Blog feed

BLOG

Thoughts, insights and information about the divorce process. Nothing here should be considered to be legal advice. If you need legal advice, you need to hire a lawyer.

50/50 Plans that Work

June 4, 2023

A divorce can be a complex and emotional time for everyone involved, especially children. Dividing assets and determining responsibilities can be overwhelming, but figuring out how to divide time with your children can be one of the most challenging aspects of a divorce. That’s why 50/50 parenting plans have become increasingly popular in Illinois, offering divorcing couples the opportunity to create a schedule that works for both parties without the harsh foundation of being a weekend parent

Read More

Missouri now has a presumption of 50/50 parenting (but Illinois does not)

May 25, 2023

There has been a growing trend to give parents equal time with their children. Its not quite the law (yet) in Illinois, but if you agree with your soon-to-be-ex, equal parenting can be your reality.

Read More

The Importance of Flexibility in Parental Allocation

May 22, 2023

When parents divorce, one of the most important decisions they have to make is how to allocate parenting time with their children. In Illinois, the law presumes that it is in the best interests of children to have a close and continuing relationship with both parents. This means that the court will generally order a parenting plan that allows both parents to have significant time with their children. While the plan itself has specific times when each parent is with their child, long term, flexibility is necessary.

Read More

The Best Interest of the Child and the Importance of Cooperation

May 16, 2023

The best interest of the child is the most important factor that the court will consider when allocating parenting time

Read More

How to Decide Between Keeping Your Married Name or Choosing Your Birth Name

May 12, 2023

When it comes to deciding your name after a divorce, there is no right answer. After all, you’ve been living with one name for years and suddenly you must make the decision whether to keep your married name or choose your birth name or former name. How do you decide? Let’s look at the options and some of the considerations that come with them.

Read More

Pets and Divorce

April 24, 2023

Pets are considered family members by many people – including by me. They provide companionship, love, and support. When a couple gets divorced, the question of what to do with the pets can be a difficult one. In Illinois, there are some laws governing the division of pets in divorce. However, the courts will consider the best interests of the pet when making a decision about custody.

Read More

Rapid Unplanned Disassembly: A Metaphor for Unexpected Divorce

April 20, 2023

In engineering, “rapid unplanned disassembly” (RUD) is a term used to describe the sudden and unexpected failure of a machine or system. As of right now, that term is trending on twitter because SpaceX’s Starship exploded during launch. A RUD can be caused by a variety of factors, such as a design flaw, manufacturing defect, or operator error. RUD can also be a metaphor for divorce. When a marriage ends, it can feel like a sudden and unexpected failure. One spouse may have through they had a happy marriage but then something happens and the relationship falls apart.

Read More

Financial Infidelity and Divorce: What You Need to Know

April 18, 2023

It’s no secret that a major cause of divorce is financial infidelity. Whether it’s hidden bank accounts, undisclosed debts, surprise bills, or secret spending; all of these factors can put a serious strain on a marriage. And when the time comes to end things, financial infidelity can make navigating the divorce process even trickier. So, what should you do if your spouse is hiding money or trying to keep you in the dark about their finances. Here are some ideas to find hidden assests and debts,

Read More

Lawyers are not in the business of handing out free advice

April 14, 2023

Divorce is a difficult and emotional process, and it can be even more challenging if you don’t have the right legal representation. If you’re considering divorce, you may be wondering why divorce lawyers cannot give free advice over the phone (and why you get told different things by different lawyers).

Read More

The Rise and Fall of the Standard Visitation Plan

April 11, 2023

When a couple with a child or children decides to divorce or no longer live in the same house, they have to create a parenting plan as a part of their divorce. One of the most common parenting plans I saw early in my career was the so-called “standard visitation plan”. It is the common default plan that is chosen by the court after trial because it is easy to draft and fits the older model of one parent should be the home base for children. But it does not have to be your default.

Read More