When parents decide to terminate their marriage, there are a host of factors to negotiate. One of the most stressful may be that of child custody. The judge presiding over the case will make the decision based on what is best for the kids. Traditionally, people thought children favored best when kept in the sole custody of one parent. That way, kids were not tracked back and forth from home to home and were able to spend the majority of time in one home. Yet studies show that kids who are raised in joint-custody homes may have advantages over those who are kept in sole-custody situations.
What Illinois courts consider when awarding spousal maintenance
Divorcing your spouse in Illinois leads to inevitable change, and while you might welcome some of those changes, you may have concerns about how you are going to support yourself, post-divorce, if you have not been a part of the workforce for some time. If this describes your situation, you may be thinking about pursuing spousal maintenance as a method of getting by and maintaining your standard of living. At the Law Office of Kerley & Associates, we understand the types of factors courts consider when awarding spousal maintenance, and we have helped many clients navigate this and numerous other divorce-related issues.
Taking a look at travel and family law
In recent years, travel has become increasingly popular. With access to an incredible amount of information online, affordable flights and a barrage of travel content on social media, many people enjoy visiting other parts of the country and traversing the globe. Moreover, some people travel for business purposes as well. Travel is often seen as glamorous, but it can create problems in relationships for a number of reasons, and there are various family law considerations when it comes to travel as well.
Spousal support in Illinois
If you are going through a divorce in Illinois, you may be wondering if you will be responsible to pay spousal support or, if you make less than your spouse, if you will be the recipient of support. The judge will take into consideration a variety of factors when determining what, if any, money a spouse may pay to the other, and it may be a temporary installment or longer term.
Do you need a forensic accountant on your divorce team?
As someone currently embroiled in an Illinois divorce, you may be working through a broad range of issues, many of which will undoubtedly include dividing up your assets and debts. This is typically an unavoidable part of any divorce, but the process can prove far more complicated and involved for some couples than others.
What you should know about separate property
Filing for divorce and going through the tedious process can be overwhelming. Not only are you dealing with the emotions involved with separating from your spouse, but you must also divide all of the property that was accumulated during your marriage. It can be difficult to make these important decisions while dealing with these emotions. Yet it is important to understand that you may not have to part with all of your earnings and possessions. You may keep items classified as separate property, as these types of property and not eligible for division in a divorce.
What is a QDRO?
If you and your spouse contemplate obtaining an Illinois divorce and one or both of you have significant retirement accounts, you should familiarize yourself with QDROs. As reported in Reuters, QDRO stands for Qualified Domestic Relations Order, the name of the document that most pension plans require you to have your attorney draft if either you or your spouse wishes to receive post-divorce distributions from the other’s retirement account.
Who gets the dog in an Illinois divorce?
Once upon a time, Illinois courts treated pets just like any other piece of property in divorce and gave family animals to one side or the other. However, that all changed in January of this year, when lawmakers decided that judges who preside over divorce cases can take into consideration the welfare of companion animals when determining "pet custody."
What are a grandparent’s rights in Illinois?
Grandparents play a huge role in children’s lives and often contribute to the overall emotional stability of their grandchildren. Regardless of how important grandparent figures are, however, Illinois is one of the most pro-parent, anti-grandparent states in the country. Despite that, however, it too has a series of factors, standards and requirements within its statutes that courts consider before choosing to award, or not to award, grandparent visitation rights.
How Illinois determines spousal maintenance
As someone currently involved in an Illinois divorce, or someone considering filing for an Illinois divorce, you may be wondering whether you will be able to reasonably support yourself in the absence of your spouse. More specifically, you may be wondering whether you will qualify for spousal maintenance in the aftermath of your divorce, or whether you might have other options available to you. At the Law Office of Kerley & Associates, we have a comprehensive understanding of how Illinois determines spousal maintenance, and we have helped many clients making their way through divorces navigate these and similar issues.
