Tag Archives: child custody
Relocating with Your Child after an Illinois Divorce or Separation
Chances are good that at some point following an Illinois divorce or separation, one or both of the parents of a child will want to relocate. The relocation may be due to a job change or transfer, to start a new life with a new spouse or significant other, or simply because the moving parent feels the need for a “fresh start.” Whatever the reason for the proposed move, executing such a move is not as easy as simply packing up one’s belongings, even if the actual divorce is finalized. What steps does a parent need to accomplish in order to relocate following a divorce or child custody action?
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Property Division or Custody Dispute: Who Gets the Embryos?
An old country song wonders, in the event of a breakup, “Who gets the family Bible?” The country crooner and his ex may have been experiencing a genuine property division dispute. In our modern times, however, property division disputes have become much more complicated in some cases. For example, where a couple plans on having children in the future and embryos are frozen in anticipation of a future family, who gets the embryos – the couple’s planned family – if the couple divorces or separates? Several states are now grappling with this question.
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Few Options Available in Cases of International Parental Kidnapping
Although most would hail our mobile and global society and our ability to embrace cultures different from our own as a positive development, there can be some drawbacks. Just ask the mother of three Chicago-area children. The children’s father (the mother’s ex-husband) is facing federal parental kidnapping charges after taking the couple’s three children overseas without the mother’s knowledge or consent. When your ex-partner absconds with your children and takes them to an unknown location, it does not matter whether the children are across town or across the globe: the feelings of terror and helplessness are the same. If you believe your children’s mother or father (and your ex-partner) has taken your children to an unknown location, you may feel helpless. However, there are certain actions you can take when an international parental kidnapping has happened:
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How Do Visitation Rights Work?
Child custody and visitation arrangements can be complex in the best of circumstances, especially if you do not understand the new dynamics of your family structure. Whether you have agreed to this arrangement, or a court has ordered it, it is important to understand how visitation works.
Temporary Custody Agreements during Your Divorce Proceeding
Under the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act, a divorcing parent has the right to seek a temporary custody order for his or her child while he or she works through the divorce process. A divorce can take up to six months to complete from its initial filing to its final settlement. During this time, a temporary custody order provides a framework for the couple’s child’s care and a stable household for him or her until a permanent custody arrangement is developed.
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Cohabitation: What Are My Rights?
It has become very popular in recent years for unmarried couples to live together. This is known as cohabitation. Some cohabitating couples opt to get married after living together for a few years. Others choose to end their relationships and move on separately, which can create confusion about personal property and its division among unmarried partners.
Children and Divorce: How to Help Your Child Work through Your Marital Breakup
Divorce is hard for families. Amid discussions of property division, alimony, new living arrangements, and changing relationships, children can feel like they have lost control of their lives. This can lead to feelings of anger, sadness, anxiety, and even regret and guilt for some children. During this difficult time, your children need your support more than ever. Be there for them as you and your spouse work through your divorce and move forward with your changed lives.
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Visitation Rights in Illinois
Although the court strives to give every divorcing parent custodial time with his or her children, this is not always feasible. In cases where this cannot be achieved, the noncustodial parent is usually granted visitation rights with his or her children. Visitation rights are court-ordered visits between a parent and child that are meant to maintain the bond between the parent and the child.
Same-Sex Marriage in Illinois
American society is in a constant state of change – especially the field of family law. Just a decade ago, same-sex couples could only dream of getting married in most of the United States. Today, homosexual and heterosexual couples alike have the right to marry in 37 states.
A Glossary of Divorce Terms
Divorce is a common legal process that many couples will have to go through. However, as with many legal proceedings, the terminology can often form an unnecessary obstacle to people’s understanding it. This glossary of divorce terms should help people cut through the legal jargon to understand what is going on in their own divorce case.