Tag Archives: child custody
Problems with Children and Parenting Time
During the long Thanksgiving weekend, families often have plans to spend time together—go bowling, shop at a local mall, eat at a restaurant, etc. Yet when a couple is divorced, there may be days when one parent desires to see his or her children but the children do not have the option to stay with him or her due to the divorced couple’s parenting plan.
How Illinois Child Support is Calculated
Depending on a family’s structure, either parent or both parents may not be fully present in their children’s lives. If this is the case, either parent may need to pay a certain percentage of his or her income that will go toward child support.
Helping Your Children Through Divorce
It is no secret that a divorce can be an incredibly stressful time for families. While a couple may have to deal with the grief and sadness of a failed relationship—not to mention the challenges of the divorce process itself—those with children must also manage the transition into a new familial structure.
When to Ask for a Guardian ad Litem
Family courts in Illinois—like those in the rest of the country—often have the unenviable task of making very difficult decisions regarding how a child will be cared for following the divorce or breakup of his or her parents. In more tragic situations, including those in which the child’s parents are deceased or incarcerated, the courts may need to decide on a guardian or other caretaker for the affected child. Throughout all of these types of cases, Illinois law provides that the child’s best interest should always be the top priority. To make sure the best interests of the child are fully protected, the court may appoint a specially-trained attorney to serve as a guardian ad litem for the duration of the proceedings.
Tips for Healthy Co-Parenting
Being a parent is tough. Add divorce into the mix and things can become even more complicated. With parenting plans, child support, and custody issues to deal with, co-parenting can be stressful and challenging at times. It is a lot to handle, but millions of families successfully co-parent each year. How do they do it? Great co-parents are flexible, willing to set aside their differences, and most importantly, great co-parents put their children’s needs above their own. Below, check out a few tips to help you and your ex develop a healthy co-parenting relationship both you and your children will appreciate.
How to Coparent with a Narcissist
If your ex spouse is a narcissist, that was likely one of the major reasons behind your divorce. While your marriage may be over, if children are involved, you and your ex have a responsibility to remain linked for the sake of your children. Coparenting with a narcissist can be challenging. If your ex is constantly seeking to antagonize you, belittle you, and rile you up, making parenting decisions together can be extremely difficult. While there is no magic trick that can make coparenting with a narcissist suddenly easier, there are a few tips and tricks you can employ to keep things smooth between the two of you.
Relocation: New Rules When a Custodial Parent Wants to Move
The Illinois legislature’s recent overhaul of the state’s child custody and divorce laws are far-reaching: even the state’s removal laws – what a custodial parent must do if he or she wishes to move with the child – are getting a makeover. Under the new laws, which went into effect on January 1, 2016, the term “removal” has been replaced with “relocation,” arguably in recognition that a move can be disruptive to the noncustodial parent’s visitation rights regardless of whether the move is in-state or out-of-state.
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Do I Need the Assistance of a Divorce Lawyer?
There are websites and organizations claiming that divorcing spouses do not need to hire an Illinois divorce attorney. Instead, these sources claim, any individual can learn everything they need to know about Illinois divorce laws in a relatively short amount of time. Are these sources correct: can divorcing couples really learn all they need to know about Illinois divorce law from a book or website? Here are some truths to consider:
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The Changing Face of Legal Custody in Illinois
By now many Illinoisans are aware that, come January 1, 2016, family law in Illinois is getting a substantial makeover. “Legal custody” is one familiar legal principle that is being overhauled as part of the legislature’s expansive effort to have Illinois’s family and domestic relations law reflect twenty-first century realities. It remains to be seen, however, if the changes to how a court determines legal custody will benefit Illinois families or whether it will further complicate already-challenging custody determinations.
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Decisions Divorcing Parents of Teens Should Consider
There is never truly an “ideal” time to divorce: any time a couple chooses to divorce will involve the divorcing spouses having to make decisions about issues and matters that may or may not be relevant in another couple’s divorce. Parents who are divorcing and who have children planning to go to college in the near future are no different. Some of the issues relevant to divorcing couples with college-aged children include:
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