There has been an increase in the number of couples over the age of 50 divorcing. Also referred to as "gray divorce," this can significantly affect individuals in later stages of life. Why does gray divorce happen? It is important to understand the various causes that...
family law
Establishing custody and parenting time in Illinois
When making decisions about child custody, Illinois courts will always prioritize the best interests of the child. When determining parental responsibilities and parental time, it is necessary to consider the following: Decision-making: Deciding whether both parents...
Divorce rates tend to increase in January
Divorces occur every month of the year, but researchers have studied trends to determine when rates rise and fall. One consistent finding is that January often brings a spike in divorce rates, especially compared to November and December, which tend to see a decline....
If your ex won’t pay child support, can you withhold custody?
When you and your spouse divorced, your ex was ordered to make child support payments. These are monthly payments to help cover the cost of raising your child. Your ex has visitation rights and spends time with the child on weekends, but you have primary custody most...
Navigating the complexities of commingled assets in a divorce
Asset commingling occurs when separate property, such as money owned by one spouse before the marriage, becomes mixed with marital property subject to division during divorce. This often happens in everyday life. For instance, you might have deposited your inheritance...
Virtual visitation can make co-parenting less stressful
Co-parenting after a separation or divorce can be undeniably challenging. Thankfully, modern technology is empowering co-parents to develop healthy arrangements in ways that would have been unheard of just a few decades ago. For example, virtual visitation, which...
The “4 Horsemen” of divorce: A metaphor for the end
How do you know your marriage is really over? This is the question that can keep a lot of people in unhappy marriages up at night – and stuck in place. Dr. John Gottman, a renowned relationship expert and psychologist, has identified four indicators that a...
Divorce and your standard of living: What changes?
Your standard of living is going to change after a divorce. Lifestyle changes often accompany this. Money doesn’t seem to go as far, for many people. It could be because you are used to living on two incomes, but now you are just living on one. Gender is important...
What if you never respond to the divorce petition?
If your spouse files for divorce, you should be served a divorce petition. There are a few ways that they can do this, such as serving you through publication, hiring someone to serve you or simply serving you the papers themselves. After they do so, the paperwork...
Potential red flags of an upcoming divorce
Planning in advance for divorce can be beneficial. You can gather financial information so that your spouse can’t hide assets. You can make plans for the future, such as considering your budget or where you’re going to live. It helps to have paperwork and legal...