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Recent Blog Posts

Does Filing for Bankruptcy Damage Your Credit Rating?

 Posted on October 06, 2017 in Bankruptcy

DuPage County bankruptcy lawyersOf all the reasons that people delay filing for bankruptcy, concerns over credit are the most common. Considering that the long-term impact of bankruptcy on one’s credit rating is one of the most well-known facts about bankruptcy, such fears make sense. However, there are some little-known facts about bankruptcy – some of which may encourage you to reconsider whether bankruptcy may be an appropriate option for your situation. Learn more about the effect that filing for bankruptcy can have on your credit, and discover how an experienced attorney can assist you through the process.

The Effect of Bankruptcy Wanes Over Time

Although it is true that bankruptcy remains on your credit for up to 10 years (the time can vary, depending on which chapter you file under), its impact is strongest immediately after you file. Then, over time, that impact wanes. That makes obtaining new credit easier, and the more credit you obtain and handle responsibly, the more your score may improve.

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Choosing the Right Attorney for Your Illinois Divorce

 Posted on October 05, 2017 in Divorce

Illinois divorce lawyersAlthough divorcing parties in Illinois are not required to obtain legal assistance, many find that their outcomes are improved with it. Of course, having an attorney during your divorce means you must first choose the one that most closely fits your wants and needs. Learn how to do this, and discover how the specific details of your divorce may impact your decision, with help from the following information.

Consider What Type of a Divorce You Want

Before you hire a divorce lawyer, it is important to know what type of divorce you would like to pursue. More specifically, would your case be better served through mediation, collaborative divorce, or litigation? Each works differently, and the role of your attorney will change, depending on which option seems most appropriate for your situation. Furthermore, the type of attorney you need may change, depending on the preferred divorce course. As an example, parties may want to search for a divorce lawyer with extensive litigation experience if the marriage has a history of domestic violence or asset hiding.

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Children of Divorce May Experience Academic Maladjustment, Study Says

 Posted on October 02, 2017 in Child Custody

DuPage County divorce lawyersStudies have long indicated that children may be at risk for emotional, development, and behavioral maladjustment after a divorce. However, a lesser known study also suggests that children may also be at risk for academic maladjustment during and after the divorce process. How can parents mitigate against the issue, and what can an experienced divorce lawyer do to help? The following information explains further.

Academic Maladjustment and Divorce

Academic maladjustment – or difficulty in school – can take many forms after divorce. Some children may simply disengage altogether, which can cause a sudden drop in their grades. Others may start to withdraw socially, so they may stop attending extracurricular or after-school activities. Still, there are some who may start to display behavior problems at school, such as outbursts, bullying, or truancy. How a parent deals with this will depend greatly upon the type of maladjustment their child is experiencing, but so can an understanding of the reasons that academic maladjustment may occur during and after divorce.

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Paying Off Credit Card Debt May Ease the Divorce Process

 Posted on September 29, 2017 in Property Division

DuPage County divorce lawyersAlthough most people are aware that assets are equitably split during an Illinois divorce, few couples stop to think about their debts. However, this too is divided – and it can lead to financial ruin for one or both parties if mishandled. Learn how you can protect your finances during a divorce, and discover how paying off your credit card debt may ease the overall process. You shall also learn what an experienced attorney can do for you.

What No One Tells You About Debt in Divorce

The real problem with debt in divorce is not that it is divided. Instead, it is that the original debtor is still held accountable, regardless of the decree. For example, one party may agree to pay on a joint credit card, but if that party defaults on their payments, both may face legal action from the creditor. The same holds true for other forms of debt, such as student loans, vehicle leases, and mortgages.

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Deciding What to Do with the Family Home During Your Illinois Divorce

 Posted on September 28, 2017 in Property Division

Wheaton divorce attorneysOf all the assets that a couple must split in divorce, the family home is typically the most valuable. Parties may also have an emotional attachment to their family home (which makes sense, considering it is the place where families make some of their fondest memories). Sadly, when these two issues are combined, the asset division process becomes exponentially more difficult.

To make matters worse, arguments and disagreements about the fate of the family home can quickly turn even the most amicable divorce into a contentious one. Learn more about your options for the family home in a divorce, including how to determine which one may be most appropriate for your situation, and discover how an experienced divorce lawyer can help.

Examining Your Options

There are three options when it comes to the family home – keep it, sell it, or rent it out. When the house is kept by one spouse, they become responsible for the payments, maintenance, and insurance. The other spouse will then typically receive other assets to ensure they receive their fair share of the marital estate. When the house is sold, the proceeds are typically added to the estate, and each party receives their fair share. Renting the home can be frustrating, and it can complicate the asset division process, but sometimes this is the most favorable option for divorcing couples. For example, if the mortgage is underwater, renting may give the parties income as they wait for the market to improve.

