Tag Archives: DuPage County divorce lawyer
Divorce Mediation as a Healthier Alternative
Statistics indicate that at least 20 percent of all first marriages end in divorce within the first five years. By 20 years, 48 percent of all first marriages dissolve. Even though many divorces are complex, there are alternatives to litigation. To make the divorce process more bearable, many couples seek mediation.
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The Race to the Courthouse: Does Filing First Matter in Divorce?
Once you have reached the decision to end your marriage, the real work must begin. You and your spouse will need to decide how to divide your property, how to make arrangement for your children, and how to adjust to your new post-divorce lives. Before you can get there, however, one of you will need to start the legal process of divorce by filing a petition for the dissolution of marriage at the county courthouse. Many clients approach us with questions about this, often wondering how important it is to be the one who file for divorce and whether it makes any difference at all.
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Young Adults and Divorcing Parents
There is a common misconception that children over the age of 18 are emotionally stable enough to handle the divorce of their parents. Even though young adults can process thoughts more rationally than younger children, the divorce process can still take a negative toll on a young adult’s life.
How to Determine Spousal Maintenance in Illinois
The divorce process is oftentimes very complex. Each divorce is different, so each situation will go down different avenues and will produce different results. Many divorce cases will include spousal support; yet, other cases will not allow it.
For each marriage that includes spousal support, there is no way to estimate the exact amount without considering child support, combined gross income, and so-called “multiple family situation.” Divorce is not a “one size fits all” type of situation.
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Life after Divorce: Strategies for Putting Your Divorce behind You
The start of each year is a great time to set new goals and let go of any past negativity. While moving past unresolved feelings towards your divorce can be difficult, your new, post divorce life can only begin to improve when you let go of any unnecessary negativity and move on. Millions of other people have divorced and recovered, and now, you should too. While thinking about putting your divorce behind you this year, here are a few strategies to consider:
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What Is a Default Judgment and How Can I Get It Vacated?
When you fail to timely enter an appearance or respond to a divorce petition filed against you, a default judgment may be entered against you. By entering a default judgment, the court has determined that although you were provided with an opportunity to respond to the divorce petition and participate in the proceedings, you failed to do so. As a result, the court has concluded that it has no choice but to award the petitioner – your spouse who filed the divorce petition – the relief he or she requested in the petition.
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Are Orders of Protection Effective?
A Jacksonville, Illinois man was shot and killed recently, allegedly by the man’s ex-father-in-law. Around the time of the man’s divorce, he sought and obtained an order of protection against his ex-wife, claiming that he feared for his life after his ex-wife allegedly threatened him with a handgun. Before the man was killed, court records appeared to show the man’s ex-wife allegedly violating the order of protection several times. Unfortunately, this man’s tragic experience is not unique. Although orders of protection are meant to protect victims of abuse and stalking from further harm, oftentimes violations of these orders go unreported by the victim or courts do not take sufficiently aggressive measures to deter future abuse. This leaves one to ponder: what “teeth” do orders of protection have in Illinois?
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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Divorce May Cause Weight Gain in Men
Experts sometimes compare the psychological stress of divorce to that of the death of a close family member. The effects can be severe and the emotional scars can take years to heal, if they ever do. Weight gain is a common side-effect of stress so perhaps it may be somewhat expected for a person going through a divorce to put on a few pounds. What may be surprising, though, is that after a divorce, men seem to gain more weight than women.