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Child support in Illinois does not simply take a percentage of the paying parent’s paycheck. The state adopted a model that starts by combining both parents’ incomes together, then works backward to figure out each parent’s fair share. The Income Shares Model Explained Under 750 ILCS 5/505, Illinois uses the Income Shares Model, built on […]

Spousal maintenance in Illinois is not left entirely to a judge’s discretion once a case falls within the statutory guidelines. For most divorcing couples, a specific formula determines both the monthly amount and how long payments last. The Statutory Formula Itself Under 750 ILCS 5/504, guideline maintenance is calculated by taking 33 and one third […]

A parent with a job offer in another town does not always realize that moving even a modest distance can trigger a formal legal process under Illinois law. The rules depend on exact mileage, not just common sense about what feels like a big move. Illinois Defines Relocation By Distance, Not Intent Under 750 ILCS […]

The first meeting with a divorce attorney sets the tone for everything that follows. It’s also one of the more useful opportunities you’ll have to understand your options clearly before any decisions are made. Coming into that conversation prepared makes a meaningful difference in how much you get out of it. Know Where You Stand […]

Military families face a particular set of pressures when navigating divorce. Unpredictable schedules, deployment cycles, and the logistical weight of managing a household across multiple duty stations all make a drawn-out, contested divorce even more burdensome than it already is for civilian families. An uncontested divorce, when it’s appropriate, removes much of that burden by […]

Military life puts unique pressures on a family. Deployments, frequent relocations, and demanding schedules make it difficult to manage the logistics of any major life transition, and divorce is no different. Service members stationed at Scott Air Force Base and throughout Illinois have legal protections that apply during divorce proceedings, and understanding those protections helps […]

One of the first things couples need to understand when dividing assets in an Illinois divorce is that not everything they own is subject to division. Illinois law distinguishes between marital property, which gets divided between spouses, and non-marital property, which stays with the spouse who owns it. Getting this distinction right before drafting any […]

Child support is one of the most important financial agreements divorcing parents make. It’s also one that many parents don’t fully understand until they’re in the middle of it. Illinois doesn’t leave this to negotiation alone. The state uses a specific formula, and knowing how it works helps parents reach agreements that are grounded in […]

Divorce costs vary widely from one case to the next. When spouses are willing to cooperate, the fees drop meaningfully. As an O’Fallon affordable divorce lawyer, I work with clients whose spouses are willing to communicate openly, which means the process finishes faster, requires less paperwork, and skips the expensive procedural steps that drive costs […]

A flat fee agreement brings welcome predictability to an otherwise stressful process, but only if the document you sign matches what you were promised in conversation. Before committing to any flat fee arrangement, there are specific questions worth asking about scope, exclusions, and how the agreement handles the unexpected. Below are the ones that matter […]