they are not happy or no longer in love, or that maybe they stayed together out of necessity, or for the sake of the children. In this scenario, the decision to divorce is not altogether bad, but there are some drawbacks.
One of the biggest is issues is that, sometimes, parents with adult children forget that divorce still has an impact. In fact, one college counselor recently spoke out about how divorce was impacting students on campus. Adult children with kids of their own can feel the stress of your divorce as well. Learn how you can help them cope, and discover what an experienced attorney can do to assist you through the complex legal process that lies ahead.
While divorce is, at its core, a legal process, one cannot deny its emotional aspects. Infidelity, whether physical or emotional, can heighten those feelings and further complicate the process – but it does not have to. Instead, you can learn to cope with the pain of your betrayal while still acting in a diplomatic way in the legal proceedings of your case. Learn how, and discover what an experienced attorney can do to help in the following sections.
Understanding How Emotion Can Complicate Divorce
The end of a marriage can be immensely painful for all parties, and infidelity often strengthens the blow. Yet, in divorce, emotion can be your worst enemy. Capable of clouding your judgment, it can cause you to become retaliatory, which may drive up your legal fees and court costs. High levels of contention in a divorce may also impact any children that you and your spouse share. As such, it is highly recommended that you attempt to remove as much of the emotion from the legal process of your divorce as humanly possible.
Having to file for bankruptcy can be devastating. And while it is a serious issue, there are several facts that many individuals do not know about bankruptcy as a whole. There are two notable types of bankruptcy: Chapter 7 and Chapter 13. To fully understand bankruptcy, it is very important to understand the differences.
What is Chapter 13 Bankruptcy?
Chapter 13 bankruptcy, also referred to as a “wage earner’s plan,” gives individuals with regular income an opportunity to create a plan to pay off their debts.
How Long Does the Process for Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Last?
Debtors make a repayment plan for the individuals filing for this type of bankruptcy to pay off their debts within three to five years. The debtor’s monthly income exceeds the state median, and then the plan will generally last five years. However, if the debtor’s income is less than the state median, the plan will last three years, unless a longer period "for cause” is approved by the court.
As the holidays come to an end and families move into the New Year, many are considering how they can make positive changes to improve their lives. For some, that may mean finally moving forward with a divorce. Perhaps you have been thinking about it for a while and were hoping things would get better, or maybe you wanted to wait until the stress of the holidays passed. Either way, you can now begin to prepare to move forward with this new phase of your life. Start by using the following tips and then contact an experienced attorney for assistance.
Forgo the Discussion for Now
While you may want to discuss the impending divorce with your spouse, now may not be the time. Spouses can sometimes become retaliatory immediately after learning that a divorce is on the horizon. Others can panic about their financial future, which may cause them to try and hide money from you. Either way, it is often best if you can gather the information you need before you disclose your plans to file for divorce.
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