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Life After Bankruptcy - Creating and Sticking to Your Budget

 Posted on September 28, 2017 in Bankruptcy

DuPage County bankruptcy lawyersBankruptcy may be an arduous process, but it can give debtors a clean slate. Unfortunately, if that debtor then fails to make the most of their fresh start, they can find themselves right back where they started. Learn how creating and sticking to a budget can help you avoid this issue after a bankruptcy filing, and discover how an experienced bankruptcy attorney can assist with your case, even after the process is complete.

Start by Tracking Income and Expenses

Most people start a budget by cutting back on all their expenses – everything from entertainment to necessities. Unfortunately, this is not the most effective way to create a budget. Instead, financial experts encourage consumers to spend some time tracking their income and expenses. Start by checking your after-tax income for each pay period over the next two months, then examine bank and credit card statements to determine when and where you are spending money. Each expenditure should then be categorized (i.e. clothing, food, etc.).

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Three Ways You Can Protect Your Children from the Effects of Divorce

 Posted on September 25, 2017 in Divorce

DuPage County divorce lawyersDivorce can take a toll on everyone’s mental, emotional, and physical being, but it is children who are typically the most vulnerable to long-term issues. As such, parents are encouraged to do everything that they can to protect their children from the effects of divorce. Learn more, including how an experienced family law attorney can help with the process, using the following information.

Keep the Child Out of the Middle

Parents do not typically place their child in the middle of the divorce intentionally. Instead, they typically make a series of small, seemingly unimportant decisions that can compromise their child’s emotional well-being. They may overshare details about the divorce or the reasons why the relationship failed. Some may find themselves asking about the other parent’s personal life, or they may lean on their child while struggling through the divorce process. All these actions – and any others that place the child in the middle of the relationship – can cause severe and irreparable emotional or mental damage to the child, even if the acts are unintentional.

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Drafting a “Long-Distance” Parenting Plan

 Posted on September 22, 2017 in Family Law

Illinois-family law attorneysLong-distance relationships are never easy, but those that involve children can be especially trying. In fact, parents and children who have gone through divorce or separation may experience a disconnect – one in which the parent feels left out of the child’s day-to-day life, and the child feels the absence of a parent that is far away. Thankfully, it is possible to develop a parenting plan that satisfies all parties and reduces the risk of mental and emotional distress. The following information can help you learn more about drafting a long-distance parenting plan, and it explains how an experienced family law attorney can assist with the process.

Make Time for Regular, In-Person Visits

Long-distance parents are encouraged to have regular, in-person visits with their child – not just because it gives you and your child physical contact, but also because it can help to ensure that your child knows you are there for them, as much as you can be. Plan to travel out for school concerts and special occasions or request that your child come and stay with you for a weekend every month. Also, consider whether it would be feasible for your child to spend holidays or school breaks with you.

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Uncovering Hidden Assets in Your Illinois Divorce

 Posted on September 21, 2017 in Property Division

Wheaton divorce lawyersBack in 2015, a groundbreaking study determined that some 7.2 million Americans are hiding money or lines of credit from their spouses. If you think that statistic is alarming, consider how many of those same couples will ultimately divorce (current statistics suggest a little less than half). Then contemplate whether a spouse is more likely to hide assets in divorce if they did so in marriage. Could you be at risk for asset hiding during your divorce? Learn how to protect yourself from such practices, and discover how an attorney can help you fight for your fair share.

Signs and Symptoms of Asset Hiding

To find hidden assets, you must first determine if you may be at risk. Look for strange business behaviors, secretive practices, evasiveness, and overall defensiveness anytime money is discussed. Also, watch for any signs of overseas travel, new sales or purchases (including strange, odd, or even seemingly low-value items), loans, sudden or frequent business trips, gifts to family and friends, and other uncharacteristic practices or behaviors. Be especially alert if you have a high net worth marriage or are a disadvantaged spouse (meaning you earn less than your spouse or do not earn any of your own money). Couples that have a business as a part of their marital estate (joint, or single-owned) should also be extremely conscious of strange or out-of-character behaviors or practices, including any that may pertain to the business itself.

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Is Your Child Being Used as a Weapon in Your Illinois Divorce?

 Posted on September 15, 2017 in Family Law

Illinois family law attorneysMost parents know that their child needs to be protected during a divorce, but there are a few that will use their child as a weapon. Unfortunately, such actions can cause long-term damage. The following information can help you learn how to mitigate against the possible effects of parental alienation, and it describes how an attorney can assist with your divorce case.

Signs and Symptoms of Parental Alienation

In the early stages of parental alienation, parents may not notice any signs and symptoms. However, there may be details about the divorce that start to emerge. For example, your child might ask why you stopped loving the other parent, or why it is that you refused to forgive them for a mistake they made. As time passes, additional signs and symptoms may start to surface, including:

  • Withdrawal from a parent,
  • Disregard for a parent’s feelings,
  • Viewing one parent as “bad” and the other as “good,”

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