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Many factors can lead to the dissolution of a marriage. Sometimes, it may be one event or incident that led to a break up, and other times it may be a pattern of behavior that is endured over a long period of time. A recent article discussed how a common act, giving one another the “silent treatment,” can have possible long-term effects on a relationship.
Argument Weapon
For many couples, using the silent treatment may be a common go-to weapon for use in arguments. However, doing so repeatedly may not only be a sign of deeper issues, but it can also cause further damage to a relationship, even ending in divorce. Choosing not to speak with your partner about issues that are present in your relationship stifles communication in a quite obvious way and also causes those issues to go unaddressed and unresolved.
Divorce cases certainly involve a change of circumstance for both parties, whether the dissolution of the marriage was expected or not. As such, certain laws are in place to ease the transition for one party, or both parties in some cases. Specifically, the concept of alimony is generally intended to allow an ex-spouse who may have sacrificed a career or education in favor of the family gain some financial stability for a period of time upon divorce.
The law in most states, including Illinois, sets guidelines for alimony and factors for the court to consider in determining an amount of alimony award, if any. However, there are a number of other states with arguably antiquated laws which allow for lifetime receipt of alimony with little consideration given to factors such as length of marriage or a change in circumstance of either party. Lawmakers and advocates across the country are debating the concept of alimony and whether the idea of post-divorce spousal maintenance is outdated.
Whether parents are married or not, many of the same issues and emotions are present within the context of a child custody case. Both parents may be petitioning the court for custody rights, visitation time, and/or child support in regards to any children they have in common. However, there are some important considerations for unmarried parents to take note of in the context of a child custody case, not all of which would be relevant to married parents.
Parental Rights
Generally, both unmarried mothers and unmarried fathers have a right to custody of their minor child provided that they are not considered to be unfit parents or otherwise unable to care for the child. While maternity is easily established, an unmarried father may have an initial issue with petitioning a court for custody if he is not listed on the child’s birth certificate or if the mother does not acknowledge paternity. This situation would likely lead the father to seek to establish paternity in a parentage action before the court in order to legally be declared the father of the minor child. Once it is properly proven that each parent has a right to the child and is not unfit to be a parent, the parties can ask the court to make relevant determinations regarding the child, such as physical custody, legal custody, visitation, and child support. While the issue of parentage is certainly not the only consideration for unmarried couples to be aware of in a child custody case, it is arguably the most common.
Navigating the process of divorce is often difficult enough, particularly when children are involved. Add to that the stress of dealing with an ex-spouse who is removing themselves from a relationship and the process can become even more challenging. The involved parent is left to address these issues with the children and may not know how to do so. A website has offered the following tips on helping children through this very type of situation.
Tips on Dealing with a Disengaged Parent
Newly single parents who are trying to establish a new way of life with their children have a difficult task ahead of them, but when children are also facing rejection by their other parent, additional issues must be addressed. This situation often brings up feelings of anger and sadness, not to mention confusion on the part of both parent and child. Disengaged parents will often cancel visitation, fail to participate in activities with their children, or neglect to attempt to communicate or connect with their children. Here are some ways that a parent can help their child deal with a disengaged parent:
Most people are at risk of making at least a few mistakes throughout the process of divorce. Of course, having an experienced divorce attorney as legal representation goes a long way in avoiding such errors and ensuring a smooth process along the way. A Chicago Tribune article from a few years ago discusses the most common mistakes made by men in divorce cases, as witnessed by a divorce attorney. While the article is gender-specific, it is important to note that these mistakes can easily be equally attributable to men or women and should be avoided by any party in a divorce case.
Ten Mistakes
It is wise for members of both sexes involved in divorce proceedings to not only be aware of these commonly made mistakes, but to take steps to avoid them, ideally with the help if an attorney who is experienced in divorce cases.
Today, family units are made up of all types of individuals. For many children, their grandparents step in to take on a larger role in their upbringing. According to a recently published article, the state of Illinois is taking steps to recognize these positive contributions grandparents are making in the lives of today’s youth. The state observed Grandparents’ Day recently and praised grandparents who were raising their grandchildren.
Grandparents Day
The Illinois Department on Aging (IDoA) had a large part in celebrating Grandparents’ Day on September 7th. The IDoA spoke out positively about grandparents who stepped into the role of parent to their grandchildren and took the opportunity to remind these caregivers about support services that were available to them. A grandparent who resides with their minor grandchildren and is responsible for the majority of their basic care is considered the child’s primary caregiver.
Divorce is simply a part of life for many people in the United States and in most parts of the world. Almost everyone has a family member, friend, or other acquaintance who has had their marriage end. Relationships, including marriage relationships, are often the subject of examination and study for a number of reasons.
Whether the focus is on factors that usually lead to a relationship ending, or what characteristics are generally present in a successful relationship, it seems these topics and others are of interest to a majority of the population, and with good reason. Relationships are an integral part of the human experience and affect the lives of nearly every individual.
The Secret to a Good Relationship
For the most part, people agree that they are happier when they are involved in a meaningful relationship. According to a recent article, scientists took this proposition one step further in order to attempt to determine how this type of relationship is achieved and whether such relationships truly make a difference to a person’s well-being. Researchers found that people who had good relationships not only thrived and were happy, but also had support to help them cope during times of stress or adversity. What is more, individuals may find this type of relationship with any number of others, including friends, parents, or partners. The support most needed will vary depending on the situation.
Many people across the country take advantage of the adoption process to fulfill their dreams of having a family or to complete their family. Families in Illinois are certainly no exception. In light of this, there are a number of laws in place in the state regarding not only the adoption process, but also laws relevant to related situations and occurrences. Some of these laws may be well known, while others seemingly are not.
Safe Haven Law
According to a recent news article, events that have unfolded in Illinois over the last couple of weeks have alerted officials to problems with the state’s safe haven law. Mainly, the issue is that not enough people are aware of it. This became evident, in part, by the apparent abandonment over Labor Day Weekend of a newborn in a dumpster in Jacksonville.
Illinois’ safe haven law provides that a parent may anonymously leave an unwanted newborn in the care of a doctor, nurse, firefighter, police officer, or other designated party safely and without fear of repercussion. The law defines a "newborn" as being a child who a licensed physician reasonably believes is 30 days old or less at the time the child is initially relinquished. The problem is that people do not hear about the law enough. This may be partly because the act of abandoning a newborn is not common, and also because the law is effective in keeping the matter anonymous according to the conditions of the law itself, so people are unlikely to hear about such cases on the news or through media outlets. The law has been invoked at least 98 times since it was implemented in 2001, according to what representatives from the Save Abandoned Babies Foundation said to reporters in wake of the recent case.
There is more than one way to end a marriage in the state of Illinois. Although the legal process of divorce may be the most common form of dissolving a marriage, some couples who wish to end their marriage may also be able to obtain an annulment. An annulment also involves a legal proceeding, but differs from divorce in that a party seeking an annulment is attempting to have their marriage declared invalid. Unlike divorce, if an annulment is granted, it erases the marriage and it is as if it never happened in the eyes of the law.
Grounds for an Annulment
According to the applicable law in the state of Illinois, the reasons one can file for an annulment of a marriage are limited. The following are considered recognized grounds for an annulment in the state:
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